Lap-band surgery success stories

I am a 26 year old mother of 2.  I can't say that giving birth to my children is what made me fat.  I have always been fat.  In fact, I will never forget my 8th grade gym teacher telling me that I had tipped the scale at 203 pounds.  I guess over the years I had convinced myself that I could never be thin and that my body could handle the weight.  Finally at 284 pounds my 5 year old daughter asked why the boy in her class kept saying her mommy was fat.  It hurt but I could not lie to her.  I had to tell her that although it is not nice to call people fat, it was true her mommy was fat, and that from now on she can tell the little boy that her mommy is working on it.  That was the breaking point. It was one thing when I thought I was just hurting myself, but another to have my children hurt by my decisions.  That was in January of '05.  By March '05, I had looked at every option and spoken with several doctors including my primary care physician.  We had decided that the lap band surgery was the best option for me and that Dr. Simpson was the best doctor for this procedure.  June 20, 2005 was the day of my surgery.  Dr. Simpson did an excellent job!  I was very surprised at how quickly I recovered and how small the incisions were.  Seven months later I had lost 100 pounds and have truly regained my life back.  The band gives me the restriction that I need to remind myself that I have eaten enough and the freedom to still enjoy my food just in smaller portions.  I cannot thank Dr. Simpson and his staff enough.  They have all been great in making this process successful.

Sherri Humphrey
 

BEFORE Lap-band Surgery

AFTER

LAP-BAND® Patient Tess,
lost 161 lbs:

The stigma that comes with being overweight in our society is very sad but very real; I felt that stigma every day. But my self-image wasn't the only thing suffering - so was my health. I was developing high blood pressure, sleep apnea and was practically immobile. I chose the LAP-BAND® System because it was the least invasive surgery and it was a tool that would teach me to eat well and take better care of myself. I needed to lose the weight slowly and learn to make lifestyle changes. I've lost 159 pounds, have no standing health problems and am even training for a marathon. My social life and occupational life have improved and I no longer feel restricted by my weight. I am now the woman I was made to be.

LAP-BAND® Patient Jodi,
lost 115 lbs:

Life is hard enough with the added pressure of being overweight. Two years and 115 lbs ago I had reached my breaking point. I wanted to achieve a healthier lifestyle and gain control of my weight. I work in the medical field and I was very thorough in researching my options. I chose the LAP-BAND® System because it was a non-invasive, low risk procedure with minimal recover time. I had my surgery on Friday, went home the next day and was back to work Monday morning. I have maintained my goal weight for two years now and my life has changed in such a positive way. I feel more energetic, younger and much happier. I exercise, go boating, skiing, snorkeling, wear a bikini and do many things I could not dream of doing before I had the LAP-BAND. I am thankful that with the help of the LAP-BAND® I can keep up with my children and I no longer have to worry about my weight.

LAP-BAND® Patient Lisa,
lost 140 lbs:

"I struggled with my weight my entire life. I tried everything, every diet and exercise combination imaginable, but had managed to diet my way to over 300 lbs. At that weight, life was a struggle. Even though I was young, I had high blood pressure, was borderline diabetic and suffered from constant lower back pain.

I discovered the LAP-BAND® on the Internet, attended a patient seminar and immediately knew it was right for me. Since my surgery, I no longer have high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels or lower back pain. The LAP-BAND® has been the tool that I needed to finally be successful at losing weight!"

LAP-BAND® Patient Alan,
lost 133 lbs:

Being large most of my adult life, I had grown comfortable with my size, but as I grew older my body had become a burden. At 345 lbs I had developed Type II diabetes. As a result, I had to take medication 4 times a day and developed diabetic neuropathy in my fingers and feet. My doctors informed me that I would only be able to sustain any quality of life for the next 8-10 years; all of this due to my weight. My only option was permanent weight loss. The LAP-BAND® is a non-invasive surgery. I experienced dramatic weight loss, had a small recovery time and experienced little discomfort. A year and a half later I went from 345 lbs to 212 lbs, a loss of 133 lbs. I no longer take medication for diabetes and have been completely cured of the disease. Because of my weight loss with the LAP-BAND® I am now able to live life again, instead of just existing. As one of my LAP-BAND® friends said, 'Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels'.

LAP-BAND® Patient Frank,
lost 135 lbs:

"I enjoy backpacking and scuba diving. As I got heavier, it became increasingly more difficult for me to be active. I tried everything and was dedicated to losing weight - but nothing worked. I didn't want to wind up with health problems. I am married and wanted to start a family. I felt as if I was losing control of my life, despite all of my efforts. I chose the LAP-BAND® because the surgery is much shorter and less risky, and recovery is quicker. I returned to work the day I was back from the hospital. Almost four years after my surgery, I am still in control of my weight and my life and enjoy every day I spend with my daughter." removed.

LAP-BAND Patient Elma,
lost 135 lbs:

“Before my surgery, I spent 20 years feeling ashamed of how I looked. I was miserable. Every joint in my body hurt from packing around the weight. In January 2001, I decided to have LAP-BAND surgery. I am now wearing size 10 clothes, and that is smaller than I thought I would be when I was all done losing weight! I continue to be amazed at this new body of mine, and I love being able to do anything I want without a second thought. And sharing my success with the LAP-BAND and letting people know about this wonderful, safe and less invasive weight-loss surgery is so much fun.”

LAP-BAND Surgeon and Patient
Dr. Grossbard, lost 105 lbs:

Note: Dr. Grossbard is a good friend of mine -- I would love to tell you his story, but he does a great job by himself.

“I have been a general surgeon for 20 years and started doing LAP-BAND surgery around the same time that I got my own LAP-BAND – in October 2002. After this minimally invasive procedure, I was back at home the next day and was able to resume operating 2 days later. It is absolutely magnificent to see a patient taking six pills a day, and, within a matter of a couple of weeks, see them come back to the office taking no medication. It is the first time in my medical career as a surgeon where I can truly cure a chronic medical disease.