Choose a Weight Loss Surgeon

Choosing the right bariatric surgeon may be the most important decision you make. The surgeon who performs your gastric banding, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy procedure will also be part of your support team for years to come, so it's important for you to feel at ease with him or her. The staff at your surgeon's bariatric office will also be an important part of your support team. Your goal is to make sure that you feel well supported by the entire bariatric practice right from the start.

Ask questions

To help you determine if a weight loss surgeon is right for you, we've compiled a list of topics to discuss with your bariatric surgeon. We encourage you to add to this list and to ask as many questions as you want.

Top criteria for choosing a surgeon

Some of the most important considerations when choosing a weight loss surgeon include:

1. Center of Excellence (COE) designation. COE programs are judged by strict criteria established by the Surgical Review Corporation and the American College of Surgeons. Both accrediting bodies conduct thorough on-site inspections to ensure excellent preoperative and postoperative care.
2. The surgeon's experience performing gastric banding, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy procedures. Experienced gastric banding, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy surgeons have been shown to report significantly lower bariatric surgery complication rates and shorter operating times.²² You are entitled to ask about the number of procedures a surgeon has performed and the clinical outcomes data.
3. Your confidence in the bariatric surgeon. You may want to take the opportunity to speak with the surgeon's patients. Patients willing to refer family, friends, and other interested candidates are a good indication of the surgeon's quality.
4. The surgeon's commitment to your success. Your gastric banding, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy surgeon should provide long-term care with follow-up appointments, information, and support resources, including the REALIZE mySUCCESS^® Program. This Web-based clinical support tool keeps you connected with your bariatric practice and allows your surgeon to step in precisely when needed to keep you on track. Ask your surgeon how he or she will use REALIZE mySUCCESS^® to help you achieve and maintain a healthier weight.
5. The staff at the surgeon's office. Your bariatric team will include the surgeon and members of the surgeon's staff, such as the program coordinator and a dietitian. You will work closely with this team before and long after surgery, so it's important for you to meet everyone and talk about how you will work together to help you reach your goals.
6. Whether the surgeon is part of your insurance network. If you have health insurance, we recommend contacting your insurance provider to see if the surgeon you choose and the surgery you select are covered by your plan. Choosing a surgeon that is part of your insurance network can help reduce out-of-pocket costs. If you need assistance, we can sow you how to work with your insurance provider.

The best place to find a bariatric surgery clinic: an information seminar

To find a surgeon who meets your needs, we encourage you to attend weight loss information seminars in your area. Each seminar is hosted by a bariatric clinic that offers the REALIZE^® Solution^† for gastric banding, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy. You'll learn about surgical options, you'll meet bariatric team members who will support you before and long after your surgery, and you may also hear from patients who have had weight loss surgery. There's no pressure to make a commitment—and no better way to get your questions answered.

If you don't feel that the bariatric clinic hosting the seminar fits your needs, we encourage you to attend another seminar in your area. Many people find it helpful to attend more than one before they choose a surgeon.

Use our seminar finder to locate a seminar in your area, and register to ensure that you have a seat because seminars often fill up.

Want to talk it over? We're ready to help. Call us at 1-866-300-1818 if you have questions or concerns or want help finding a seminar near you.