Undergoing any type of surgery represents an expense and an investment in your health. So you will want to make sure that you choose the best bariatric surgeon in New Jersey to give you the very best weight-reduction results possible. You should conduct some research and seek out an experienced surgeon with the skill necessary to perform your surgery at the highest level. This will allow you to achieve the best results with the fewest complications.
Ask For Referrals
One of the best ways to find the best bariatric surgeon in New Jersey is to ask for referrals. If you have a friend, family member, or colleague who has recently undergone bariatric surgery, you can ask them who performed their surgery and if they were satisfied with their results.
You can also ask a professional for a referral. You may want to consider any of the following professionals for recommendations:
- Nutritionist
- OB/GYN
- Your local pharmacist
- Mental health professional
- Specialist in obesity-related health problems
Board-Certified
Your prospective bariatric surgeon should be board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. If you have compiled a list of bariatric surgeons, eliminate any that have outdated licenses, are not board-certified, or have publicly recorded actions listed against them.
Going Local
You may be wondering if you should choose a bariatric surgeon in New Jersey. There are numerous benefits to having your surgery performed close to your home. For one, you will be traveling regularly for appointments, so you don’t want to travel too far.
Many of your appointments will take place following your surgery when you are recovering. You may be somewhat tired and sore at this time; so it helps to select a bariatric surgeon near your home to make it easier to keep up with your follow-up appointments. This will also save you some money, which is a consideration given rising gas prices.
Your Consultation
Before going forward with bariatric surgery, you will need to take part in a consultation with your bariatric surgeon. This will give you an opportunity to meet them and develop a relationship of trust and open communication.
Here are a couple of questions that you may want to ask your prospective bariatric surgeon before scheduling surgery with them:
What percentage of your overall surgeries are bariatric surgeries?
Someone who specializes in a certain type of surgery tends to be better at it than someone who only occasionally performs that surgery. So the higher the percentage of their surgeries are bariatric surgeries, the better.
Bariatric surgery is a complex type of surgery demanding the full attention and expertise of the surgeon. Normally, you would be better off going with a bariatric surgeon who is primarily focused on bariatric surgery and not spread too thin.
What is your complication rate?
No matter how experienced and educated a surgeon is, there always be a certain percentage of complications following any type of surgery. Be sure to ask them what their complication rate is. They will also let you know about your individual prognosis, based upon factors like your current weight and overall health.