|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – You have tried – and failed –diet after diet and are now thinkingabout weight loss surgery. You’ve read all about the potential benefits of these surgeries as well as their downsides, and know that choosing an experienced surgeon is the No. 1 way to maximize your results and minimize your risk of complications.
But how do you choose?
Many weight loss surgeons promote themselves on billboards, in magazines and the on Internet. While this doesn’t make them bad surgeons per se, it also doesn’t guarantee that they are qualified.Doing a little research and asking the right questions during your consultation can help you choose.
For starters, bariatric surgeons should be board-certified by American Board of Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery. Such certification tells you that this surgeon has completed a rigorous training program and has met very-specific standards. Surgeons must be recertified every 10 years.
“It is also best if he or she has completed a fellowship in bariatric surgery; however, this is tough for the older surgeons who have been doing it prior to fellowships even existing,”
says Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery medical advisor Christine Ren Fielding, MD. She is the founder and director of the New York University Langone Program for Surgical Weight Loss in New York City. Fielding suggests making sure the surgeon is a member of American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). This tells you that they are up-to-speed on the latest bariatric surgery developments. Dr. Blackstone is now president of ASMBS: www.asmbs.org
Whether gastric banding, gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, where you have your procedure is also important. Most experts recommend choosing an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence or a program in the American College of Surgeons Bariatric Network.These certifications stress safety, proficiency and volume. Research has shown that bariatric surgery outcomes are better in hospitals that perform higher numbers of these surgeries.
Questions to Ask
There are several important questions that you should ask a prospective surgeon, says Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery medical advisor Robin Blackstone, MD. She is the current president-elect of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, surgeon and Director at the Scottsdale Bariatric Center, and Medical Director at the Scottsdale Healthcare Bariatric Program in Scottsdale, Ariz.
These include:
What different types of weight loss procedures do you offer?
“It is hard to get true informed consent if the surgeon only offers one type of surgery; [this means] they are doing the same procedure regardless of the patient’s specific obesity-related problems, body mass index and age, etc.,” Blackstone says. “Surgeons that do a variety of procedures usually give well-rounded information and help the patient pick the best procedure for them.“The main types of weight loss surgery include gastric banding with the Lap Band or Realize Band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and the duodenal switch.
How many cases do you perform annually of each type?
There is no perfect answer or magic number, Blackstone says. Some research suggeststhat surgeons get better with each procedure they perform. Data from the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative found that the risk of dying and/or experiencing major complications was lowest when the surgeon did more than 300 cases per year.
What kind of follow-up care do you recommend?
Your journey is just beginning after your bariatric surgery, so you need a follow-up plan, she says. “Most surgeons will offer patients an opportunity to follow up frequently in the first year and annually after that. However, many patients prefer to follow up with their primary care doctor,” Blackstone says. If this is the case, make sure your primary care doctor knows what you need to be watched for. This may include nutritional deficiencies and or weight regain. Fielding adds that follow-up varies for each procedure. For example, people who choose gastric banding are seen monthly for first six to 12 months, then every three to six months during the second and third year after surgery and annually after that.
The Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgeryprovides detailed information about weight loss surgery,including information about who make the best candidates for each procedure, the recovery time after surgery and appropriate expectations. This site helps you choose the best local bariatric surgeon for your needs. Go to: http://www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/
###
Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and receive current Health News, be eligible for discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7.
www.HealthNewsDigest.com
For advertising/promotion, email: [email protected] Or call toll free: 877- 634-9180