Though Bariatric Surgery is considered very effective in treating obese people, it is not completely without risks. So caution should be applied while choosing a Bariatric Surgeon. It should be kept in mind that in any bariatric surgery the post operation monitoring of weight loss and health benefits goes on for a long time. So a long term relationship with surgeon and his team is implied.
The foremost requirement is going through the Bariatric Surgeon’s credentials, education history and experience. He should have spent one year enhancing his Laparoscopic general and bariatric surgery skills in addition to five years spent to study surgery. The certified surgeons from the Board of American College of Surgeons have better credentials.
The next certification to look for is the ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) Centre of Excellence certification, which is given for the Doctor as well as the Hospital. This certificate is a proof that the surgeon is up to date with the latest studies and is constantly learning more about Bariatric Surgery. And he has the right level of experience including a minimum of 125 procedures a year. The hospital facilities are specifically designed for bariatric patients.
The surgeon should discuss the benefits and risks of the surgery with the patients to keep them clear and well informed.
The surgeon should have a multi-disciplinary team consisting of well trained nursing staff, anesthesiologists, dietician, nutritionists, psychologists and exercise specialist. This surgery involves many pre and post operative procedures to be followed which are coordinated by this co-team of the surgeon.
The patient should also know that gastric bypass mortality rate is 1 in 200 and gastric band mortality rate is 1 in 1000. It helps to know whether the surgeon is under or at par with the national average.
Generally while one may look for a bariatric surgeon in one’s locality cheaper surgical options do let people consider getting bariatric surgery done from foreign countries. In some of the countries like Mexico, such surgeries have been done before it was done in America. But the patients have to confirm about insurance matters with their insurance companies and also see that it is economical.
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