When considering bariatrics, you want the best weight loss surgeon in Los Angeles you can find.
A quick search on the internet will bring up dozens of doctors you can choose from.
But how can you determine which doctor is the best of the bunch?
Of all those doctors, only a few possess the top qualities you should look for when searching for the best weight loss surgeon in Los Angeles.
If you hope to have the highest chances of success, which means losing the excess weight and keeping it off for life, look for the following qualities the next time you go in for a bariatric surgery consultation.
Top Qualities of Today’s Best Weight Loss Surgeon
Vast Experience
When considering a serious procedure like weight loss surgery, find a doctor with hands-on experience working with patients like you. A hospital study in Michigan showed that the more experience a bariatric surgeon has, the fewer complications patients can expect. The results of that study aren’t necessarily surprising. Performing more surgeries makes the weight loss surgeon better over time.
Gauges Your Emotional and Psychological Health
Top bariatric doctors will require that you meet with a psychologist as part of your weight loss journey. The reason is that your doctor wants nothing more than for you to be successful. Being emotionally and psychologically sound is key to having success in bariatrics.
The psychologist you meet with can determine if you are healthy enough to do what it takes to lose significant amounts of weight with the help of weight loss surgery. A psychologist can also identify potential issues that could stall or reverse your weight loss, such as the presence of anxiety, depression, and emotional eating triggers.
Makes You Feel Comfortable
The best weight loss surgeon in Los Angeles is often the one you have the most rapport with. If you feel awkward or uneasy around your surgeon instead of relaxed and at ease, ask yourself why. You should feel right at home asking questions and bringing up any concerns that you might have. Trust your gut and choose the surgeon you can see yourself meeting with regularly for long-term care.
Answers Your Questions
Weight loss surgery is a big decision, and having questions is natural. Look for a surgeon who answers every question you have with confidence. If the doctor beats around the bush or leaves you with unclear answers, voice your concerns. Speak up or find another surgeon to meet with.
The best weight loss surgeon will happily give you all the information you need to make the soundest decisions for long-term weight loss success.
Open to an Introductory Interview
Before you can schedule surgery, you must meet with a bariatric surgeon. This initial consultation aims to evaluate whether you are a good candidate for surgery.
For example, you must have a BMI of 40 or above or 35 and above with co-morbidities like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. You will also need to undergo a psychological and physical evaluation.
While it is true that your doctor is evaluating you, the first meeting is also a terrific opportunity to evaluate your own. The best bariatric surgeon won’t mind being asked questions, and you should ask away. The following questions will help you determine if you have found the best Los Angeles bariatric doctor.
- What is your experience as a weight loss surgeon, or How many bariatric procedures have you performed?
- Which weight loss procedures do you offer to your patients?
- How do you prepare patients for surgery?
- What are your success and complication rates?
- Do you perform post-bariatric aftercare services?
- Do you have examples of patients willing to share their weight loss experiences, positive and negative?
- What results do you expect from your weight loss surgery patients?
Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions about the doctor’s expertise, technique, and track record. The answers you receive should instill confidence in you that you have found the right doctor. If they don’t, maybe it’s time to find one that better suits your needs.
Specializes in Your Ideal Surgery
Weight loss surgery is a safe procedure in the right surgical hands. Most patients who undergo bariatrics lose weight and keep it up for life without complications.
However, bariatrics is a broad term that comprises several different surgeries, each unique. Together, you and your surgeon will decide on the right procedure for you according to your current state of health and overall weight loss goals. The most common bariatric surgeries offered today include the gastric sleeve (aka sleeve gastrectomy) and gastric bypass. There is a third potion that is non-surgical, known as the intragastric balloon.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy)
The gastric sleeve is considered a restrictive weight loss surgery. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon removes 85% of your stomach, which leaves behind a thin vertical “sleeve” before your stomach is closed using surgical staples. The sleeve causes you to consume less food while affecting the hormones controlling hunger and satiety. The result is a loss of 40% to 60% weight loss or more in the first two years.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
With gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon will staple the upper portion of your stomach to create a small pouch. This leaves less room for food, making you feel satiated much faster while eating. Your surgeon will then attach your small intestines to the stomach pouch.
The food you eat will then bypass much of your stomach. This ensures you absorb fewer calories, which can lead to significant and long-term weight loss.
The Gastric Balloon
The non-surgical intragastric balloon involves inserting and implantation of an inflatable device into your stomach. Your surgeon will inflate the balloon, restricting the amount of food you can eat. Unlike gastric sleeve and bypass surgeries, which also restrict how much you can eat, the gastric balloon is typically removed after six months. This makes a gastric balloon a good initiator for long-term weight loss. Patients then can continue with a different balloon device or progress to a more permanent weight loss measure, such as the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.
With these procedures, you stand to lose 30% to 40% or more of your excess weight. If you are 100 pounds overweight now, a 30% reduction would be 30 pounds lost, or 40 pounds loss if you experience a 40% loss of your excess weight.
Make sure your surgeon has experience in the procedure you decide upon so that you have the highest chance of success.
Ready to Meet with the Best Weight Loss Surgeon in L.A.?
By now, you have several points to consider when it comes to finding the best surgeon in your area. Suppose you want a bariatric doctor with immense experience, a stellar track record, a collection of raving testimonials from satisfied patients, and a warm bedside manner. In that case, you can look no further than Dr. Moeinolmolki of Healthy Life Bariatrics.
Dr. Moein is a world-renowned obesity and body contouring surgeon. When helping patients like you experience lifelong weight loss, Dr. Moein recommends a procedure like the gastric sleeve. Imagine losing all the excess weight and suddenly having more energy and a greater love for life. That is what bariatrics can deliver, and you can experience these results by choosing the best bariatric surgeon in Los Angeles, Dr. Moein.
Schedule your weight loss surgery virtual consultation today at (310)-807-1735.