south florida surgeon with exc. technique, 32-34F

I'm pretty much parroting what I'm reading on the forums since I'm at the research/newbie/clueless stage, but apparently this is what I should be looking for in a surgeon.  Any ideas?  Thanks!

The first step is to see which doctors are accepted by your insurance. From there go back to the boards and see who, of those doctors that are accepted, people have been using.
I have tricare prime through the Army, and I am using Dr. Echevarria in Tampa at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Hi Boneca, I appreciate the response.

I think I've decided I'm not going to worry too much about the size, but more about the technique, and that they cut most of the fundus so not as much stretchy part remains.  I hope I'm saying that right... lol... sooo not an expert. 

Anyway, thanks again.  Good luck with your surgery at St. Joseph's.  Wishing you well.

I'm not following the discussion. You said you were new, I told you how to find a doctor and suddenly you are talking about uterine surgery.

This conversation is too complicated for me.

"The first step is to see which doctors are accepted by your insurance. From there go back to the boards and see who, of those doctors that are accepted, people have been using."

That made sense to me, so I did what you said and called my insurance company for that information.  Unfortunately, they don't have a list of approved bariatric surgeons.  You have to know the name of the surgeon you are interested in first and then check if they are in the provider directory.  

And my questions were more specific, and I couldn't find the answers I was looking for in a search of the forum or even googling.  I was looking for Florida doctors who use a 32F bougie and the right technique that cuts closely.  These threads may help:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/4530388/Que stion-about-Dr-C-and-his-bougie-technique/page,1/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/4524158/Large-Fundus/

Probably because she said "fundus". There is a fundus of the stomach along with the uterus, bladder, gallbladder, etc. It actually means "the opposite of the opening" in medical terms...lol     32f refers to bougie size which is the tube size the dr uses to make the sleeved stomach a specific size. Some dr's make a smaller stomach than others, different schools of thought on stomach size vs weight loss long term. Hope that helps.  ps...I'm an old RN from years ago..

I guess you are looking for info on VSG?  I had mine 5 years ago, and my surgeon used a 36F, much to my chagrin.  But he insisted that going smaller didn't merit the risks, but that his technique of squeezing up tight against the boughie works better than someone being lose handed with a 32F.

 

Apparently, I have no complaints.  I'm still below goal and at this weight for over 4 years now.

Thanks for replying, summer.  That's great to hear  He sounds like a great surgeon and I will keep him in mind.  Congratulations on taking it off and keeping it off!  I sooo want to do the same.