I am having to change Doctor's because of financial issues (self pay). The surgeon in our town is wonder at gastric bypass but has only been doing lapband since December - total number to date is 15. He is an excellent caring surgeon, has wonderful aftercare and great support...but help....is 15 lapbands enough....I need some advice or help from you guys......

If he is a good gastric bypass dr. I wouldn't worry cause that surgery is more complex than the lapband. I was my drs. first lapband but he had done several gastric bypasses.

Go for it!

find out about the hospital its gonna be at.. youd be surprized most hospitals have "bariatric teams" that definately would make me feel better but you know what.. if everyone went to the surgeon who has had the most surgeries under their belt, there wouldnt be many surgeons who do the lap band.

If your overly concerned.. talk to him about it tell him why your concerned and ask him what he will do if things dont go right. (ie my surgeon called Inamed and SEVERAL top ranked band surgeons to find out how to fix it)

I'd say 15 is plenty. That's enough to have gone through it plenty times and to know how it goes. Having a surgeon you trust is very important.

I was my doctor's 4th patient, (lap-band), but he has done hundreds of RNY's. I was totally confident in his ability and to date he has not let me down! I am very happy with him.

My doctor has also performed only 15 surgeries and I'm not worried at all. He is an experienced trauma surgeon and he has hundreds of RNY's under his belt. As long as your surgery is being performed at a reputable facility I say go for it. Good luck with your surgery!

If he's a good gastric bypass surgeon, then I would have no problem going to a guy that's only done 15. Past experience speaks volumes, and I'd think the Band would be easier to place than all those cuts and stitches required in an actual bypass.

If he's got a stellar reputation for his bypass skills, I would be happy to be his #16 if that meant avoiding Mexico.