Question:
What if a surgeon is

I'm in the process of getting a referal. I realize I should ask my surgeon how many proceedures he's performed. How many surgeries is considered adequate...10 or 20 or 100??    — Vicki V. (posted on February 6, 2003)

February 6, 2003
Obviously, the more successful surgeries the better. I would rather have a dr. who has performed 100 successful sugeries with no/few complications than someone who has done a thousand with a high rate of complications. The number will also vary for those who perform this surgery only as opposed to those who do many types of surgeries. I would also rather have a Dr. who was been a surgeon for 20 years, but has only performed 100 of this procedure, that someone who is fresh from med. school and has only done 100 of these surgeries and nothing else. But those are just my rationalizations. Listen to lots of opinions and go with the one that makes the most sense to you.
   — Amy W.

February 6, 2003
Yes, I think that is imporant, to me, my main questions were, how long, how many, how many deaths, is this your main area of concentration, is the hosital a teaching facility (teaching facilities/univ hospitals are better and more up to date with technology), is bariatric surgery your main are of focus, does the hospital specialize in these types of surgeries, are they equipped to take care of larger patients, etc. Good Luck!
   — heathercross

February 6, 2003
just my 2 cents worth, i went to btc because this is all they do and my surgeon has performed 2500 plus surgeries in 5 years, it makes me feel pretty good...
   — Michelle L.