Bariatric surgery training: getting your ticket punched.

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery has gained popularity but has been proven to be a technically challenging set of operations that requires a long learning curve. Trainees must acquire advanced laparoscopic skills and knowledge of the perioperative care of the bariatric patient. The challenge is to ensure that those surgeons performing gastric bypass, gastric banding, and duodenal switch procedure are trained appropriately. In the past, very different opportunities have been available for the general surgeon seeking to practice bariatric surgery. Early on, many surgeons began performing bariatric surgery without any formal training. Later, weekend courses, mini-fellowships, and formal minimally invasive surgery/bariatric fellowships were established. Today, best practice requires an intensive training experience and ongoing commitment to the field.