How Many Times Did You See Your Surgeon Before Surgery?

[Alex Brecher 10,494]

Everyone’s WLS experience is different. You might visit your surgeon for a pre-op consultation, then come back the next time for your surgery. Some surgeons have a pre-op program that requires you to attend a few meetings or have some appointments before you schedule surgery. You might even meet your surgeon for the first time on the day of surgery if you’re going to Mexico or another far-off destination for your procedure.

So, I’m just curious…how many times did you see your surgeon before surgery? Did you feel comfortable with him or her by the time you arrived for your surgery?

[starson2016 5]

3

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[cindyw41 761]

I saw him 3 times in the office but I met him at the seminar and that's when I felt comfortable choosing him as my surgeon.

[DaisyAmy 561]

Once. The WLC I went to handled everything and you only meet with the surgeon once prior to surgery. After, you have a couple 5 minute "atta girl" appointments with the surgeon, but the WLC handles the bulk of my after care.

[lifeofblair 308]

2 times. Once after the seminar and then once to set the date for surgery.

[BevBrown34 17]

3 times, including right before the surgery.

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[ssflbelle 829]

I saw my surgeon 7 times before I had surgery. I had to report into him once a month for 6 months and again on the preop 4 hour day the week before surgery.He also came into my area the day of surgery about an hour before surgery to make sure I was still going through with it. During all those visits I got to ask him all kinds of questions and felt very comfortable with his surgery skills.

However I am not comfortable with his nutrition knowledge after surgery. I never thought to ask him about after surgery.because the one time I saw the hospital dietitian during the first month of the 6 month preop diet she explained the after surgery diet to me. I was all set or so I thought. At the 1 month post surgery meeting the surgeon I feel has steered me down the wrong path by bring my Protein down to 41 grams and not upping it to 80 grams as the dietitian said it should be. The surgery doesn't have his own dietitian so I had to pay $250.00 to see the hospital one he uses. Everything she told me was in the blue book bible the surgeon gives everyone, so I felt it was a waste of time.

[SweetPeas 117]

First I had a very long appointment with the surgery team's Nurse Practitioner. She was absolutely wonderful and was able to address all of my questions plus did a super thorough assessment. Together we picked the surgeon (as I had a choice of three). I reviewed quality data online (HospitalCompare and PhysicianCompare) as well as a literature review of the surgeon's publications and then when I met with him (once) I was satisfied as he was able to address all of my questions and concerns. I have heard some patients in the practice say he is too quiet/doesn't talk much but honestly for me I was looking more for experience, attention to detail, and someone who takes their work super seriously- which is exactly what I got. Looking at the quality data for the hospital and surgeon also helped. I wanted to make sure I was going somewhere that was a center of excellence and had enough surgical volume (as more volume tends to indicate better outcomes simply b/c the surgeon/facility will have much more experience and better capability to address complications).

[Sajijoma 1,324]

I had 2 actual appts and the seminar, but I had to report to his nutritionist who gave feedback on what I was doing throughout the process.

[DeletedMember 715]

I will have seen my surgeon a total of 4 times prior to surgery:

1st time - Initial consultation

2nd time - prior to my endoscopy

3rd time - 2 week pre-op visit

4th time - prior to RNY surgery

I am very comfortable with my surgeon. I received referrals for 3 different Bariatric surgeons from my PCP. The surgeon I selected had a series of videos posted on his website and YouTube that go into great detail about different aspects of the surgery and the necessary nutrition. He has also published a book on his preferred diet. I selected him based on these videos. I thought he was informative, realistic and down to earth. My in person experiences have just confirmed this. He also spent over 45 minutes with me at my pre-op appointment going over every concern I had in great detail. I left his office feeling much more calm and confident about my upcoming surgery.

[applejenn 173]

Two. Two surgeons do the surgery where I go. 1st initial consult is with one, then before surgery you meet with the other

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[Alex Brecher 10,494]

Thanks for all the answers! It is interesting what a range there is in terms of number of times you saw your surgeon pre-op as well as other healthcare providers that were involved. It’s also interesting to see that there isn’t a single right answer in terms of whether seeing a surgeon versus a nurse practitioner or another expert is best.

I hope these answers help pre-op patients who are still looking for a surgeon and trying to decide which program is best for them. These answers can also help you think about what to ask for now and for the future that you might not have thought about yet.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I had only a single one-on-one consultation with my surgeon prior to VSG surgery. Actually, it was two-on-one (hubby went with me). We talked for about half an hour.

Then, of course, I saw him the day of surgery.

And, of course, I'd sat through 3.5 hours of his introductory lecture and had a very, very good sense of what he was about, his philosophies, strategies, experience, etc.

Although he's done over 5,000 WLSs, he's also a general surgeon and has performed surgery on my husband, so we know him from multiple consultations and his surgery services with hubby.

But the bulk of my post-op services from the surgery center have been with his AMAZING physician's assistant who rocks. She knows more (by multiples) about nutrition than the nutritionists on their team, so I rely on her for so much. She's also available and responsive via email.

I am looking forward to seeing my surgeon this summer. He hasn't seen me since I reached goal.

:)

[Christinamo7 4,041]

3 times - once in the seminar, and twice in the office - and because of a problem with my bloodwork, I spoke to him on the phone a few times also as we coordinated tests with another office and reviewed results.

[stacyrg2 350]

Three, including the day of surgery.