Where did you get your DS done?

Given the choice,  and no medical reason not to,  I would never choose open over lap.

After working in surgery for 10 years, there are lots of reasons I would choose open over lap. Both approaches have positives and negatives. One of my biggest concerns was time under anesthesia, and with Dr. A that is shorter than most anyone doing it lap. Plus Dr. A has a great reputation, and  has a low rate of complications.
For a relatively easy procedure, appy, gallbladder, then definitely I'd do it lap, but for a more complicated procedure, the DS, I just don't want to do that lap. I like the fact that my surgeon will get his hands on my small bowel, able to feel around. 
Plus, I don't have have to travel (oh maybe 30 minutes if traffic is bad). That is a big plus, my family is right here. I have kids that I really didn't want to leave alone for a week or more, or make my husband take off work for a long time as well. 

I had a lap fundi wrap, and suffured imensly, with the smilly face and the hernia and the pain post op,  but the open proceedure that Dr A did and he repaired two of the lap hernias left behind was painless and totally uneventful. never will have lap again.
 Doctor playing with robot toys.

 I watched a video online from the camera of a lap ds, it scared me to death but I have no clue how a surgeon can see through that thing. lol. I wanted open so he could see everything. Made me feel better in addition it was cheaper for the one I preferred so that is why I chose open over lap.

Good luck Lisa!  I have seen you around quite a bit and I am really excited for you.  I am sitting here in my size 12 jeans (down from a 22) and although its not been easy, it has been worth it.  

 Thanks Sarah Anne!

That shocked me too at first.  I'm sure you've been told the reasons, most of which boil down to $$.

A lot of us had to travel to get our DS so we can help you with logistics.

I traveled about 4 hours and had to stay in a motel for a wee****il my first post-op check-up.  I would stay in a motel for a MONTH  if I had to.

I went to north of Atlanta to Dr Smith.

~Becky

Mine is in town, Dr. Boyce, who is an excellent surgeon but has lousy aftercare. My husband went to NYC to Dr. Pomp and has not had any issues. His aftercare is handled by our PCP. As soon as my year is up, my PCP will handle mine as well.

While neither of them are on DSFacts, you can find patients from both of them here.

Liz

Pomp is one of the most experienced DS surgeons in the country.  He was on the original Gagner team.  He's been doing the DS for at least 11 years - he was doing them at Mt Sinai when I had my DS in March of 2000.

dsfacts is not perfect...

Pomp is at Cornell,  one of the best WLS programs in the country,  and in fact has a very robust team of people,  including psychologists, plastic surgeons,  nutritionists...all of whom actuallly know something about  bariatrics and bariatric surgery.  Including post-op.

http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/about/our_tea.html?name1=Our+Physicians+and+Staff&type1=2Active

I wanted Dr. Pomp but MY insurance would not cooperate, they approved the DS but I HAD to stay in state. Was on my third appeal to go to Dr. Pomp when Dr. Boyce agreed to do my surgery.

Dr. Pomp is a great surgeon and one heck of a doctor! He's also easy to talk to.

Liz