Okay I am approved (yippee!!) for laband surgery at a bariatric surgery center of excellence (a requirement for my insurance) BUT here's the problem, the doctor who is slated to do my surgery is an amazing gastric bypass doc who hasn't ever done lapbanding before. He is getting certified and has a proctor coming in to assess his skill level and I will be one of his first 5 patients. I am comforted because he's been doing bariatric surgery for over a decade *but* i am of course nervous because he's never done THIS procedure. He is the chief of surgery at a very large teaching hospital where he does his bariatric surgeries so that makes me feel confident about his skills and abilities. I dont know, I was hoping a couple sets of fresh eyes could help me pro/con this out. wwyd?

Hi! Where are you located? There is research that shows the best results are using surgeons who have done at least 75 cases.Another problem is that there's much more to the lap band than the surgery, there's the fills and management of your follow up which is so important as most anyone here would tell you. I wouldn't settle for a brand new doctor even though he's done other weight loss surgeries. I think that if a hospital is a Center of Excellence, they have to have Center of Excellence surgeons to get their qualification which means they have a whole lot of experience. No way I'd go with a brand new surgeon.

I went through this exact thing myself. I really felt comfortable with my surgeon she was great. There is going to be someone in there with them anyway supervising to make sure everything is done right so in a way you are better off because you will have your surgeon and another experienced surgeon in the room...instead of just one inexperienced surgeon in the room doing the surgery alone. I have had no problems and my care has been great. I think you'll be fine. Good Luck!

Also as far as fills afterwards, my surgeon actually had a lapband representative in the room with her when I got my first fill which made me feel at ease as well. They have to learn sometime, and as for my surgeon I got the feeling right off she was a perfectionist and she is! So she does things the right way and expects the same of me.

Hi:

I would choose to have an experienced surgeon if you can. I'm guessing that it's an easy surgery for them. However, the aftercare is where the experience becomes so important. If he doesn't have any other banded patients to learn from it's going to be more difficult for him/her to support you afterwards.

Best wishes to you. I love my band!

Sue

I'd go with experience. Just because you can play an oboe doesn't mean you can play the flute. And aftercare is more than fills. What if you have a weird pain by your port...your surgeon won't know if that's common, if it's kinked, infected, leaking, or in your head!

Sure people have to learn sometime...but are you getting a big discount since you're a guinea pig? I'd pass, and get someone with experience.

Not to sound too arguementative, but it's your body. Would your surgeon have surgery by someone as inexperienced as him. No Way! I know that they have to get experience somehow, but I think that you have a say. Follow your instincts. I went to 4 different surgeons prior to surgery, 2 were at Centers of Excellence. I thought that one was great, the other had somewhat poor human to human skills. People lose 35 percent more weight with appropriate follow up. Go with the one that you want to continue a relationship with. The follow up is very important. Best of luck:thumbup:

I'd go with experience. Just because you can play an oboe doesn't mean you can play the flute. And aftercare is more than fills. What if you have a weird pain by your port...your surgeon won't know if that's common, if it's kinked, infected, leaking, or in your head!

Sure people have to learn sometime...but are you getting a big discount since you're a guinea pig? I'd pass, and get someone with experience.

I hadnt even considered aftercare really, mostly was just hung up on the surgery. I like your analogy...it really caused to me stop and think about my choices again. thanks