I keep seeing people recently on FB or in person alway say they have the best surgeon in Texas or best Surgeon in "DFW" to perform the operation.

Why does everyone think they have the "Best"?

Are they brained washed or just hoping if they keep saying it, it may be true.

Enlighten me.

In my opinion only about 5% of the surgeons in any field could be considered the best in their field. Everyone thinks they have the best because you have to have confidence in the person you're letting take a knife to your body. I have a friend that is 3 years into a 7-year residency for neurosurgery and he tells me that there is only about 300 to 500 neurosurgeons in the country that are considered the best of the best and he fully intends to become one. Surgeons aren't god's, they are just very very educated Tradesman and they all have good days and they all have bad days. Even the best surgeons have patients die on them.

Thats just how people are. They are the same with cars, bows, guns, tractors, ZTR`s or whatever else they are talking about at the moment. Everyone likes to think that they know better than the next person. By the way IMO, Dodge trucks, PSE bows, Remington rifles, Kubota tractors and Hustler mowers are the best only brands to buy. I`ve never use a surgeon but I can give you the name of my wife`s surgeon, he`s the best you`ll ever see. Really !!

The orthopedic surgeon that fixed my broken calcaneous was highly rated but not the best. He recommended I have a guy at Baylor in Dallas that was considered one of the best look at the CT scan. 5 months after surgery I developed a bad staph infection. My surgeon was on vacation in Italy so his partner did 2 cut and drains. Staph killed some skin so I had to have a skin graft. Next time I saw the surgeon the first thing out his mouth was "well it could not have been the surgery". Talk about CYA. Not sure the plastic surgeon that did the graft was the best but he did a good job. Original surgery was at Lakepointe in Rowlett. A VP at work told me that is where I got the staph. I told my plastic surgeon that I am not going back there. He said I don't blame you.

The guy that did my shoulder was okay. 'Personality of a dead duck.

If it wasn't for you having to suffer the consequences, it'd be funny to watch and listen to doctors cover their butt. They act like scared little children that are going to have their toys taken away.

Pretty much sums up most everything you have to say. How ironic.

most people have never had more then one surgeon.

Validation. Need to convince themselves they made the right decision. Hoping someone will agree with them.

My 42 year old daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver, ovary, and colon cancer. She did the chemo and then just got home yesterday from MD Anderson where she went through an 11 hour surgery to remove all of the cancer. It was totally successful. I met the two surgeons several times and they are world class doctors and people. Told my daughter before the surgery that she had some of the best surgeons anywhere in the world and I believe that. What they did for her was extremely specialized and we are grateful to have had them.

Not sure what the best one is. I don't want nothing to do with any of them.

Correct, but when they do they claim he/she is the best

This is my thought as well

Great news! As a father, I can't begin to imagine what all of y'all have been going through.

Nothing wrong with trying to generate positive energy when getting ready to go under the knife

MDA is awesome and staffed with some of the greatest in the world. I am thrilled your daughter is doing well.

However, the statement I bolded i exactly what OP is talking about. You're a few days in and claiming 'total success'. IMO total success with cancer isn't known for quite a while, just as 'My F250 is the best truck ever, I know after owning it for three days' is a complete unknown.

Geez, let the man have a little peace.

True. Most people base their opinion on how "good" they are off of how nice of a guy they are. Many of the best surgeons aren't that nice at all, and they don't care, because they are super confident and that can rub folks the wrong way (as is often the case with the best in any profession). Another thing to consider....oftentimes the results aren't known until months or years later.

I've never met a surgeon who wasn't under the impression they were "God's Gift". Most have been VERY cut and dry, no personality. in fact, when I see my Urologist and hand surgeon, my goal is to get them to smile.

Probably a good thing. I wouldn't want me operating on me.

If you work in healthcare and are around a lot of people who have had surgery, you can figure it out by the outcomes. I know exactly who will work on my knee when the time comes. I also know who will be doing the PT on it post surgery.

It's like bbq, even people who undercook chewy ribs on a grill think theirs are the best.

Couth......try finding some.

My wife’s brother had back surgery from “the best back surgeon in Little Rock, Arkansas”. That was a pre surgery statement from his wife. During the surgery the doctor accidentally clipped a nerve that didn’t need clipping. The guy now has no bowel or bladder sensation, and knows he had an accident from the smell. So, the best surgeon in Little Rock probably couldn’t even get hired at MD Anderson.

As for cancer treatment, I was on a plane some years back, sitting next to a motherly type plump woman. We discussed what each of us did, and she travelled to Texas hospitals to review their cancer treatment effectiveness. I asked her who the best places were, and she told me (MDA). When I asked where the worst were, she declined to answer, but later said “don’t get cancer in Beaumont”.

Beware of the best doctors in small cities. It isn’t the Pro Shop.

Because dead people don't brag about anything.

I never have said I had the "best", because how does anyone really know? Magazine additions that have lists? Hope not.

I've said I had a great surgeon that put two artificial discs in my neck, Mobi-C. He gave me total confidence, post op went exactly as planned and three years later I'm still great. My wife was in the business, found him for me. He was a teaching physician and had a practice. Turned out, that is a great type of Dr to have cut on you. They're teaching, working and there's nothing current that is any good that they're not up on.

You wanna know who's good....ask your doctor who they would let operate or work on them.

As far as the lists in magazines...you are right, those are paid ads. 100% marketing.

They don't get paid unless the cut you so I'm always a bit leery of what they have to say.