Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery - What questions should you ask the surgeon?

Bariatric surgery can be a lifesaver for many people. It is also a surgery that can be life changing in more ways than just your looks.

Selecting a doctor is a very important step in the process and can affect your outcome.

I will try and include as many questions as I can. Good luck to those looking for this surgery.

Am I a good candidate for bariatric surgery? Some people, because of other health issues, or physical attributes are not good candidates for this surgery.

Many doctors do not do procedures on children, except in extreme cases.

Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford specializes in gastric bypass for adolecents.

What types of bariatric surgery do you perform? What type would you recommend for me?

Some doctors only practice one type of bariatric surgery, while others offer several. One surgery might be better for your particular case.

This type of surgery can vary widely between doctors. My quotes for the same procedure varied between 9000 and 55,000.

Do you take my insurance? If not, does the doctor have a payment plan?

Some doctors offer long term payment plans, while ofhers do not offer any such thing. Some doctors do not take insurance at all. A good practice usually has someone who is dedicated to working with the insurance company to get your procedure covered.

What is your record regarding patient mortality? Some doctors are quite frank about this, If your doctor tries to dance around this question, find another doctor.

You can also check with your government's licensing board to find out about malpractice suits and mortality issues.

If a doctor has done thousands of these procedures, chances are he has lost a patient. This is not a procedure without risk. Any procedure that involves anesthesia can have a chance of failure. People have died getting broken arms set, facelifts and teeth pulled.

What hospital does the doctor perform his procedures at. Is it covered by your insurance.

Some hospitals have special surgery rooms set up for bariatric surgery, from the table itself, to the bed in your room.

Very few doctors try this surgery at their office. Some Lap band procedures are done in their office, but usually only if the patient already has the lap band installed and needs changes made.

What kind of diet will I need to eat after the surgery? Just because the surgery restricts how much you eat after surgery, there are still foods you will need to avoid. Because of the small amounts you will eat after surgery, you need to keep an eye on nutritional value of food you eat.

There are some foods you will not be able to eat without getting very sick. Generally these are foods high in sugar or fat. This can vary by what type of surgery you have.

Most doctors refer you to a dietician prior to surgery or have a dietician on staff to work with the patient.

Some doctors will make you go on a very strict diet prior to surgery.

Insurance will often not pay for the diet consultation.

Any responsible surgeon will require you to get a mental health evaluation before undergoing bariatric surgery. While some might only require one visit to a mental health professional, others may require multiple visits to a psycologist.

Some patients literally go mad after this surgery. They eat themselves to death by gorging and breaking open the stitches holding the bypass together. This type of

"suicide" is what made early mortality rates for this surgery so high. This prompted the requirement for psych evaluation.

Will I need plastic surgery after I lose the weight. Because weight loss is so fast after surgery, and the skin is often not elastic enough to rebound, it is common for bariatric patients to have excess skin removed later on by plastic surgery.

Discuss this with your surgeon.

What changes will I need to make to my lifestyle after surgery?

This surgery is life changing. In some cases, it can destroy marriages.

If one spouse prefers a chubby mate, they can find they are no longer attracted to their newly slim mate. Make sure your partner is 100% on board with what you are doing.

What are typical complications for the surgery I am having? How are they handled? Is the Doctor available to you when you are having a problem?

One doctor I talked to told me that if I had issues, go to the emergency room, and whoever was there could treat me and handle my issues.

The doctor I selected told me if I ever had a problem, go to the emergency room and he or one of his associates would be there immediately.