Question:
Board Certified in 'Bariatrics' or 'Surgery'

Is there such a thing as Board Certification in Bariatrics? I'm confused reading the posts -- would this qualify a trained surgeon or would should they be qualified in both surgery and bariatrics (if there is a board certification?)    — Toni B. (posted on November 25, 1999)

November 26, 1999
Most bariatric surgeons are board certified in general surgery. There is no such thing as board certification specifically for bariatric surgery. There is the ASBS (American Society for Bariatric Surgeons) but they do not certify their members. The surgeons just pay money to join, which shows that they are serious about their specialty, but doesn't indicate their qualifications. To tell if a surgeon is qualified, you can look at his years of experience, the number of bariatric surgeries he has performed, and speak with him and his former patients. Good Luck!
   — Lynn K.

November 26, 1999
Here's my understanding: first, your surgeon would be a Fellow of American College of Surgeons (FACS after his name and MD); Bariatrics is a sub-specialty of surgery, and if the surgeon is a certified bariatric surgeon, he would be listed on the ASBS site. Hope this helps! Cindy
   — Cynthia B.

November 26, 1999
A Bariatric surgeon who is a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) or the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO) and attends the conferences will be up on the latest procedures, information, and products such as the "Switch to Spray Nutrition", and therefore will be at the top of the Bariatric feild. For more information on Bariatric surgeons, visit http://www.asbs.org. For more information on the "Switch to Sprays", visit http://www.credden.mybsns.com Other links such as the IFSO can be found at http://www.obesity-online.com
   — James R.

November 26, 1999
Yes there are board certified doctor. check out the American Society for Bariatrics Surgery at www.asbs.org
   — Lynn H.

November 26, 1999
Yes there is such a thing go to the Amercian Society for Bariatric Surgery at http://www.asbs.org/ You can also get list of Bariatric Doctors in your area.
   — Cathy D.

November 26, 1999
No. There is an association called the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, which requires submission of your results and reccomendations from other bariatric surgeons, but no Board of Bariatric surgery. There is an American Board of Surgery which certifies General Surgeons, which is what most Bariatric surgeons start out as, and I think that Bariatric surgeons should be board certified in surgery.
   — Bruce B.