Other things you should know

Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) should be done in a hospital, not a clinic or surgery center!  This is major surgery being performed on high risk patients.  These patients often suffer from co-morbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and sleep apnea.  A full service hospital will have a staff cardiologist, an ICU and be equipped to handle any emergency should one exist.  Cosmetic or plastic surgery in a surgery center is acceptable mainly because these patients are much lower risk in general for surgery.  Additionally, a good plastic surgeon will be sure that the patient is in top condition for a cosmetic procedure.   

What can you do?

• Stay away from prices that are too low or too high. 
• You should be able to choose the doctor you want and not have someone choose for you. 
• Speak to the doctor before booking your procedure.
• Ask the doctor if he has his own practice.  If he does, book your surgery through his practice, not through the party that represents the hospital or clinic.
• Ask him the name of his coordinator that handles patients for his own practice.  Book your surgery only through that person.
• Ask for references and/or which organizations in which the surgeon belongs.
• Have bariatric surgery in a hospital, not a "Clinic" or "Surgery Center".
• Choose a surgeon experienced in all bariatric procedures. Some surgeons only perform one procedure and that's what their coordinator will want to sell you, whether it's right for you or not!

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