OF all surgeries, which do you think is safest !!

I have not had weight loss surgery, just wanted to know has everyone had a good experience with their surgery? Thanks

 I think everyone here will agree that all types of WLS come with risks & even death. I do know that if you pick your surgeon, I recommend making sure they are a "Center of Excellence" and don't feel like you can't go to a consult if you don't know which one you specifically want, because that is something the doctor will talk to you about in seminar & in consult. Personally, my doctor let me know which surgery is most effective for a person of my weight & some surgeons will not do lap-band if you are over a specific BMI, knowledge is everything, attend a seminar & they will go over every procedure they do at the bariatric center & will be open for any & all questions. 

I'm one of Dr.Inman's DS(duodenal switch) patients, who went through St. Vincent's. As good as the St. Vincent's program is,   it is *not* true that you can go to any seminar and learn  about *all* of the surgeries available.

I knew I wanted the DS, but was about to settle for the RNY, because the doctor whose seminar I went to  did not perform the DS. 

The different doctors seminars will only talk about the surgeries they perform, at least this was my experience.  I was told that if I wanted the DS, I had to go to Dr. Inman's seminar.  I did, cancelled my RNY, and had to wait 6 more months to get my DS, but it was, and still is worth the wait.

If you're pre-op or revision, make SURE you educate yourself. Don't depend on the surgeons or programs to tell you *everything*.  They often do not!

I agree. I am going thru the Clarian program and I tell you.. they're a lot more strict than the St. Vince's program (this coming from people that work for my doctor) but.. I really would have rather gone thru St. Vince's program simply because: I don't care for Clarian hospitals. Period. I like St. Vincent and their staff-- I feel they give more attention and care to their paitents. (Hope that doesnt get me shafted during my surgery & stay this coming week. lol.) Its just a personal decision between you and YOUR doctor-- I do, like JazzBabe said, think you need to see the Dr that you really want and make sure they do the surgery before you invest a lot of time. Also, keep your thumb on the insurance department. Always check in. "The loudest wheel will get heard and will be oiled" if you know what I mean.

HD

hd-

I had no idea Clarian existed or was a Center of Excellence until after I'd gone through St. V's. I am from outside the service area, way up in Northern  Indiana. Not that it would have been of any consequence, because St. V's had already built the reputation of being the leader in bariatrics in the state. They started way back in the 1970's, when bariatric surgery was still a very new specialty.  It leaves me a little conflicted, though, since I'm an Indiana University alumna, and the hospitals are re-branding as "IU" instad of Clarian.

I think the "strict" comes from Dr. Inman.  The lady takes no BS!

I decided any WLS was safer than staying MO.  Research the 4 methods before making a  decision and I agree you need to consider a Center of Excellence.  The benefits of WLS far outweighed the chances I was dealing with.

I have had great sucess with the Lap Band. It has been a little over a year with 103lbs lost. I had Dr. Keith McEwen and was very pleased. He just moved but is in Noblesville. 317-621-2500 if interested

All major surgery, whihc includes weight loss surgery, has risks and safety issues.  Some surgeons will not do a full DS beyond a certain pre-surgery weight; you will either have to lose a set amount prior to surgery, or have a staged procedure. 

I had a tough time out of the gate; back in 48 hours after release for rehydration due to severe lactose intolerance and protein drinks which ran out all of my fluids.  I now use whey protein isolate.  Back in for rehydration the following month, the third month, hardly able to eat or drink, then upper GI scoped, which solved the eating/drinking problem, though I didn't have a stricture or any other technical problem with the surgery.

Everyone is different.  Some have absolutely NO post-surgical drama, others could write volumes about their bad experience.

Hospitals must make you aware of the risks associatied with your procedure.  It's called informed consent. You will have to sign documents indicating that you have been informed of the various risks associated with your surgery.  My progam had you do that way before the morning of surgery!