Choosing the right surgeon can give you a better chance of WLS success. Getting surgery with a good surgeon lowers your risk of complications. A surgeon who answers your questions and gives you confidence can also lead to better health and weight loss because you will know how to take care of yourself pre-op and post-op.

There are a lot of factors that go into finding a good surgeon. You may not have much of a choice if your insurance is running the show. Otherwise, you might consider online reviews, recommendations from your current healthcare team, your gut feeling after meeting potential surgeons, and whether you like the support staff. Past patient testimonials and results can be persuasive, too! Then there are practical matters, like location and cost.

If you’ve already had surgery or chosen a surgeon, how did you choose your doctor? If you’re in the process or you’re about to start looking, which factors are most important to you? Share your thoughts and strategies, and maybe you’ll help out some other members who are looking around!

Once I decided that enough was enough I voice my concerns with my PCP then she submitted a referral to the WLIA and they call me to set up my first consultation and I'm on my final pre-op next appt is August 16th I can wait to finish this healthy journey.

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Months of searching. The hospital had to be a "Center of Excellence" and the practice had to have lifetime surveillance. The actual surgeon had to: have an excellent surgical reputation amongst his/ her peers, with his patients and at the hospitals he/she is affiliated with.

I was changing my entire life and I needed someone that was going to "coach me" through the good and hard times for the rest of it. I had/have to have someone that is approachable because this is not easy and I need someone that I am be 100% myself with and feel safe to be vulnerable without being judged.

Lastly I had to find a practice that worked as a team to support their patients with the Surgeon as "quarterback". I found it all. It took me realizing this was a huge step so it would take time to find the right fit for me.

My PCP also recommended a surgeon to me... he actually went rogue recommending a surgeon he wasn't supposed to (outside my clinic system) because that surgeon was good.

I wish I could say I had a lot of options but my insurance denied the surgeon I really wanted and only gave me two other options. I chose the one that was at a center of excellence and had a Bariatric program I felt I could get through with my insurance.

The hospital has a bariatric clinic that handles the pre op phase but I could choose any surgeon. Portland is a big city There are two practices and probably 10 surgeons to choose from on our oinsurance. The first one I interviewed was a bad fit for me , the scoundrels one didn't make eye contact... so asked the clinic psychologist and nutritionist who knew me pretty well since I was taking a weekly "lifestyle class" in additional to the normal pre op who they thought I would like. She was awesome.

My grandmother had the gastric sleeve done just about one year ago and one month later, I made my appointment with her surgeon. Now my grandfather is having his done by the same guy.

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