@annie1 Medicare does publish success rate information for certain procedures (not all) for surgeons who accept Medicare and also similar rates for medical centers and hospitals. You also can check if a doctor has been disciplined by looking up the licensing board for the state. When I asked my surgeon his success rate for the procedure he recommended, he told me. They do know their statistics. Insurance companies also know this information or at least they know who the better surgeons are. You should look for medical publications they have authored. Ask your personal physician how they would look for a good surgeon.