How to pick a surgeon?

Hi everyone:

The bariatric program @ the clinic reviewed my information and deemed me an appropriate candidate for surgery.  Aside from the obvious of going to support groups and talking to patients who have had surgery that I know what are my other options to review/compare the surgeons?  I'm located in Duluth and we have 2 surgeons here (Doctors Pitt and Bertel).   I'm so green with all of this and really need some guidance.  I have to figure out what doctor to schedule my consult with.   I know if I don't "click" I could ask to see the other doctor.  Does anyone here have any experience with the Duluth doctors?  is there anywhere else online I can go to "read up".   I wish there was a surgical "consumers report" I could read.  :)

 

Thanks for your help!

K

I am sorry that I can not offer an opinion as I did not use either of those surgeons.  Have you looked at the information on surgeons here on this site?  There were lots of reviews by patients for the surgeons I was considering.  I would also research WLS support groups in your area and go talk to the participants.  At my clinic the nurses are all bariatric patients themselves.  If that is the case in your clinic you might ask their opinions. 

Good luck.  You are facing a tough decision.  I hope you find the information you need to make the best choice possible for you.

Questions to ask....

How many of these procedures have they done? How many in the past year?
What is their complication rate?
What are the most common complications they have encountered?
What is their infection rate?
Is this the only procedure they do? Is this their specialty?

There's just a few I can think of off the top of my head, but important things to know before picking a surgeon.

Just because a surgeon is nice or funny or personable when you meet them in the office doesn't mean they've got great skills in the OR, and that's where it counts.