Question:
Can a general surgeon perform WLS?
I am currently with blue cross california care. My medical group approved my referral. I was hoping the doctor would be one of the familiar ones I have seen on this website. Instead,the doctor is a general surgeon who removed my gallbladder a couple of years ago. How can I find out if he is qualified for this type of procedure -- gastric bypass? — [Anonymous] (posted on November 2, 2001)
November 1, 2001
I think the easiest thing to do would be to call his office and ask if he
performs this surgery. The surgeon I had is a general/trauma surgeon. I
think, unless you go to a center that does nothing but WLS, most of the
surgeons are general. Good luck with your upcoming surgery. :)
— Jennifer H.
November 1, 2001
The first thing I did was go to the Medical board of my states website. You
can look up your doctors credentials, find out if they have had any
disciplinary actions against them, find out what their specialty is, how
long they have been in practice, and when their up for renewal. You can
find alot of valuable information on this site. I looked up the California
Medical board (but I didn't know you doctors name) but you can do it with
California also. Some states want you to call them and they will send you
info. Infact, there was a surgeon I was considering out of state and found
that he had a disciplinary action against him. I called the states medical
board and they sent me the papers where he had been sued for malpractice.
Well, I'm glad I did that. He was off my list of potentials.
— K T.
November 1, 2001
My surgeon was a general surgeon that was skilled in laparoscopy for
gastric, liver, spleen and various other surgeries. He'd done the bypass
50 times. I just brought like 40 questions with me when I had my
consultation, talked to other patients he had etc... I was satisfied with
his skill. Good luck and God Bless!
— Kimberly L.
November 1, 2001
Personally I would'nt have a general surgeon for this type of surgery! But
maybe I'm just 'too cautious'. In my opinion to many things
"could" (but probally would'nt) go wrong. But if possible, TALK
to anyone who had WLS with this surgeon. "I would never have it done
if I did'nt know of others who had WLS with him"! I've had to many
other types of surgeries that did'nt go well in the past, and would be
terrified to have surgery with someone who had'nt at least performed the
Bypass on "at least a few other people" and done so
"successfully". But that does'nt mean it would go bad for you,
but I would be concerned. As far as "asking" a surgeon if he is
qualified for any type of surgery, I was FLAT OUT LIED TO by a surgeon I
had many years ago for a non WLS surgery. And I had no other patients of
his to talk to. I now know why,... he was a butcher. And since I had no
idea on how to check him out, I just got butchered badly and have no trust
or love for the medical profession. So I have had some bad experiences
where most people on this site (thankfully) seem to have had good ones. In
any case I would NEVER have WLS surgery without talking to others who have
had it with your surgeon... NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. But since you have had
surgery with this surgeon in the past, THAT IS A BIG PLUS. But do talk with
others he has done WLS on, if he has. Chances are he would do a good job, I
just hate for someone to "possibly" go through the mess I went
through in '93 when I got hurt badly by an incompetient boob.
Good luck with your up coming surgery.
— Danmark
November 1, 2001
The surgeon that will be performing my open RNY is a general surgeon. She
is skilled in the RNY surgery. I have talked to a couple of her patients
and they gave raving reviews. Just throughly check him out.
— Lynda T.
November 1, 2001
I too have BC Californiacare and just received my approval for WLS with a
gerneral Surgeon. I asked about going out of network to a specialist and I
was told by a friend that works for the ins. company that it would take
much longer to get approved and would cost a lot. I guess I will stick
with the general. I did ask the surgeon a lot of questions and I felt
comfortable with him. Let me know who your surgeon is, it would be funny
if we had the same one. e-mail me.
— Kathy P.
November 1, 2001
As I understand it most surgeons doing wls are general surgeons, with the
specialists in wls surgery getting that way because they do a lot of wls
surgeries. Rny itself is a technically simple sugery that most any general
surgeon can do. (Ds is more complicated) With this in mind, I would want
someone who had done a significant amount of surgeries, was used to working
on obese people, and who had quality aftercare. Best of luck,
— Becky K.
November 2, 2001
My surgeon is not specifically a bariatric specialist. He's an oncology
surgeon, but has done many RNYs. He is also head of the surgical critical
care unit and an instructor at the university teaching hospital where I
will have my procedure done. I have the utmost confidence and trust in him.
I also totally trust the hospital. In fact, the hospital choice was as huge
as the surgeon choice to me when first starting out in this journey. I had
two qualified doctors in mind and the hospital ended up being the deciding
factor. This is such a multi-faceted decision. Do what the other posters
are suggesting...research, talk to people and do all of your homework
before making your final decision. And Good Luck!!!!
— Donna L.
November 2, 2001
My surgeon isn't a bariatric specialist, he is a general surgeon, who has
done many many RNY's. Call the office and ask, and see if they will give
you references, other patients that have had it done, Also ask, how long
has he been doing RNY, and how many. Best wishes to you!
— Carey N.
November 2, 2001
I think a foot surgeon can do bariatric surgery if he wants... the question
is 'should you let him do it'. This is a highly technical major procedure.
I wouldnt let a surgeon who specializes in anything but RNY surgery do my
RNY. This surgery is becoming high profile and many surgeons are expanding
their practice to include this procedure. Very few elective surgeries have
people lining up for a year foaming at the mouth for surgery other than
RNY. I am reading about more post op mistakes now that this surgery has
become so much more sought after. Choose wisely and get someone who does
these on a regular basis. This is of course my opinion but I reasearched
big time for this and chose someone who has done thousands of lap rny's and
works from a center where teh entire staff knows how to handle WLS
patients.
— SusanMaria
November 3, 2001
Susan is absolutely right! :)
— Danmark
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