http://www.locateadoc.com/gallery.cfm/Action/List/ProcedureID/274 Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) Pictures - Before & After Photos en-us 1440 http://www.locateadoc.com/gallery.cfm/Action/Gallery/GalleryID/15400 Wonderful result, losing over 90 pounds, and recovered well from a tummy tuck afterwards. Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) Tue, 27 May 2008 18:07:47 EST http://www.locateadoc.com/gallery.cfm/Action/Gallery/GalleryID/14076 The week of March 20, 2005 changed my life in several ways. First, on March 20, my father passed away. On March 23, I had Lap Band surgery. It was important to my father that I have this procedure. His ill health and subsequent death was a result of years of being obese. I was obese. I spent the first twenty years of my life on the thin side. After having my first child at twenty-one, I was never really thin again. I was mildly overweight, or so I thought at about 140 pounds on my 5'6" frame. Gone were the days of weighing 115. At age 30 I had my second child. I gained a great deal of weight during this difficult pregnancy and never lost it. I continued to gain weight all through my forties. By the time I was 50 I weighed 297 pounds and on my way to eventual health problems. I tried many different ways to lose weight over the years. No need to recite the whole litany here, we all now it by heart. I also tried to be physically active and would succeed for awhile until I would injure myself. Finally, at age 52 my father was in Stanford Hospital for a valve replacement. Realization set in that his many health problems all related back to his obesity. I gave up carbs and in three or four months dropped 25 pounds. I was able to keep these 25 pounds off for the next five years but never lost anymore. Basically I was healthy through all of these years, no diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. As I approached 58 things began to change; the cholesterol was creeping up and so was the blood pressure. I began to investigate weight loss surgery. I knew many people who had gastric bypass, some successfully, some with great complications. Most of the people I knew who had the bypass were in poor health and very sedentary. That wasn't the case for me. The thought of bypass really frightened me. I was not willing to take the risks associated with it. I had never had surgery and this frightened me, also. Then I discovered Lap Band Surgery! I searched the web to find everything I could about this new procedure. Once I decided it was for me, the next step was to find a doctor. Some of the clinics and surgeons I contacted made statements like, "you can eat what ever you want after you have this done", or " We don't need to a lot of medical examination or testing before you have this done, come in the morning for a seminar and we will operate that afternoon." Then I found Dr. Feng. Everything Dr. Feng told me made good sound medical sense. I felt confident in his ability. He was comforting, friendly, approachable and competent. March 23, 2005 at the age of 58, I had surgery for the first time in my life. I was not frightened or even apprehensive. I felt completely at ease with Dr. Feng. I came through the procedure well and was only in the hospital overnight. In 11 months, I lost 101 pounds and have kept them off. I went from a size 28 to a size 14. Lap Band surgery is not for everyone. If you are looking for a quick simple fix, look elsewhere. Lap Band is a tool to help you lose weight. You still need to do the actual work. The band enables you to be successful. You must eat exactly as prescribed by Dr. Feng. You cannot go back to eating the way you did before. You must always watch what you eat to keep it off. Exercise is also very important. I'm not talking about going for a leisurely stroll, I mean a real workout routine. I had started going to Curves when I still weighed 275 pounds. It was very difficult but I stuck with it. After seeing a psychologist as part of my pre surgery workup, he recommended that I go to a regular gym because Curves would not be challenging enough after a short while. I started at our local gym with a personal trainer the month before my surgery. The day I reached 20 minutes for a mile on the treadmill was a milestone for me. I now can do three miles on the elliptical in 24:25. I can hike ten miles easily. I have no trace of elevated blood sugar, cholesterol or blood pressure. I have energy to spare. The gym is a regular part of my day, I'm addicted to it. I weigh everyday as that is the only way to stay on top of any weight gain sneaking up. I travel to Europe every summer and usually put on a few pounds while I am there as I eat what I want. I can take those few pounds off (5-7) when I get home. Through all of this Dr Feng has been not only supportive, and helpful, but probably my biggest cheerleader. He is there to point out how well I did when I hit a plateau. He encouraged me to keep trying and sticking to the program throughout the plateau; that it would end soon. Dr. Feng is also so accessible by phone and e-mail. Nearly three years later I am still in contact with him for support and good cheer. I am now 60 and in better shape than I have ever been in my whole life. I do not regret this for a moment. Many surgeons offer this procedure but few offer the support and competence of Dr. Feng. If you are willing to work to lose weight, then Lap Band is for you. If you are looking for a magic pill, then look elsewhere. Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:00:21 EST http://www.locateadoc.com/gallery.cfm/Action/Gallery/GalleryID/13383 Before surgery, I had acid reflux, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, aching joints and an overwhelming realization that my weight was me not only in the quality of my life, but in taking away years as well. Losing weight was the beginning of a decision to live longer and better. I feel comfortable in my clothes and have gained back those years of unhealthy risk that my weight would have promised. I am thankful that I made the choice to have the Lap-Band. It has given back my life. Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:15:14 EST http://www.locateadoc.com/gallery.cfm/Action/Gallery/GalleryID/13250 Lap Band Surgery Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:40:10 EST http://www.locateadoc.com/gallery.cfm/Action/Gallery/GalleryID/12704 Lap Band Surgery Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:47:16 EST http://www.locateadoc.com/gallery.cfm/Action/Gallery/GalleryID/10323 Lap-Band patient with great results! Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) Fri, 25 May 2007 11:44:15 EST http://www.locateadoc.com/gallery.cfm/Action/Gallery/GalleryID/10161 “In March of 2005, I was 325 pounds and was suffering from sleep apnea, diabetes and high cholesterol. My energy level was terrible and I needed a nap to get through the day. I had tried lots of diets but all I did was yoyo diet. When I heard about the gastric banding surgery, it made sense so I thought I would give it a try. Why not - nothing has made me lose weight! In April of 2005, I met with Doctor Watson and he told me that I needed to lose at least 15 pounds to qualify for the surgery. I was so excited about the opportunity that I lost 50 pounds prior to my surgery on 11/8/05. The surgery was simple. I showed up at 7:00am and went home the same day at 3:00pm. It took me about 10 days for a full recovery. From 11/8/05 – 11/8/06, my first year with the gastric band, I lost another 75 pounds. My weight now is 199 pounds and I am still in the process of losing. My comorbidities of sleep apnea, diabetes, and high cholesterol are all completely gone. I have much more energy, feel much better about myself, and I am told that I look much better and even look 10 years younger! My entire outlook on life has changed! The 126 pounds that I lost thus far feels like a miracle has happened. Even thought I had to pay for the surgery myself, it was well worth it. It cost me about $20,000 and I would do it again without hesitation. My biggest concern is gaining the weight back. With most diets, 90% gain the weight back but with the gastric band, I feel confident that I wont because it is an excellent tool for limiting calorie intake and I feel very comfortable with it. I am confident that sometime this year that I will reach my goal weight. The gastric band has been a very safe and effective method of losing weight and correcting the comorbidity problems that come with obesity.” Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) Tue, 08 May 2007 14:25:57 EST