Wondering about the doc I might use

[kkandrod 1]

Ok, so I haven't gotten a for sure doctor yet. I want to go to my PCP first and have him refer me to one. BUT, I am going to ask him about this one doctor who did the lap band on a friend of mine and he came highly recommended. I called this doctor's office and spoke for a long while with the desk and she answered a ton of questions for me with no problem at all. And I felt ok with him being the one that I might be referred to. After reading about making sure your doc has done 300 or more VSG's I'm second guessing myself. This doc has only done 10 to 15 VSG's for weight loss. BUT he is also a general surgeon and has been doing similar surgeries to the VSG for stomach cancer and other reasons for many, many years. She said he loves the VSG surgery and would love to be doing them more than any other WLS but hasn't because there are only a couple insurance companies that cover and around here, most are not going to have the money to self pay, so that makes sense. Cuz I'm not going to be able to self pay if my insurance declines me because my BMI isn't 40.

Anyway, he has had zero complications from the VSG's he has done. So do I take comfort in that and the fact that he is also a very, very experienced general surgeon who has done a ton of surgeries involving the stomach and even removal of part of the stomach? Or do I write him off completely as a choice because he's only done 10 to 15 VSG's?

Thanks in advance and God bless!

Krystal

[Tiffykins 673]

I would want to know how many gastrectomies he's performed. A lot or several isn't a solid enough answer for me.

My revision hadn't perform a ton of revisions, but he had done over 200 sleeves, and over 400 RNY surgeries, and he had removed several lap bands without revising. So, while that might not of been good enough for some, it was good for me. Plus, he had zero leaks, or deaths with any of his patients. I met one of his patients and she raved about him. I grilled him intensely. I was his first leak, and honestly I can't blame him. The band destroyed my stomach tissue, and we didn't know the extent until he was in there. I honestly don't fault him for my complication. He repaired the leak immediately, and I had a much quicker recovery than other patients that have experienced leaks due to his surgical intervention to repair the leak.

A lot of this surgery is about surgical technique. A surgeon can use a standard size bougie and still make big sleeves or leave part of the fundus behind. The 300 number gives more practice therefore perfecting technique. And, of course, decreasing complications due to several surgeries under their belt.

Research, ask for patient testimonials, and get as much info on him and his sleeve patient's results.