Hi- I have decided to get sleeved. I have done my Dr. research and have my first consultation on Monday. I have started with my list of questions for the doctor, but I don't want to miss asking something important. Any suggestions?
Hi Jake, Tipping isn't required but most of us tipped are drivers and some hotel staff but not the medical staff. The drivers and hotel staff work hard and rely on tips for some of their income. If you have a complication while down there the medical team will take care of you and shouldn't be charged extra. I required an extra test before surgery and wasn't charged extra. Hope that helps.
Hi Kate, I'd ask the questions Christy suggested plus ask how much of the stomach your surgeon removes. A lot of the surgeons in the USA remove less stomach than the surgeons in Mexico or other countries. Its recommended to remove 85% for 100% weight loss needed, when less is removed the results can be less. Good Luck
A couple questions I asked were
1) Does he use stitches, staples or both on your stomach.
2) Will you have a drain.
What are his credentials.....general surgeon or specialized bariatric surgeon?
Does he work from a bariatric specialized facility or a general hospital?
How long has he been doing bariatric surgeries and how many VSGs has he performed? (I specifically chose a surgeon out of the country who had done over 12,000 WLSs over several local surgeons who had done no more than 500)
What is his complication rate for leaks, strictures, GERD (yes, this can be a product of poor surgical technique).
What size bougie does he use?
Does he oversew the staple line or use tissue glue?
Will you have a drain?
What kind of postop leak tests and followup visits are included?
How long is the typical postop hospital stay?
Is his office available 24/7 in case of emergency?
What are the preop and postop dietary requirements (in detail so you can prepare both mentally and grocery-wise)
What kind of postop support does the program include.....nutritionist? Therapist? Support group meetings?
Try and find any previous patients and ask them about their experience. This should be easy if they have a structured support group.
Write all your questions down, so you don't forget anything when meeting with the surgeon.
Wow, all these great questions. I just sort of sat there & nodded. Before I even attended a weight loss seminar I knew what I wanted in a doctor:
1. They had to accept my insurance
2. They had to be local
3. They had to be affiliated with a local hospital
4. Surgery would be performed at that hospital
5. Follow-up appointments would be in their office as well
6. They had to have no negative reviews but I had to be able to find out a ton of information about them outside of their office
7. I did not want to be their first patient, nor their 10th, nor even their 100th...but I wanted to feel like I was the center of their attention
My doctor's office also includes monthly support meetings as well as holiday parties, to keep the involvement & camaraderie flowing.
Of course, the fact that I live outside of Chicago helped as I had plenty of options.
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