Find out how many years of experience they have in the field, the number of operations they have performed and how many times they have performed a specific procedure. The consultant you choose should be experienced with the procedure you are considering. You should ensure they are certified, and if they are qualified to FRCS level and have held a substantive post within the NHS.
Discuss their commitment to follow-up, because weight-loss surgery often involves lifetime follow-up. The consultant should be working with all the aspects of management and assessment in a clinical, multidisciplinary setting. Key to the consultant being able to fulfil their commitments is that they are locally based with an established weight loss practice and are routinely available to the patient.