Finding Revision Experts

[former_vbg 198]

I see various threads a times where people give the advice to "find a surgeon who is an expert with revisions". So, there is a surgeon in my area that I have found many speak very highly of, however, I can't get his office to give me any specifics on the number of each of the procedures he has done, including revisions and what type of revisions he has done. I sent another email Friday asking what the status was of getting me this information.

In the meantime, I have contacted Medical Records for the hospital he works for (considered a COE), they said it was confidential information. I also called the COE affiliation and they said that the only thing they could tell me was that in terms of procedures that one of the minimum requirements was that they perform at least 50 WL surgeries per year and that they do on-site inspections every 3 years....but that was about it. Same basic story with the state medical board.....

Soooo.... as I continue my Quest for a revision I am now at a point where I need to find a surgeon who is an expert with revisions. I feel its a red flag if I can't get a straight answer from this surgeon's office even if there are others who speak highly of him. It makes me concerned that they either A) they are simply too busy to be bothered with such questions Maybe also understaffed in the office or C) maybe they don't really want to release that information - for WHATEVER reason. Either way, I need to feel that my surgeon and his office are forthwith and responsive to questions. It's been a week this Monday since I asked this question from his office and NOTHING, not even a follow up.

Ok, so back to my original question- how does one find an expert / competent surgeon, and in my case a revision WLS surgeon?!?!?!?????

Thanks for any/ all suggestions.

[Tiffykins 672]

I didn't even bother asking the staff. I requested a consult with the surgeon then I asked all the tough questions. My surgeon had not performed a lot of band to vsg, but had quite a few band to RNY and flat out band removals so I was confident in his skills.

I really went with personal testimony, and then called different offices in several different states and contacted a couple of surgeons in Mexico in the event of insurance had not come through for me. I contacted surgeons specifically in Dallas, TX because I have family in the area. There aren't any great revision surgeons in Florida, so I knew I would have to go where I felt I would be best taken care of.

I would share those same concerns, and I hope they get back with you. I would say a 5-7 business day turn around on emails is more than realistic, and if you don't get answers then move onto another surgeon/office..

COE means diddly squat most cases. My band surgeon had COE yet violated every HIPPA law with my med records, got his partnership stripped and title of "director of bariatrics" with the hospital stripped from him shortly after I left his practice and filed complaints about his practices.

[Becca 108]

I found my doctor because he was the only one who would take me on and revise my band with all it's complications. I knew of the complications because of several scans run in the Emergency Room from the pain I had. Every other doctor I called said no. I asked him personally and he and his staff were upfront with his stats. I have not had any complications post op. If you are in the Houston area, I can give you his name. Good luck!

[former_vbg 198]

I didn't even bother asking the staff. I requested a consult with the surgeon then I asked all the tough questions. My surgeon had not performed a lot of band to vsg, but had quite a few band to RNY and flat out band removals so I was confident in his skills.

I really went with personal testimony, and then called different offices in several different states and contacted a couple of surgeons in Mexico in the event of insurance had not come through for me. I contacted surgeons specifically in Dallas, TX because I have family in the area. There aren't any great revision surgeons in Florida, so I knew I would have to go where I felt I would be best taken care of.

I would share those same concerns, and I hope they get back with you. I would say a 5-7 business day turn around on emails is more than realistic, and if you don't get answers then move onto another surgeon/office..

COE means diddly squat most cases. My band surgeon had COE yet violated every HIPPA law with my med records, got his partnership stripped and title of "director of bariatrics" with the hospital stripped from him shortly after I left his practice and filed complaints about his practices.

I understand the COE isn't really that big of a deal, I had just hoped they would be able to release those numbers to me. There are 2 other Bariatric surgeons in the KC area, but one of them does NON-STOP commercials and that is a huge turnoff to me. The other one has not done very many sleeves and although the lady I talked to at that office was very forthcoming in sharing specifics on the surgeon's experience, she said she wasn't sure he had done very many revisions, much less a VBG to a Sleeve. So, he is out...

Guess I will start a new thread asking for anyone who knows a Revision Experts in the KC or surrounding area and see what comes back. I need to stay in-network though too.

Thanks for the feedback.