Doctor experience

[Ljones1 48]

I just found out the doctor I picked to do my sleeve don't have more than 3years of experience,what should I do? I'm at the end of my check list and think I should pick an more experience doctor I only picked her because she was not as booked up as the other doctor and she's a female I know stupid what to do I have my last nutrition meeting the 8th at the time I need to no what I'm going to do.

[Camella 209]

I think the important question is how long has she been a surgeon? What is her track record as a surgeon (bariatric or otherwise). I made a choice between two surgeons. I chose one who had done less sleeves, but he was an accomplished general surgeon with 30 yrs experience. Obviously it takes time for doctors to establish a track recored and they can't all have done 300 sleeves before they operate on you. I had a good feeling about my surgeon, I like his approach. So what I did to confirm my decision was (through this forum and via a support group) I spoke to past patients of both doctors and then made my choice.

[Ljones1 48]

Thanks for replying. I have to attend a support group to the hospital she works at I went to the other location because I overslept the last one didn't want to wait another month.

[Arts137 1,811]

ummm, a lot is relationship -- does it feel right to you.

Then I'd suggest asking how many sleeves do you do every month? The sleeve is not a complicated procedure, but it's alo not a joint replacement... so I wanted by surgeon to know a spleen from synovial fluid...

[Camella 209]

ummm, a lot is relationship -- does it feel right to you.

Then I'd suggest asking how many sleeves do you do every month? The sleeve is not a complicated procedure, but it's alo not a joint replacement... so I wanted by surgeon to know a spleen from synovial fluid...

Good point - also ask how many she has done in total.

[adargie 159]

I asked my surgeon how many sleeves he had done and he said 850, I asked him how many had complications or death he said he ends of fixing more of other surgeons mistakes! And that the only deaths his patients had were from car accidents!! yikes

[tigerbelle 328]

I asked some of the same questions adargie did....everybody is different of course, but to me the choice of surgeon was of crucial importance in my process...the surgeon I ultimately chose was the third one I consulted...as Arts posted above, the relationship just needs to fit and feel right for you...I sincerely believe--based on my research and other factors--that my surgeon is the most skilled at the VSG in my city, and I had (and have) great trust in him....for me that was crucial

[TwinsMama 483]

The first surgeon I was going to go with is one of the most popular ones in my area. Then I met my surgeon and she was awesome. She was also half his age (my age in fact) and I felt I could talk to her like she were a friend.

That made the decision for me. What I love about her is that she also does "fixes" for other surgeons that make mistakes. She works the ER and does other types of surgery so I felt while she was not the most experienced at WLS she sure knew her stuff.

Plus I liked that even though I had complications, she was up front and honest with me. Communicated openly with my family and even dropped by to check on me on her days off. The other surgeon might have done that, but I felt he was not nearly as personable as she was.