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It is extremely important to find a legitimate surgeon if you are considering having a bariatric procedure. Most surgeons in the United States are competent, but not unlike many other areas of medicine there are a few “quacks” out there that should be avoided. Even though all such surgeons are required to have certification, some surgeons have more training and/or experience than other surgeons. Reviewing a doctor’s credentials is an essential element in choosing the right bariatric surgeon.

It is a good idea to look for surgeons who offer the most modern gastric bypass techniques and/or utilize the latest advances in LAP-Band technology procedures. The bariatric surgeon or surgeons that you are considering should have an exceptional success rate with low incidence of serious complications. In general, bariatric procedures have a high success rate, but there are still risks involved as there are with any surgery. Choosing an exceptional surgeon will help to minimize these risks.

It is vitally important that you do not allow cost to be the determining factor when choosing a bariatric surgeon. In some cases, surgeons will charge less due to inexperience, lack of training, or both.

Bariatrics involves more than just surgery, so it is essential to find a surgeon and clinic that addresses all your individual needs and concerns. A bariatric treatment facility should have the following:

1. An office staff that is knowledgeable in regard to the specials needs of bariatric patients.
2. A staff that understands insurance problems and the issues that can arise with third party payers.
3. The clinic should have special facilities and equipment for obese patients.

It is also essential that hospitals that board bariatric patients to be supportive throughout the surgical process. The following are suggested questions for patients to address:

1. Are the anesthesiologists comfortable with morbidly obese patients?
2. Is the nursing staff knowledgeable in regards to the special needs of bariatric patients?
3. Are there special facilities available to larger patients?
4. Does the hospital openly promote its bariatric program?
5. Are intensive and critical care facilities sufficient and acceptable?

There aren’t any “written in stone” guarantees in any branch of surgical medicine. Occasionally even simple procedures have unanticipated results. However, this risk can be minimized if a patient is willing to do his or her homework when choosing a surgeon.

Experience of a particular surgeon can be determined by several components:

1. Number of years in the bariatric branch of medicine
2. Number of surgeries performed by a particular surgeon
3. Variety of procedures that a surgeon has experience performing
4. Participation and/or leadership in a professional organization specifically dedicated to bariatrics

Current data suggests that complication rates, including mortality rates, have a direct correlation to the number of surgeries that an individual surgeon has performed and the number of procedures that have been performed at a given hospital or surgical clinic.

Certification by the American Board of Surgeons shows that a particular surgeon has done the following:

1. Completed a training program accredited by the American Board of Surgeons.
2. Passed both oral and written examinations given regularly by the Board to new surgeons upon completion of training
3. Recertification is required through another written exam every ten years in order for surgeons to maintain active certification status.

This certification is necessary for surgeons to obtain membership with most professional groups specific to their field.

The American Society of Bariatric Surgeons (ASBS) is the only professional society in the United States specific to the field of bariatrics. The ASBS has proposed requirements for certifying both hospitals and surgeons regarding the special needs of severely overweight individuals.

The ASBS also gives educational seminars and classes for its members and other interested individuals throughout the year. Many ASBS members believe that a competent bariatric surgeon should regularly attend ASBS meetings and maintain current knowledge and training in the latest treatment methods and technologies in the bariatric field.

To attain a regular membership in the ASBS a surgeon must be certified with the American Board of Surgeons and be in current good standing within his or her community. Affiliate members either lack experience in the bariatric field (have performed less than 25 procedures), are not Board certified, or both.

A legitimate and qualified surgeon should be able to clearly answer your questions-without causing any additional confusion-regarding the exact details of the procedure you are considering. Many surgeons require that you meet with a nutritionist and/or a psychologist. This is to help build a clear and solid understanding of the entire bariatric therapy process both before and after the surgical procedure and the changes in behavior that are necessary for the long-term success of the bariatric procedure.

Ultimately, it is up to you to make the final decision when choosing a bariatric surgeon. Upon gathering the necessary information and checking surgeons’ credentials, you must choose the surgeon with whom you are the most comfortable and who you believe will best accommodate your individual bariatric treatment wishes. However, you must keep in mind that ultimate success depends mostly on your own commitment to making lifelong lifestyle changes after the surgery.