| Morbid obesity is a wide spread problem and a | | | | be a valuable asset to assess your doctor. For |
| rightly done bariatric surgery is a proper | | | | instance, you may need to know how your |
| treatment. Surgical procedures vary considerably | | | | surgeon coped with patients of various |
| in complexity and specialized training is needed to | | | | complications. A chat with other patients can also |
| perform them. It can lead to severe complications | | | | give you some details about your surgeon. |
| if not done correctly. You can go online, | | | | Checking doctor’s credentials by words of |
| participate in surgery-related forums, discuss with | | | | mouth and your own background research will |
| your family doctor and previous patients of | | | | allow you to get the right surgeon. This will save a |
| potential surgeons to get prior information about | | | | tremendous amount of time and good amount of |
| your surgeon. | | | | money that could have been wasted for nothing. |
| Undergoing surgery is a serious step; you should | | | | Using Internet can also be a good way to check |
| not take it lightly. You can ask other health | | | | your surgeon as most of them have their own |
| professionals to recommend for a specific | | | | websites revealing their credentials and |
| practitioner. Mostly, patients begin with their | | | | testimonials. |
| primary care doctor. If you are looking for a | | | | Procedures to check your bariatric surgeon |
| bariatric surgeon, always make sure he/she is | | | | 1. Get information on the present license status of |
| board certified in ‘surgery’ or ‘surgical | | | | the surgeon |
| critical care’. Make sure to check the | | | | 2. Investigate if he/she has any criminal record or |
| surgeon’s qualifications and credentials and | | | | other complaints against them |
| always consider having a second opinion. | | | | 3. Collect information from previous patients |
| Choose a bariatric surgeon who is communicative | | | | 4. Check the surgeon’s qualification and |
| and candid about the risks and benefits of | | | | experience |
| surgery and whose programs are based on | | | | 5. Check the number of cases the surgeon has |
| long-term management and lifelong follow-up. | | | | performed and the success rate |
| Communication is your first step to check the | | | | After you have chosen your surgeon, it is a good |
| credentials of your doctor. In case of any | | | | idea to compare him with others. This will |
| complication, you can expect your doctor to | | | | definitely give you an idea and a right surgeon to |
| inform you first. | | | | serve you. |
| Ask your surgeon as many questions as you | | | | If you are seriously considering weight loss |
| have in your mind to clarify your doubts. Any | | | | surgery, get as much information as you can |
| legitimate surgeon will not resent open and honest | | | | about the procedure, the complications, the |
| questions before you allow them to perform | | | | success and failure of the procedure and most |
| surgery. | | | | importantly, about the credential of your surgeon. |
| Previous testimonials about your surgeon can also | | | | |