How did you choose your Surgeon?

I have went to a number of bariatric clincs and I have decided to go ahead and have the surgery.  I even know the type of surgery I want (RNY).  The problem that I have now is knowing the surgeon that I want to perform my surgery.  I have been looking at three places.  When you went to meet with the surgeons did you know that this was the surgeon for you.  I mean this person will be cutting on me.  I have never had an operation, I want to make sure that he/she is the right surgeon for me.

I had to go to a Center of Excellence per my insurance company, so I chose Grand Health Partners in Grand Rapids.  After attending their orientation, speaking w/the surgeon, and talking to a few previous patients, I chose to go with Dr. Foote from GHP. They have a great office, helpful and friendly office staff, and the surgeons are wonderful as well.  If you live near Grand Rapids I'd suggest looking them up.

www.grandhealthpartners.com

My PCP recommended my surgeons office which is now Grand Health Partners. I knew the reputation of one of the surgeons there and knew it was a center of excellence. At the seminar my surgeon spoke and I like him so when scheduling I just decided to stick w/ him but any of the other surgeons in the office would have been fine w/ me as well.

I think the support staff and the whole program are just as important as the surgeon.  I saw my surgeon like maybe 5 times.  One appt before surgery, the day of surgery, the day I left the hospital, at 2 weeks, and at 2 months.  I doubt that I'll see him again.  He had a great reputation and I didn't really click with him personally, but I knew he did good work.  Now, on the other hand, I love the PA and registered dietician.  I have spend much more time with them and they answer all my questions and explain things well.  I also like the psychologists they have on staff that help with support groups and some other programs.  I went through U of M.  I guess I'm not saying don't look at the surgeon, but it is more than just the surgeon.  When I read people's posts on the RNY forum - I can't believe the lack of support and education they got with their program and that is really bad.  It is hard to be successful if you don't get all the information you need.

Good luck!

I also had to go to a "Center of Excellence" per my insurance and at the time the closest one to me was Hurley Bariatrics in Flint.  They were amazing and I was very happy with the choice.  I did meet with another surgeon, but chose to stick with the one that was only an hour away vs. 3 hours away.  When it came to my follow up care and everything it made a big difference.  Now I am just followed with my PCP though.  I understand your hesitance with never having had any surgeries before... Seemed pretty routine for me, since my surgery list is a bit lengthy, but I still had a hard time with my choice as well.  Good Luck to you on making your decision....

 

Hugs to You! 

 I had went to 4 bariatric seminars. my 5Th one was it I know I wanted my surgeon i have now. he is so tough which i needed to be able to loose weight. but than he is so sweet also. i had no fear in is ability to cut on me he has done my VSG and my gallbladder just 2 weeks ago. he is very careful. I think you would like him to.

I just totally lucked out, but if I knew than what I knew now....

1)  I would ONLY consult with a surgeon that is capable of performing ALL FOUR of the major WLS options.  It is scary to me how much faith people put in a person because of the "M.D." after their name, and don't connect the financial incentive to convince people that what is the best for them is limited to what the surgeon can provide for them.  At the practice I used (Grand Health Partners in G.R.), people tend to go with the surgeon who gives the orientation, and almost without fail, the "perfect surgery" for that person is the one the surgeon prefers or is capable of.  In that office, Dr. Kemmeter is the ONLY surgeon I can recommend.

2)  Geographic proximity to my surgeon seemed so important pre-op, and post-op I realize how that should not have even been a consideration.  My surgical practice was recommended to me by my PCP, and it is less than a mile from my home, and so is the hospital where my surgery was performed.  While I see my surgeon often (he is very involved in supporting post-ops), I have yet to have any  *reason*  to see him.  Like you said -- the surgeon is the cutter.  Post-op, you are really the one responsible for your after-care needs.  I would now travel anywhere for who I consider the top three surgeons:  Kemmeter, Rabkin, and Keshisian.

3)  Some people really feel the need to "click" with their surgeon.  I happen to, but in reality, I wanted a brilliant surgeon, and could have cared less if he were an asshole.  I checked out my surgeon via hospital staff that I knew --- if they won't let someone touch them, than you know it isn't someone you want touching you!  Turns out my surgeon is extremely highly regarded from nurses to other surgeons, and on top of that he is the go-to guy for abdominal trauma.  Made me feel really comfortable that if he got in there (which he does Lap, as an open surgery was out of the question for me), and there were issues while I was on the table, he would not only know how to handle the issue, but also he wouldn't freak by the pressure.

4)  I wouldn't consider any surgeon who doesn't perform WLS laparoscopically  There is no reason, in this day and age, to go in knowing that the surgery will be performed open.  Surgeons who do this are out of date, and their reasoning for sticking with open is strictly because they can't do the procedure lap, even though they will tell you otherwise.

5)  Being a COE means jack squat as far as surgical skill, but it is often required by insurance that you use a COE.  Just don't be fooled into thinking that just because it is a COE that you are in superior hands.

If you haven't considered the DS, please do so.  It is the most effective WLS at keeping your weight off LONG TERM  --- many people seek the DS after another WLS has failed them.  Revisions are risky, so think twice & cut once.  You can get a lot of information on the DS on my link to DSFacts.com on my signature, and also by visiting the DS Forum here on OH.

I had initially chosen to go with Dr. Gluck in Muskegon.
After finding this site and reading about VSG & DS I decided to go only to a surgeon that performed all 4 surgeries.
I have chosen Kemmeter based on what Guate Wife has already stated.
Due to my higher BMI I have chosen the surgery that will give me the best results long term.
I am not going through this twice..  DS for me!

I made alot of my desicions based on collective studies and all of the forums and blogs on OH.
I researched the Surgeons I was looking at (Foote & Kemmter) and chose due to history & number of surgeries performed.
I get along with just about anybody and have a very upbeat attitude and got along with Kemmeter very quickly. He does ecpect you to know what you are talking about and he was SUPER releived and pleased that I had already done my research and knew what he was talking about.

I agree with Jean - I chose where I had my surgery based on the whole program rather than just the surgeon.  I am so happy with my choice of surgeons (Dr. Kralovich of Hurley Bariatric Center) but I chose Hurley becasue of their extensive after care program. 

I went to three different seminars and then went to Hurley.  As soon as I sat through the seminar and asked questions, I knew it was the place for me.  My insurance only covered the surgery if it as performed at a Center of Excellence and Hurley is. 

Dr. Kralovich did my surgery and my three kids surgery (all RNY) and we have all been successful with absolutely no complications!

Good Luck to you!
Nan

 I went with Grand Health Partners after much research.  My insurance also requires a COE facility and so I restricted my search to those particular facilities but I would have considered going out of state if that was what it took to find the right surgeon for me.

I attended the GHP orientation to find out more information because at the time I was still a little reluctant to consider surgery.  I was only aware of the Lap Band and RNY surgeries but saw that other surgeries I'd not heard about were being performed at GHP and I wanted to find out more (I KNEW I didn't want a lap band and had some misgivings with the RNY).   Dr. Foote was the surgeon that did the orientation and I was VERY excited when I heard about the VSG and the DS.  I originally chose to go with Dr. Kemmeter because of his experience and sat down with him for my first consult.  I only had about 100lbs to lose and he didn't feel that the DS was necessary for me and stated that I would probably do very well with a VSG.  

Although Dr. Kemmeter does all the surgeries he said that if I was considering VSG that I might want to consider going with Dr.Foote as Dr. Foote was their practice's go-to guy for VSG and so I transferred over to Dr. Foote for my surgery.  

I'm VERY happy with my aftercare and am thrilled with my surgery.  Dr. Foote tends to create tight sleeves so I have PLENTY of restriction and although these ending stages of my weight loss are going slowly (I'm within 15-30 lbs of goal - my final goal hasn't really been determined since I'm much smaller than expected at my current weight and I may not be able to make it to our original weight goal) it has been steady and I continue to lose.

Really, I would trust any of the surgeons in the GHP practice, but that is my personal view.