Questions to ask a gastric sleeve surgeon

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Questions to ask a gastric sleeve surgeon

Useful questions for a gastric sleeve surgeon are the ones that cannot be answered from a brochure: why this operation for you, what happens if something goes wrong, and who looks after you in the years afterward. Bring a written list, take notes, and bring someone with you if you can. Asking is a normal part of deciding on surgery.

Before the visit: what you can check yourself

Two things are public, so you do not need to spend visit time on them.

The license. The Medical Board of California's license search lets you look up any physician by name or license number. The Board's license alert app notifies you when administrative actions or enforcement documents are added to a doctor's profile.
The hospital. The American College of Surgeons runs MBSAQIP, an accreditation program for bariatric surgery centers in the United States and Canada, with a "Find an Accredited Center" search. Accreditation applies to the hospital or center, so ask which hospital is planned and whether it holds this accreditation.

Write down what you find and what you could not find, and ask about the gaps.

Why a sleeve, and why for me

The sleeve is the most commonly performed bariatric operation in the United States: ASMBS estimates 157,254 sleeves out of 270,089 metabolic and bariatric procedures in 2023. Being common does not make it the right choice for every person.

"Why do you recommend a sleeve for me and not a bypass?" Listen for reasons tied to your own health, not a general preference.
"I have heartburn. Does that change your advice?" In the SLEEVEPASS randomized trial, 31 percent of sleeve patients had esophagitis at 10 years compared with 7 percent of bypass patients (Salminen and colleagues, JAMA Surgery, 2022). A surgeon should ask about reflux and say how they would check for it.
"What weight loss is realistic for someone like me, and what would make you call the result disappointing?" Expect a range and an honest account of regain. No surgeon can promise a number.
"What are my non-surgical options?" The practice's comparison of weight loss options covers those.
"Is this reversible?" The answer for a sleeve is no. The removed part of the stomach is not put back.

Gastric bypass versus gastric sleeve gives background for this part of the conversation.

Risks and what happens if there is a problem

The 2022 ASMBS/IFSO guidelines report that deaths around the time of metabolic and bariatric surgery are very low, ranging between 0.03 and 0.2 percent. That is a general figure across procedures. What you need is how risk applies to you and how problems are handled.

"What are the main risks of a sleeve for me, given my health?" Sleep apnea, diabetes, blood thinners and earlier abdominal surgery all change the picture.
"How do you test the staple line during the operation, and how would a leak be found afterward?"
"If I have a problem at night or on a weekend, whom do I call, and who would treat me?" You want a specific answer: a number, a person, a hospital.
"If I needed another operation, would you do it, and where?"
"Which hospital will you use for my surgery?" With Dr. Davtyan, surgery is done at a hospital where he has surgical privileges; ask the office which one.

The gastric sleeve risks page lists the complications to ask about.

Preparation and the day of surgery

"Which tests do I need first, and why each one?"
"Do you ask for a diet before surgery, and for how long?" (See the pre-surgery liver diet.)
"Which of my medicines should I stop or change, and who tells me when?" Mention every prescription, including any GLP-1 medication such as Wegovy or Zepbound, and anything you take for pain.
"If you find a hiatal hernia during surgery, will you repair it?"
"How long do your sleeve patients usually stay in hospital, and what would keep me longer?"
"How is nausea and pain managed afterward?"

Follow-up for the long term

The 2022 ASMBS/IFSO guidelines describe severe obesity as a chronic disease requiring long-term management after a first operation. Ask what that care consists of.

"How often will I be seen in the first year, and after that?"
"Who helps me with eating, and how do I reach them between visits?"
"Which vitamins will I need, and who orders my blood tests each year?"
"If my weight comes back or reflux starts years from now, what would you offer?"
"If I move away, will you send my operative report to a new surgeon?"

Money and paperwork

"Does your office check my benefits and send the prior authorization request?"
"What does my insurer require before approval, and which parts do you arrange?"
"If I am paying myself, may I have an itemized written estimate that includes the hospital and anesthesia?"

See insurance requirements for a gastric sleeve before the visit so you know which answers to expect.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to ask a surgeon how many sleeves they have done?

No. The ASMBS position statement on traveling for bariatric surgery says individual surgeon outcomes for the desired procedure should be made available as part of informed consent whenever possible, so it is a normal question wherever you have surgery. You can also ask how often the surgeon's own patients have needed to return to the operating room. Ask how the figures were counted and over what period. Treat a refusal to discuss personal results, or an answer that sounds like a slogan, as a reason to keep asking.

How many surgeons should I meet before choosing?

There is no required number. One visit is enough for many people if the answers were clear and specific to them. Meet a second surgeon if you were offered only one operation without a reason, if you have reflux or another condition that affects the choice, or if you left unsure. Our page on second opinions explains how.

What should make me cautious during a consultation?

Be cautious about a promise of a specific weight, a claim that the operation carries no risk, pressure to book or pay the same day, no questions about your reflux, medicines or past surgery, and vague answers about who covers emergencies. A clear consultation includes the surgeon telling you what could go wrong and what the operation will not do.

Should I bring someone with me to the consultation?

If you can, yes. A second person hears details you may miss, can take notes while you talk, and will understand the eating changes and the recovery if they live with you. Tell them beforehand which questions matter most to you. If no one can come, ask whether you may record the visit or receive a written summary.

Talk with Dr. Davtyan in Rancho Cucamonga

Dr. David G. Davtyan, MD, FACS, FICS, FASMBS, is a bariatric surgeon who received his MD from UCLA School of Medicine. The first consultation is complimentary and Spanish is spoken, so bring this list. Call Davtyan Medical Weight Loss & Wellness at 909-355-2525 or use the contact page; the office is at 8330 Red Oak Street, Suite 201, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. More topics are in the Rancho Cucamonga gastric sleeve guide.

Questions to ask a gastric sleeve surgeon

Questions to ask a gastric sleeve surgeon

Before the visit: what you can check yourself

Why a sleeve, and why for me

Risks and what happens if there is a problem

Preparation and the day of surgery

Follow-up for the long term

Money and paperwork

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to ask a surgeon how many sleeves they have done?

How many surgeons should I meet before choosing?

What should make me cautious during a consultation?

Should I bring someone with me to the consultation?

Talk with Dr. Davtyan in Rancho Cucamonga

Sources

More in the Gastric Sleeve in Rancho Cucamonga guide

Understanding the sleeve

Weighing your options

Getting care in Rancho Cucamonga

Adult BMI Calculator

Beverly Hills

Glendale

Rancho Cucamonga

South Coast Lap-Band

Marina Del Rey Hospital

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