How did You Pick Your Doctor

[ReLambert]

I've been researching and researching. It's all just a blur now. How did you find and choose your doctor? Is there a trusted site to go to where I can look at bios? The same 5 doctors keep coming up over and over. (Maybe that's a sign? lol)

I'd like Tijuana just because of the location and costs of travel etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

[blackjac24]

I researched online for the doctor that best suited my situation.

[AnneCan]

2 people I know told me about Dr Garcia - Tijuana. They were very happy...so I found mine by word of mouth.

[Kindle]

I had my list of priorities of what I needed to feel comfortable and checked off which surgeons met each of those criteria. Besides the surgeon, I also took the facility, equipment and staff into consideration. After all, the best surgeon in the world can't perform well under poor conditions or with subpar equipment, and it's the staff that's taking care of you 80% of the time. credentials, experience, complication rate, specific technique, equipment, pre and postop communication, recommendations directly from previous patients, and followup care were all make or break aspects for me. After 6 months of solid research, only two surgeons met my criteria and it ended up coming down to the facility....hospital vs surgical center. I went with the surgical center because of the lower overall infection rate, it had a specialized staff yet still had an ICU for any anesthetic or surgical emergencies.

[Pam G]

I just went with a surgeon in my area that my PCP refers to. No magic formula for me.

[Twodogfox]

I'm just starting to research having the procedure, fact gathering. I did some research online. I live in Montana so its a bit harder to find specialties in my area. I found one in Missoula that operates out of a gastric weight loss center afiliated with a well known medical center and drafted a fact ridden letter to my GP as I had already been in for a check up recently. He came back with one in Great Falls, about 3 3/4 hours drive. Also with the same affiliations and specialty. Now I'm getting ready to find out if my insurance would cover it. Mexico scares me.

[Sarcastic_Bard]

I wanted a doctor who was a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery and operated out of a Bariatric Center of Excellence. I found the ones closest to me and who were covered under my insurance and went to their informational seminar.

[Twodogfox]

I just did my insurance research and the closest approved center is in Spokane WA and if all approvals come through my insurance (PPO) will cover it. I'm scheduled for their informational seminar July 2