Top 5 Questions to Ask at a Weight Loss Seminar

You’ve decided that bariatric surgery is right for you and now you’re headed off to a seminar or watch online. It may be hard to think of the right questions to ask your surgeon. We’d like to help by offering the following suggestions that will allow you to learn a little bit more about the surgeon and their practice.

1. Is the practice a Center of Excellence facility?

COE facilities have been independently verified as meeting or exceeding strict standards of patient care and outcomes by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

2. What is Your Experience with Bariatric Procedures?

Ask about the surgeon’s experience in each of the major bariatric procedures – gastric banding, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve. You may find that each surgeon has a different specialty and studies show that greater experience is related to lower complication rates and shorter operating times.

3. What tools will the practice offer after surgery?

Support groups are a must, however do you feel confident your surgeon and their staff will be there for you when you need them for follow-up care? Weight loss is a long-term challenge and you need your surgeon by your side.

4. Is your surgeon part of your insurance network?

Your insurance policy may cover part of your procedure. If your surgeon is within your network, your out-of-pocket expenses may be cut drastically.

5. Can I Meet One of Your Patients?

Ask to meet or speak to former patients of the practice to understand their experiences and how that may translate to yours. What may be a non-issue for someone else could be a big deal for you, so be sure to ask former patients lots of questions.

The free seminars that most practices offer are a great way to gain insight into the journey that lies ahead. You will find that each practice is unique in their approach to surgery and follow-up care. By attending these seminars, you will not only find the right surgeon for you, but you will also fulfill one of the pre-surgery requirements. Remember, the more you know about what lies ahead, the greater your chances of weight loss success.