Question:
Alliance is trying to send me to a general surgeon for RNY consultation.

I am insisting on having a bariatric surgeon. I am convinced that this procedure should be performed by an experienced bariatric surgeon. I wouldn't go to a cardiac surgeon for a gynacological procedure. Since it appears Alliance may deny me and that I may need to go through a hearing process, I need as much documentation as I can get my hands on to prove my point. I need any sites I can go to that will provide me with that documentation. I can then print it out to provide to Alliance and/or a hearing panel. Thanks for any help you can give me!    — Susan N. (posted on October 19, 2000)

October 19, 2000
I had a general surgeon do my Open RNY and I was very pleased with him and the results. I don't think it is completely necessary to go to a Bariatric Surgeon. Any surgeon, even a general surgeon, must be certified to do bariatric surgery. My surgeon has done 1000s of procedures, and he's not a "bariatric" surgeon. I think it's a matter of trust and being comfortable with your surgeon. If you don't have those with the surgeon, I don't think you should have them do the procedure, whether they are a general surgeon or a "bariatric" surgeon. I'm sure this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I just thought I'd share my experience with a general surgeon.
   — Tammy K.

October 19, 2000
I had my first consult with my surgeon yesterday. He is board certified in general and vascular surgery. However, he and his partners have been doing gastric bypass surgery for years and together they have performed over 2,000 WLS. I am extremely confident of his experience with and ability to perform the procedure. You might consider meeting with the general surgeon to find out how much experience he or she has with bariatric surgery. After the initial consulatation, you should know whether you are comfortable with a particular surgeon. I would urge you not to go with ANY surgeon, bariatric or otherwise, that you do not feel confident and comfortable with. Bariatric surgeons are somewhat rare, so you may have a hard time getting your insurance to go along with it. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you!
   — Lynn T.

October 19, 2000
There is really no such thing as a Board Certified Bariatric Surgery, although most surgeons who do WLS are board certified in some other type of surgery. The important thing is the experience of the surgery they want you to go to. Is that surgeon listed on this site? Is he/she a member of the ASBS? How many WLS surgeries has this surgeon performed, and what have been the results?
   — Lynn K.

October 19, 2000
whoops! I meant to say there is no such thing as being Board Certified in Bariatric Surgery.
   — Lynn K.