Question:
Can your BMI be so high a surgeon will not operate?
Emory Bariatrics said I would have to loose weight to get my BMI down to an acceptable low 50's before I would be accepted for surgery. Are there any surgeons who will help me in the Atlanta area. I have been fighting the insurance company for 3 years. Now finally I may have coverage and the surgeon will not operate. I can't believe it! — Sheryl S. (posted on June 25, 2001)
June 25, 2001
I know for a fact there are many people on this site who have BMI's much
higher than lower 50's. In fact I read a post yesterday from a woman who
had a BMI of 100. What your doctor is telling you is that HE doesnt do the
procedure on larger patients. My first inclination would to be to contact
Dr. Champion in Atlanta... the more experienced surgeons usually dont mind
the larger BMI's. Dr. Champion does a tremendous number of these
procedures. His site is www.drchampion.com
— SusanMaria
June 25, 2001
Sheryl, my daughter's BMI was 70 pre-op. She, my husband, a cousin, and I
are patients of Dr. J.K. Champion in Atlanta
(Marietta)...www.drchampion.com....(770)425-5525. He is a thoracic
surgeon who has been specializing in laparascopic WLS since 1994. He is
internationally renowned for his experience and expertise in this field and
has succesfully performed lap WLS on patients weighing 500-600 lbs. My
daughter's surgery was completely "uneventful" - 2 day
hospitalization, no ICU, no tubes/drains, no external sutures/staples. She
has lost over 200 lbs. in the past 18 months and would quickly tell you
that this surgery was the best decision that she ever made! Best wishes!!
— Diana T.
June 25, 2001
He will not do the surgery at all or just not laproscopically? I know that
Dr. Herron will not perform LAP on patients with a high BMI but open is
another story. Make sure that the surgeon isnt talking about the lap. If
so, there are plenty of doctors that will perform it. Good luck.
— Jeannet
June 26, 2001
My BMI is 59 and Emory (Dr. Dan Smith) Off ice told me the same thing that
I would need to loose 48 lbs before I could even come in for a
consultation. I immediately researched around and found Dr. Edward Waits
office at Northside Hospital. He has highly recommened services and now
have a a terrific dotor Dr. Paul Macik who has trained under Dr. Waits and
will be doing my surgery on 8-17-01
— Marcitia Z.
November 18, 2001
Have you seen Dr. Celio Burrows? I met him this summer and he had a great
beside manner and I trusted him immediately. He is in the Atl. area. Jill
Flowers in St Louis Mo.
— blank first name B.
February 8, 2004
Shirley- Find another surgeon....It seems to me that the surgeon you refer
to is NOT looking at YOUR needs, but his own. I live in Portland, Or... but
it takes so long to even get a consultation with a surgeon here because
demand for the surgery is great that I started looking at surgeons in
Washington state that are covered by my insurance. I found one who had
advertised for a seminar very close to my sister's home in Chehalis, Wash,
but when I called the surgeon's office to try to schedule a consultation on
the day of the seminar (it's a 200 mile trip/ one way) anyway the staff at
the office were taking info from me - you know, height,weight, age, BMI-
when I told her my BMI is 62.1 she said - "The doctor is only taking
patients right now with BMI of 52 at the highest".... I said
"Thank you very much" and hung up... Something about that just
hit me wrong and when they called me back 5 days later wanting to schedule
after all, I said I would get back to them about it!..... How ridiculous!
The people most in need of WLS are those with high BMI's! I do have a
consult scheduled (same day as the seminar) with a surgeon in Kirkland,
Wash...on 2/11/04 it's still a long drive, but they will schedule surgery
w/in 2-3 weeks on the consult.... It just makes me wonder about a surgeons
motivation if they are limiting patients based on BMI... do they want to
ensure that ALL their surgical patients are "success stories" ,
or what? Run fast, run far... there's got to be another surgeon that your
insurance will cover who is doing WLS. You'll find one, you've already won
the hardest fought battle (ins.) and won! Take care- Debby
— debby H.
February 8, 2004
I'm sorry to hear of your trouble with your surgeon. I was a lightweight
myself (BMI 45) but I do agree that people with the higher BMI's are in
great need of surgery. I wonder if their motives for having candidates
with lower BMI's aren't out of their own lack of confidence in performing
the surgery on a candidate with slightly higher risks rather than trying to
increase their success level. My surgeon is extremely successful, has
performed over 3,000 surgeries and on the day of my consultation, there was
a man who weighed 800lbs in the room next to me that was in for his first
post-op appt. Some physicians just aren't as qualified or confident to
step outside of their threshold and as the other poster said, I would run
the other way and find one who is. If you are interested, my surgeon's
name is Dr. Neil Hutcher and he is in Richmond, Va. Feel free to contact
me if you have any questions. God bless.
Denise
280/142/below goal
— denisel
February 8, 2004
My BMI was pushing 60 when I had my open RNY and I've read of others with
MUCH higher BMI's. Definitely keep searching for a different surgeon.
We're (the SMO) need this surgery worse than most - NOT saying that MO's
don't need it :>)
— [Deactivated Member]
February 9, 2004
My BMI was 71.1 I am so glad I found Bariatric Treatment Center. They are
experts at the surgery and quality care for bariatric patients especially
ones 400+ like I was.
I wish you the best. You might want to check out BTC.
Ann in TX
— Ann B.
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