Questions To Ask A Bariatric Surgeon
If you are considering having weight loss surgery, such as lap band surgery or a gastric bypass, you need to find a bariatric surgeon. A bariatric surgeon is a doctor who specializes in weight loss surgery. The first thing you’ll want to do is contact your insurance company and regain out which surgeons are covered on your plan, but you will probably have several from which to decide. This is a big decision, and it is suggested that you interview a couple different surgeons before making your choice.
You will probably have to pay for a consultation with a bariatric surgeon in order to interview him or her. A doctor may be willing to answer a couple of questions for you over the phone for free, however. But if you schedule an appointment for an interview, be sure to ask how much it will cost. Your health insurance will probably pay for a consultation with a surgeon (provided your insurance covers weight loss surgery – not all do), but they may not pay for you to interview several different surgeons.
Write your questions down before going to see the surgeon. You might want to take notes of his or her answers, too. That way you’ll remember what they say and be better able to compare the answers of different surgeons.
Here are some basic questions you might want to ask. Add your own questions based on your own needs, as well.
- What weight loss surgeries do you build? (Most bariatric surgeons execute lap band surgery and gastric bypass. Some, but not all, also perform vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Obviously, if want a VSG, you need to find a surgeon who is experienced with it.)
- Do you perform laparascopic surgery? (Laparascopic surgery is performed by making several small incisions instead of one vast incision. It is generally preferred to open surgery, because the healing process is faster and easier.)
- What is your mortality rate? (This means, how many patients have died during or from the procedure? )
- What complications do you deal with most often? How many patients experience these complications?
- How many weight loss surgeries have you performed? How many of these were laparscopic surgeries?
- Do you have a dietician that you work with, or would I have to find a dietician on my own?
- What kind of patient education do you provide? (Many bariatric surgeons require you succor one or more classes at their office before your surgery, and this is a capable thing. There may be a cost for the classes, and your insurance may not cover it, so ask about the cost.)
- Do you offer patient benefit groups?
- How many nights do patients usually exhaust in the hospital?
- What kind of follow up care do you offer?
- What kind of vitamin and protein supplements do you recommend? (If a surgeon tells you he or she recommends Flintstones vitamins and Tums for calcium after surgery, find a new surgeon! This one is terribly out of date and is giving you advice that will likely cause you to have long-term nutritional problems.)
- Would I have to have a psychological evaluation before surgery? And if so, is there a psychologist you recommend, or do I need to find one on my occupy? (Many bariatric surgeons require patients to get a psych clearance before surgery, and many insurance companies require this as well. It’s a marvelous thing. Don’t be put off by a surgeon who requires it.)
- Which form of weight loss surgery would you recommend for me, and why?
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Filed under Gastric Banding by on Sep 28th, 2011. 