trouble selecting a surgeon...help!

Hi everyone,
I am new to these message boards, so I hope I am posting in the right place!

I live in the DC metro area, but in MD, and am trying to select a surgeon. What criteria really mattered to you when you were making your decision?

I have found a surgeon and office staff I really like, but the surgeon has done only about 100-200 of the surgery that I would like (RNY). He is close to my house and follow-up will be easy. However, I know there are MUCH more experienced surgeons in Baltimore, and the reviews on them and their staffs have been iffy. Also, Baltimore is about an hour away.

How should I choose?

Thanks so much for any and all feedback.

Lissa

Welcome to the MD forum and congrats on beginning this journey. 

I did a lot of research asked everyone here lots of questions and I went to a couple of information sessions.  When I met my surgeon at the information session I knew he was the perfect one for me. 

Dr. Von Rueden is located in St. Agnes Hospital and he is wonderful. He did my surgery and my husband's surgery. 

Good luck!

In my case, my surgeon was recommended to me by my Primary Care MD. He was her surgeon. I figured if he was good enough for her, he was good enough for me. I was also impressed when I went to his seminar and learned that his practice was recognized as a center of excellence. It was obvious that he was experienced and was extremely cautious, taking extra precautions to ensure a good outcome. His practice also included a team of people who are dedicated to the entire process, not just the surgery itself. There are several surgeons in the Balto Metro area who have the Center of Excellence designation and I have good things about several of them on this board. I am not as familiar with surgeons closer to you.

This is a very personal decision. Besides the technical criteria to consider, I also believe that a rapport / confidence level with the surgeon is important as well. It sounds like you already have this with the MD you have found. You are going to have to decide if he is the right one for you.
 based on the criteria you feel is most important.

Wishing you all the best!

Debbie

hey there!  I live in hagerstown and my PCP totally recommended Dr. Kligman and I can see why.  Dr. Kligman is a doctor who cares about your success with your journey and will make you follow the rules in the aftercare.  He's very thorough and his bedside manner is stellar.   His staff is pretty awesome too.  Nice to talk to and deal with.  He is at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore which is a fairly easy place to get to.  It also helps that they have a nice new bariatric wing of the hospital and Dr. Kligman is the director of bariatric surgery.  Now with all that said, he won't take any BS excuses and will call you out if something's not right by not following the rules LOL  But that's something that I think everyone needs during this time of transition and reconditioning of your brain.

anyway, i totally recommend him to anyone.

Hi Lissa!  My surgeon was actually chosen by my insurance company and I have been nothing but happy with him.  I had Dr. Paul Lin...he's down at George Washington University Hospital in DC.  It takes me about 45 minutes or so to get down there for my follow-ups but it's been worth every mile.  The have a baraitric unit at the hospital and the nurses there really know what they're doing with the WLS patients.  Dr. Lin I think is the head of general surgery there at the hospital and he's done a lot of WLS's....just my $.02!

Hi Lissa,

We are so lucky to live in a metropolitan area that has such a great selection of qualified doctors and hospitals.  Personally I was looking for a Center of Excellence.  After that it was the reputation of the hospital.  Once I made up my mind where I wanted to go I wasn't to particular about bedside manners etc. of the surgeon but more the experience and track record of the surgeon.  Good luck in your reserach and serach, you will find the right fit for you. 

THANK YOU all so much for your fast and helpful replies!

The surgeon I really liked was Dr. Brian Long at Sibley in DC. Tonight I *tried* to go to an information session for Dr. Kligman, but after driving for 2 hours and still not getting there, I realized it wasn't gonna happen. If I went with him, I feel like I would never get to support group meetings, etc. because of the travel time.

I'm going to check out GWU and then just go for it!

Thanks so much again!

Lissa