Followup via phone for months 3-12???

I am doing well and under the care of several local docs. I have my labs done here and sent to the surgeon then I fly in two weeks later for the day.

Is there any reason I couldn't do followups on the phone? I paid all cash so insurance is not an issue. There is literally not even a bariatric surgeon within 17 counties at least.

When you agreed to surgery you also agreed to a follow up plan and that plan should be followed unless something happens to prevent you from doing so. There is no substitute for a hands on follow-up.

I doubt your surgeon will agree to do follow up over the phone.  It's difficult or impossible to assess a patient properly without seeing them.  Your insurance almost certainly won't pay for follow up over the phone and I doubt your surgeon will do it for free.  Maybe he would do it if you paid cash, but I doubt it.  It could be putting in legal and ethical trouble.

If you don't want to travel to your surgeon for follow ups, why  not find a local doc to do your follow up?  What was your plan for follow up when you had surgery?

In my county if  u can't make your appt. u can do a phone follow-up but u have to go to ur pcp to do blood work and weigh in so the information can be sent to the surgeons office.

I don't see why not.  If all you need is lab work, and everything is well and you are well - IMO you don't need to see him/her ever.  Many people have surgeries outside the country and hasve either follow up over the phones or none at all.  

Save your money for PS. Find local PCP doc that can help with anything else.