Question:
Have any of you had more than one first consult with two difference surgeons?

I have an appointment with Dr. Margaret Inman in Indianapolis on 9-15 to attend the seminar and to meet with her afterwards. Today, Dr. Maher's office from the University of Iowa called and said they had a cancellation, and I could be seen there on October 1. I had been on their waiting list and was told about six weeks ago, it proably would be November or December before I could come for the first consult. So now I'm wondering if I should pin all my hopes on the Indiana doctor, or try and make the two different appointments. I don't have money to go traipsing around the country to check out surgeons. What have others done?    — Sandy C. (posted on September 2, 1999)

September 2, 1999
This is just my opinion, but I will tell you what I would do ... I would set up both appointments, then on the fifteenth, you can meet Dr. Inman. I have heard great things about her and her program, so most likely you will be happy with what you learn there, and then you could just cancel your appointment with Dr. Maher. Or, if you are not so happy with what you learn in Indianapolis, then you will have your appointment in Iowa City to get a second opinion without having to waste alot of time between appointments. Good Luck!
   — Lynn K.

September 2, 1999
Yes, I had three initial consults with three different clinics. I figured I wanted to know I was making the best decision possible and selecting the best surgery. Each clinic makes their surgery sound like it is the best solution. I even went as far as to let the first clinic file for insurance approval while I went on to the other two appointments. The first clinic got insurance approval but I ultimately selected clinic number 3 and had insurance approval switched accordingly (but least I knew early on I could get insurance approval).
   — Jennifer L.

September 3, 1999
Hi Sandy: I had consultations with several different surgeons before making my decision. I feel that this helped me to make the best decisions regarding my weight loss surgery that I could. I am very pleased with my choice, my surgeon and I hold similar views on WLS and aftercare. I don't think I would have felt as confident going in if I would have only spoken to one surgeon. And coincidentally, the first surgeon I saw was the one I chose to do my procedure. Thanks, Dr. Greenbaum! :o) Good luck. Jaye
   — Jaye C.

September 5, 1999
I had initial consults with 4 surgeons and then went back to the second one and did a second consult. I felt very informed on the decision I was making. I only had to pay my co-pay at each consult.
   — Donna D.

October 5, 2002
I had two first consults with two different Doctors. The first one was downright rude to me. I had been telling them from the beginning that I was moving about 4-5 weeks post-op and after talking with me for 30 minutes and talking about doing the surgery with me, he suddenly changed his approach and was telling me that no one would take me as a patient becuase I was not available for follow-up appts for one year at least. He then just got up and walked out of the room. I was so upset. I called my insurance and asked to switch to another Dr. Gave the name of the original Doctor that I had wanted and now I am one week away from my surgery date. My first choice was the second Doctor to begin with, so I feel very lucky.
   — Janina S.