Did you have two surgeons?

ericklein
on 11/16/14 11:23 pm, edited 11/17/14 11:38 am - Mission Viejo, CA

Some centers have two surgeons who work side by side during the operation (faster, more redundancy/safety). Do you know of any who do this?

White Dove
on 11/17/14 12:24 am - Warren, OH

I did. 

They each billed the insurance company for half of the surgeon fee.  It was good to have two surgeons, because if one was not available for questions, the other was.

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emelar
on 11/17/14 12:59 am - TX

I did in the sense that there was a resident doing the surgery while the surgeon watched/assisted.  It took all of 45 minutes.  It does take 2 people because of the laparascopic equipment, but they don't both have to be surgeons.

Lady_bugg
on 11/17/14 12:59 am
RNY on 11/18/14

Yes, my surgeon does this.  They always schedule two surgeons for the surgery.  I only communicate with 'my' surgeon but the other is there in the operating room to assist. 

Oxford Comma Hag
on 11/17/14 1:06 am

I did. One did my RnY and the other repaired my hiatal hernia.

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Gwen M.
on 11/17/14 1:31 am
VSG on 03/13/14

I did.  I have my actual surgeon, but for people with very high BMIs, like me, they tag team the surgery.  

VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)

Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170

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Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version

on 11/17/14 2:47 am - OH

I know that most surgeons who are relatively new to bariatric surgeries have a second surgeon in the OR with them until they have a certain number of surgeries under their belt.  How long that continues varies widely, I'm sure.

My surgeon occasionally utilized a second surgeon, but generally did not. I suspect it was only on cases where she anticipated potential complications.

For general, non-bariatric surgeries, she sometimes had a "surgical PA" along side her.  I am not sure what the point of that was, since I had never heard of a "Surgical PA" before and apparently she is not allowed to actually cut anything. My insurance company refused to pay for the PA when she did the surgery to remove the mess of adhesions that were causing my intestine to "grow into" the mesh from my hernia repair and causing intermittent partial obstructions.

Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

Julia HasHerLifeNow
on 11/17/14 2:54 am
VSG on 10/09/12

Dr Gagner told me that there was another surgeon there to assist but I never saw him/her. Must have arrived when I was out and scadaddled before I woke up. Same thing with my plastics. I was told there was another one there but never saw him. 

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com 5ft0; highest weight 222; surgery weight 208; current weight 120

     

    

Luvmygs
on 11/17/14 4:40 am
VSG on 12/04/14

Eric, Just wanted to say "THANK YOU" for such an amazing site!!!!!! I've learned so much and met so many new friends. Because of you, people are reaching out and helping others with WLS. Thank you. Christine

Valerie G.
on 11/17/14 5:15 am - Northwest Mountains, GA

I did, too.  I don't remember seeing a bill for each of them, but one was fairly new to the procedure and learning....more of an apprentice as well as assistant.

Valerie
DS 2005

There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
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