very worried about my surgeon!

[gshock1965 6]

Im scheduled for my band on jan.31, 2013, And in the past week ive talked to 3 different people who said I need to change surgeons...due to a lot of complaint s thats been placed on my surgeon..I of the individuals was his own nurse who said he just lost a patient due to the fact he placed the lapband in backwards! So my question is with my surgery only being 4 days away is it possible to change doctors,,, please help with any advice.

[PattyGirl66 1,243]

I think you answered your own guestion. If you are asking us, and you already have a bad gut feeling, I suggest you go with it.

First question a patient should find out about a surgeon is "mortality" rates.

There are tonsssss of bariatric surgeons "good' ones that are out there, do your research....

Best of luck,

[bar2373 138]

You may have to delay surgery, but yes you can still change surgeons. Just because you have completed everything doesn't mean you are on the table yet.

Have you done a background check on your surgeon?

[catfish87 3,471]

Who is your Dr? If he/she has been doing this for a while, there should be some reviews on here of him/her. I'm not quite sure how someone could place the band "backwards" as its basically a circle. Makes me wonder if someone may have given you some incorrect info. Try researching your Dr online and seeing what reviews are like.

[jay22 4]

Ohhh I would be hella worried, It took me a while to find a surgeon I am happy with, I paid quite a few initial consultation fees and even passed on one because the whole clinic seemed unorganised! Ur placing ur body in someone's hands u need to trust them! Where abouts are u located?

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I would without a doubt cancel the surgery, find a new surgeon, have your records sent to him, and reschedule with a new surgeon.

Even if the delay was months, it's better to be delayed than dead. I'm not trying to be dramatic or scare you, but your life is worth so much more than the risk of going under the knife with an incompetent surgeon.

[Banjo257 920]

Swap NOW!

[Cnewme2012 11]

When I was contemplating having the lap band surgery, the first thing I did was to began researching who would do the surgery. Afer doing research I came up with the doctor that I wanted to do my lap band surgery. People were complaining about his bed side manner, etc. but I wasn't looking for a buddy, but the one who would be the best surgeon. As it turned out his bed side manner was fine You want to make sure when you put your life in someone hands that they are qualified in what they are doing. God bless you and I wish you the best!!!

[gshock1965 6]

I live In missouri,, and my surgeon has done over 650 lapband surgeries and I did ask him if hes ever lost a patient and he said no,, but this process has been so long I first seen him jan. 2012, and a year later its finally happening, and this evening I ran into my cousin

Who is a surgical nurse..and she was there when the lady he operated on had placed the band upside down and she sadly passed away. Im calling another surgeon in the morning, thanks everybody for all your advice, I will post tomm, what changes I will be making,

[wozzicat 36]

Yes absolutely cancel it. My surgeon has done it 4000 times with no complications.

[catfish87 3,471]

"she was there when the lady he operated on had placed the band upside down and she sadly passed away."

I'm thinking someone could have possibly gotten bad information. I'm certainly not doubting thats what you were told, but I can't find ANY info that this is even possible. The port being upside down is obviously a different thing, but the band?

[punkinvine 227]

Be positive that you are on the correct path. A Red Flag is just that! Praying for you to find the correct answer. I am 3 years out and have not heard of this ever. You are your own best advocate.

[FLORIDAYS 3,040]

I am not sure how a band is installed upside down... But no matter if you are concerned... Change doctors..

[vctlong 4]

I'm surprised you even brought this question to the site. I don't think I would be at all concerned that my surgery is scheduled in 4 days as I am concerned that there is no way this surgeon would perform my surgery. I must have read this wrong. Let me go back and reread it.

[Instyle98 240]

Okay - you need to think this through. First off, until you are under anesthesia you can refuse any and all procedures - even if you are laying on the operating table. Secondly - did you read what you wrote? If someone came to you with this question what would you tell them? I would hope you would tell them to stop and think about this. In every profession there are people who excel, people who are good, those who are average and those who really suck at what they do. Physicians are no different. They put their pants on the same way everyone else does. Ever hear of an impaired physician? That's just a fancy term for one that has a substance abuse problem. That stuff happens to them too. Doctors are not perfect nor are they infallible. They are human like the rest of us. You need to stop and consider if your sources of information are reliable. Both myself and my mother worked in a hospital for a very long time. I told one family member that she should really consider changing physicians and I told her why. She didn't want to because he was so nice to her. I had to remind her that I never said he wasn't a nice guy - that wasn't my point. Being nice to save lives or prevent mistakes. I don't mean to be rude, but I really think this is a no-brainer. Good luck with whatever you decide.