I recently found out that my surgeon has only done 26 sleeve operations. Do you think that is enough experience to trust?

Thanks green*eyed*girl. I have green eyes also. I like your name.

I recently found out that my surgeon has only done 26 sleeve operations. Do you think that is enough experience to trust?

i also face same problem but I gone with surgeon having lot of experience of 400 surgeries though he was much expensive from others

Thank you Jack. I am going to a meeting with some of the patients that he has already operated on tomorrow. Hopefully, I can decide for sure after that.

My surgeon has done 22 sleeves and over 1000 lap bands. He has a 100% success rate so far with sleeves. Where it's considered the newer surgery, I actually found bariatric surgeons not having extensive experience. TRUST ME , I've been worried - but I'm far more concerned about my weight/health. He's had high success with the other bariatric surgeries. He's the head of the Surgical Weight Loss Specialist of Mass. Do your research and talk with some of his sleeve patients. Today was my pre op and he offered to connect me with some of his first patients.

He was my surgeon also I had full confidence in him and his success rate, all surgeons have to start at some point.

Mr. Sleeve So true. Thanks.

My understanding is that, statistically speaking, the higher the number of surgeries done by a given surgeon, the lower the risk of complications. Based on that information plus basic common sense my answer would be no.

I would just rather let him do his learning on others.

If he just started recently, I would use another surgeon, just MHO. I would also highly recommend a Center of Excellence.

But if you are comfortable with it, then go for it.

Edited March 6, 201412 yr by NMJG

My husband decided one of our local hospitals should practice awhile when they decided to have a sleeve program, so several years later we are sleeved. You read on this site that people have problems even with very experienced surgeons, so why hurry? Just read, study and know what you are getting into. Good luck!

I absolutely would not go with a less experienced surgeon. This is too serious.

Edited March 6, 201412 yr by Kay__S

I think there are pros and cons who did he study under for one?

Like mentioned has he got experience with other wls?

A pro for me would be I assume he’s making his mark studying up on it as its “new” to him so I wont be stuck in his ways and doing whats current and the best for the best results.

Check his other patients how many had issues if any how was the follow up for them.

Not having as many under his belt means maybe more aftercare too.

As long as I am not patient 1-5 I am good!

Cons you might think he doens;t have enough experience to know what hes doing he might not of studied under anyone he might not know what to do after.

Its just all things to think about I know my surgeon had over 10 years experience in wls and not just wls he would perform other operations on high risk weight patients I know this as he performed my gall bladder op when no one else would and that’s when he told me about wls and if I wanted it to come back to him.

I also wasn;t his only op or sleeve that day either.

For me I was extremely happy with my doc as I already went under the knife with him know for a fact him and his team all have a lot of experience with high risk ops across the board not just solely wls.

Thanks everyone for weighing in. I went to a support group today and met some of the doctor's patients. They were all very enthused and had done very well. I mentioned the fact that he had not done that many sleeves, and the nurse director said that he has been doing gastrectomies for years, which is basically the same thing, for years. Well, duh, I had not thought of that. He is a general surgeon. I feel much, much better now.

I recently found out that my surgeon has only done 26 sleeve operations. Do you think that is enough experience to trust?

I would go with your gut!!! I'm pretty sure the intern had a big part of my surgery. A year later he's now practicing there. I think once they get that level they're all experts. Let me know what you decide.

Jaime_Boston I don't think I got it. I don't show to have any messages.

Hmm ok

My surgeon has done 22 sleeves and over 1000 lap bands. He has a 100% success rate so far with sleeves. Where it's considered the newer surgery, I actually found bariatric surgeons not having extensive experience. TRUST ME , I've been worried - but I'm far more concerned about my weight/health. He's had high success with the other bariatric surgeries. He's the head of the Surgical Weight Loss Specialist of Mass. Do your research and talk with some of his sleeve patients. Today was my pre op and he offered to connect me with some of his first patients.

I almost considered going to mass for my skin removal surgery I heard the surgeons do it at a discount. Plus one of the top hospitals.

MS24 I went to a support group today and met some of his other patients. I am going to go for it. I am scheduled April 2.

Consider this abstract - malpractice lawsuits are more common with inexperienced surgeons:

Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2014 Jan-Feb;10(1):121-4. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2013.04.015. Epub 2013 Jun 11.

Bariatric-related medical malpractice experience: survey results among ASMBS members.

Dallal RM1, Pang J2, Soriano I2, Cottam D3, Lord J4, Cox S5.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The medicolegal aspects of bariatric surgery are very difficult to analyze scientifically because there is no central, searchable database of closed case claims and little incentive for malpractice insurers to divulge data. Examining medicolegal data may provide insight into the financial and psychological burden on physicians. Detailed data also may be used to improve patient safety and determine common causes of negligence.

METHODS:

All U.S.-based members of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons were asked to complete a survey regarding their bariatric-related medical malpractice experience.

RESULTS:

Of the 1672 eligible members that received the survey, 330 responded (19.7%). Mean years in practice was 15.3±9. Mean annual cost of malpractice insurance was $59,200±$52,000 (N = 197). The respondent surgeons experienced 1.5±3.2 lawsuits on average over the course of their practice. Of the 330 respondents, 144 (48%) did not report a bariatric-related lawsuit filed against them. Of the 464 lawsuits reported by 156 surgeons, 126 were settled out of court (27%), 249 were dropped (54%), and 54 (18%) went to trial. Seventy-two percent of cases that went to trial were found to be in favor of the defense. The mean lifetime amount paid for suits was $250,000±$660,000. The probability of a bariatric surgeonexperiencing a lawsuit was independently associated with the years in practice (P = .03) and number of total cases thesurgeon has performed (P = .01). The annual cost of malpractice insurance was independently predicted by the amount paid in previous claims (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

The probability of a medical malpractice lawsuit correlates positively to the number of proceduresperformed and the number of years the surgeon has been in practice.