Finding surgeons doing gastric bypass in your area can be easily accessed through the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. This organization ranks members based on experience and education. While a listing on a web site should not be your only selection process for finding a surgeon, it can help put you on the right track.

Working with your primary care physician is also an important tool to use when trying to find the right surgeon. Your doctor is already an advocate for your health and will want you to have a successful surgery. If your surgery will be covered by insurance, your choices for surgeons may be restricted based on their provider listing. It is possible that you may not have much choice about who will perform your surgery if working through your insurance company.

Finding an experienced surgeon is of utmost importance when considering gastric bypass surgery. This surgery carries many risks for complications, to include death. Studies have shown that the less experienced the surgeon, the greater risk of complications. Patients who are considering gastric bypass surgery are already in a compromised health situation because of their obesity, and likely have other obesity related illnesses such as high-blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. Because of the nature of surgery, typical gastric bypass patients are already at risk for significant surgical complications. To minimize a patient’s risk, finding the right surgeon and medical facility can be major decision.

Most surgeons doing gastric bypass will be willing to share some statistics about their success rate, the number of surgeries they have performed, the medical facilities they use and their follow up care and support. Recognizing that a patient’s success with gastric bypass comes in the years to follow their surgery, it is important to know what types of post-surgical support your doctor can provide.