How to Check on a Bariatric Surgeon’s Record

Bariatric surgery is important. You should plan it carefully and choose the best surgeon you can find. Start by checking a surgeon’s record and credentials. A good record inspires confidence. Follow these steps to find out how to check your surgeon’s record.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Confirm that your doctor is board-certified. Check the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) website for more details (see Resources below). You could also visit your local library to get a list of board-certified doctors.
2. Remember that board certification requires the surgeon to go through a rigorous curriculum. Every surgeon has to perform at least 100 obesity operations and must act as a primary surgeon in at least 51 percent of those surgeries.
3. Visit the American Medical Association (AMA) website to get your surgeon's biographical information. AMA provides this information on any four doctors for $60.
4. Search online for your surgeon’s name. You might even contact a few of their earlier patients. Visit their personal blogs or websites to learn from their experiences.
5. Ask your doctor about some previous cases as well as for the contact information for the patients. Talk to them and check their satisfaction level. Also ask them about the pre- and post-surgery services provided by the surgeon.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit the blogs and websites of various people who have hade bariatric surgery. Know about the methods they used to check their surgeon’s records.
• Don’t hire a surgeon until you have personally investigated their record.