Selecting a weight loss surgeon may not be the same as selecting a general practitioner or other doctor. Yet surgery for weight loss is a major decision that can impact your health for years to come. It’s disheartening that most people do more research regarding which car they should purchase than which surgeon they will trust with their body and surgical complications.
While each surgeon boasts unique qualifications, some have had thousands of bariatric patients and perform procedures with their eyes closed while others are still novices and don’t have the comprehensive specialization in weight loss surgeries. The goal is to find your ideal match, but it may take some initial investigative work to get there, and it’s worth every minute of research you’ll spend to ensure your comfort and safety.
What Credentials Do They Have?
The first step involves the basics, and those that matter most. You want a surgeon who’s board-certified (at least) in general surgery; ideal candidates will possess additional fellowship training in bariatric surgery to learn how to tackle problems that don’t go as planned.
Next, the more bariatric procedures the surgeon performs each year, the better. A high-volume surgeon can be defined as someone who performs 125 or more procedures per year. Complications and outcomes are better as this statistic increases, this does not mean practice makes perfect, but it does increase familiarity and newer developments since these surgeons are intimately engaged in bariatric procedures in lieu of broader general surgery. Familiarity breeds awareness, and the sooner surgeons can learn potential problems, the better.
Additionally, ask your surgeon what their complication rates are. Complications happen; it’s part of being human, part of surgery. However, average complications should be on par with or lower than national averages. If a surgeon gets defensive about their complication rate, that’s saying something, too.
Where Are They Operating?
More people fail to recognize that where the surgeon operates is just as important as who the surgeon is. Accreditation by the American College of Surgeons verifies comprehensive centers that can undergo specific protocols deemed necessary for quality assurance and accreditation in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery for quality assured centers. They have the right equipment, support staff and specialists necessary for successful facilitation of surgeries and aftercare (NIAHO).
A Comprehensive Center should have a dedicated bariatric program with a multi-disciplinary team. This may include nutritionists, psychologists, specialty nurses, and physical therapists, among others trained professionals who can ensure diverse needs are appropriately met. If you’re seeking weight loss surgery Melbourne offers some of the best options with numerous integrated teams to ensure coordinated care throughout your entire process.
Finally, check if the facility has an ICU to offer 24/7 emergency options. Complications rarely occur between 9 am and 5 pm on a weekday and you want to ensure there’s backup when you need it most.
Do They Have Specific Procedures?
Each type of surgery has its strengths and weaknesses, and each surgeon has their preferred methodology. Some surgeons only perform one or two bariatric procedures; ideally, you’d want a surgeon who can explain why gastric bypass may work better than sleeve gastrectomy or adjustable gastric banding but does not push one surgery over the other.
For example, a great candidate will recommend what’s right for you based on BMI, health conditions, lifestyle factors, yet someone who’s performed one procedure identical to everyone else they see or cannot express justified reasoning for suggesting one over another may not be the best long-term option.
Ask if they ever perform revisional surgery, too, sometimes after years down the road of success (or complications) or lack thereof intended weight loss with surgery might require additional steps. A surgeon who only knows how to perform initial procedures may not be the best long-term partner for you.
Assessment Appointment and Trust Your Gut
The assessment appointment will say a lot. Does the candidate ask questions and listen intently (or do they skip through a paper asking generic Q&As)? Are answers to your questions extensive enough with follow-up points made that create comprehensive understanding, or vague answers that confuse you further?
Good surgeons can relay complicated material into layman’s terms without talking down about the process but humanizing everything from realistic results to ideal expectations – potentials and pitfalls alike, will give you insight into whether your surgeon understands where you’re coming from as well. If someone blows smoke up your behind saying you’ll lose at least half your excess pounds or recovery will be smooth sailing, that’s false; it’s unrealistic to assume all parts will go perfectly.
Another key element is how the surgeon talks about patients who are overweight and why they’re there to begin with, if they sound haughty or like obesity is just a willpower issue, this probably means this isn’t the compassionate care team with which you want to go through this process.
Patient Outcomes – See What Others Have Said
Patient reviews won’t tell you everything, but they’re worth reading. Are there patterns? If ten people say one thing but one person has a bad experience, one bad experience may be anecdotal rather than any major inconvenience, but ten experiences unlikely are coincidental. If poor follow-up care or lack of appointments registered more than occasionally, however, now it’s time to explore this dynamic more carefully.
Ask if you can talk to previous patients; many surgeons have lists of potential patients who share experiences and talking with someone who’s gone through this process could provide insight you won’t learn anywhere else. See if there are national registries they’re invested in tracking outcomes; if they’re part of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) in attendance, they care about their statistics and how it reflects their practice in comparison to others’.
What About from Here?
Surgery isn’t one-and-done; it’s years, decades down the road, if all goes well, of follow-ups necessary to continue monitoring what you’ve lost and how well you’ve maintained it, if at all. Does the practice have routine care in store? Does the surgeon themselves care about after surgery or will you work with someone else (or even worse, go on your own)?
Does the practice also offer nutritional counselors for any adjustments necessary? Does emotional help need to be assessed or will support groups help on an individual basis? A surgeon who has dedicated teams handling these situations is better than one where you’re on your own for this concern because it shows devotion in addition to surgery from all angles for long-term success that’s less likely with an independent route.
If something arises post-op can you easily get in touch with someone? Or are your messages likely met with voicemail systems that block your immediate questions? Knowing you have support when times get tough will make facing challenges all the easier because you’ll know you won’t be struggling alone when complications are guaranteed down the line at some point or another.
Choosing Your Hero
With thorough research completed, making a final decision becomes crucial. The surgeon who has the prettiest office or offers the cheapest prices may not be your best bet, you’re looking for solid credentials, good outcomes speaking for themselves and recommendations that suggest great communication abilities for this multifaceted procedure should go hand in hand for someone who possesses a great support team equipped for anything that could go awry or at least help set you up for success down the line post-op.
Above all else, trust yourself. You need this person on your team through thick (potentially) and thin so even when times get tough, because they will, you at least know this person won’t sugarcoat hurdles or make false promises because ultimately it’s your life at stake here, not theirs if things don’t go according to plan, and they make a living from this trustworthy reputation, too. Therefore, they should care just as much as you!
There’s no turning back now – you need focus, the future health status of what you’ve known is going away depends on making sure it’s replaced by someone who proves they’re worth it every step of the way, and you have multiple chances to find that person who’s worth all your effort.
