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What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?



Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery.  

16 members have voted

  1. 1. What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?

    • Surgeon history: lots of experience, good weight loss results and safe surgeries
      12
    • The surgeon’s credentials and board memberships and a Center of Excellence
      2
    • Recommendations from your friends and good patient reviews
      1
    • It “feels” right – you intuitively trust the surgeon and feel comfortable at the facility
      1


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Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery.

What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?

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The after care they provide and ease of contact and appointment's!

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I would have chosen "all of the above", every single one of the items you mention is equally important to me.

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If they accept my insurance. Track record. Support groups.

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Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery.

What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?

When I was looking I was talking to people I knew that had the surgery and the experience. Then when I made the decision on where, I studied the hospital. When I was happy about that then I decided who I wanted for my surgeon. The whole bariatric team. It's more then just a surgeon. The nutritionist, the social worker that worked on the team, the exercise consultant, the support groups and everyone else. They have a great team and they work with you anytime you need them. I'm 5 months out and can still call or email them and i have a response by the end of the day. If its important, I am automatically transferred to a nurse. Also, I was impressed on the rules they had before they'd even consider working with you.

HW: 331 SW: 11/26/12 319lbs CW: 229 04/23/13 GW: 157

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I interviewed 2 surgeons. I was looking for the following:

Good bedside manor

Knowledge about procedures

Knowledge about rheumatoid arthritis

Knowledge of the effects of extended steroid use due to RA

Friendly and knowledgable staff

Quick response time in answering questions

Pre surgery requirements

Post surgery after care

My decision came down to pre surgical preparations. My RA doc wanted me to decrease my steroid dose before surgery. The first surgeon I interviewed said I did not need to decrease the dosage, but my surgeon said I need to decrease the dose.

I also took my mom with me to help me decide. Good to have a different perspective. The bottom line is you must have confidence in your surgeon.

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The most important factor in choosing a surgeon is experience,experience,experience!

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Experience and follow up care. I picked a doc who taught bariatric medicine and has a staff that is proactive and caring. 2 months post surgery and feeling great! Lost 44 lbs.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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