How to Choose a Great Bariatric Surgeon
So you’ve decided to pursue bariatric surgery, even decided on the type of surgery, but who should you choose as your surgeon?
Depending on where in the country you live, there may be only a handful to several dozen bariatric surgeons practicing in your area. Patients often search on Google Maps, or go to “find a doctor” on their insurance company portal, ask people they know who have had bariatric surgery, or get a referral from their primary care doctor. However, some of these methods don’t offer much insight into the quality of the surgeon or if their patient care approach is a good fit for you.
I have had the privilege of working with some pretty amazing bariatric surgeons over my career. Let me share a few pointers on what I think a patient should look out for when selecting a bariatric surgeon.
#1 - Operates at a hospital or surgery center that is accredited as a Comprehensive Center for bariatric surgery by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).
The MBSAQIP is THE standard measuring stick for facilities that offer high quality bariatric surgeries. It sets a high bar for any surgeon to be allowed privileges to perform bariatric surgeries. You don’t need to worry about the medical education, board certification, acquisition of formal training in bariatric surgery like a fellowship, the career total volume, or safety record of a surgeon who operates at an MBSAQIP accredited hospital, because they have been thoroughly vetted out for you. Surgeons often operate at multiple facilities, but at least one of them should be an MBSAQIP accredited center.
#2 - Well defined processes for surgery “work-up” before surgery, patient education, and long-term follow-up. These are called patient care pathways.
It should be clear as day what your surgeon is planning to do to prepare you for surgery and to make sure you are sufficiently informed of how to care for yourself after surgery. This usually involves a team of professionals such as a registered dietitian, psychologist or behavioral specialist, primary doctor, cardiologist, endocrinologist, sleep medicine physician, and others. You should have written and/or digital forms of education materials so you know what your surgeon’s specific instructions for preparation and recovery after surgery will be. It’s likely you will also need endoscopy, EKG, chest x-ray, imaging studies if you had a previous surgery, baseline labs, and possibly a sleep study or cardiac stress test.
There is always a degree or risk to have any kind of surgery. The more the surgeon understands your medical history and current status of your health, then they can advise you on the best type of surgery you should have and also minimize your risk of complications.
#3 - Patient-centered approach to care is right up there with being a competent surgeon with an efficient practice.
I was once in a large meeting with hospital administrators and the bariatric program leadership to discuss strategic plans for growing the bariatric service line. I stood up and passionately expressed my opinion that most patients implicitly trust that a surgeon is competent in the skills to perform bariatric surgery, but they want to go where they feel the surgeon truly CARES about them and puts their health and safety first.
Some examples of patient-centered care may be:
The surgeon talks to you before surgery and rounds on you before you discharge from the hospital.
The surgeon personally meets with you at your first post-surgery follow-up in the clinic.
The surgeon is willing to put your surgery on hold or keep you longer in the hospital after surgery if certain checks are not met. Your safety is paramount, even if it is an inconvenience to you and your surgeon.
The surgeon takes time to listen to your concerns and will refer you to other specialists if necessary. Bariatric surgeons are often extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of weight management, but great surgeons are also willing to acknowledge when your needs are best met with other professionals.
I really and truly hope you have an awesome surgeon in your corner as you embark on this weight loss journey!
