Success Stories

Regaining A Healthy Body - Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories

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Meet Paul Glaab
Gastric Bypass Patient

Nothing gives Paul Glaab more satisfaction than being able to keep up with his fast-paced 2 1/2 yr. old daughter Molly. Keeping up with her was a difficult task just three months ago due to his excess weight. But Paul's real fear was not being around to see Molly grow up because of his diabetes and hypertension. Now things have changed. Paul is more than half way to his weight loss goal and has the energy to move the same speed as his daughter - and his diabetes and hypertension are in complete remission. Two months ago, Paul underwent a weight loss operation called gastric bypass surgery. The 56 year-old Laguna Niguel resident is experiencing just the first stages of weight loss from the procedure. Typically weight loss will plateau 18-24 months after surgery.

Complications of Obesity

According to statistics cited in the Journal of American Medical Association (2002), nearly one-third of U.S. adults are obese. Obesity is defined as anyone with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight. Paul Glaab had a BMI of 36. He also suffered from numerous medical conditions that put his life at risk including diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma and high blood pressure. Paul was a candidate for gastric bypass surgery.

Treatment of Obesity

Having tried every diet in the book, Paul was desperate to lose weight. "I'd go on a diet, achieve short term, moderate success then gain the weight right back," says Paul. To control his diabetes and other medical conditions Paul was taking as many as nine medications a day. "The prognosis from my doctors was my health was going to get worse and worse," he says. "I calculated in my own non-scientific mind that I'd probably be dead in nine years." Dying was not an option because he, along with his wife Janice, had a daughter to raise. He spoke to his primary care doctor about his choices for treatment of his obesity. His doctor referred him to bariatric surgeons Ramsey Dallal, M.D., and Brian Quebbemann, M.D. Paul met with Dr. Dallal to see if bariatric surgery was the answer. "Paul is not what America perceives as a typical patient for weight loss surgery," remarks Dr. Dallal. "Paul was only 65 pounds overweight. However, he had significant weight-related medical problems that included diabetes and hypertension. These diseases are real killers. I offered Paul a laparoscopic gastric bypass because a large amount of scientific data has shown that 83 percent of people who are diabetic experience full remission after this operation. The day of Paul's surgery was the last day he took his blood pressure medication and diabetes medication! Paul's quality of life has already dramatically improved. And it has only been two months since his operation."

Short Stay Surgery 

Paul's gastric bypass surgery was performed laparoscopically. This minimally invasive type of surgery offers many advantages. Patients experience less pain, recover quicker and are discharged from the hospital sooner. "I had the surgery on Tuesday and went home on Thursday," Paul says. "The pain post-op was less than a bad asthma attack." Nurses had Paul up and walking within 4 hours after surgery. And Paul was back to work the following Monday. Dr. Dallal expects Paul will lose 60 pounds over the next several months and achieve his weight goal by the end of the year.

Paul says he's impressed at how comprehensive The N.E.W. Program is. He says it's not just the surgery; there's a whole lot more. "They put you through a physical, a stress test and other types of examinations. You also meet with a psychologist to make sure you're having the surgery for the right reasons, and you meet with a nutritionist as well. The purpose of all the pre-evaluations and testing is to make sure you are in fact a candidate for the surgery." Paul also had an opportunity to attend support group meetings. These meetings, run by a psychologist, were informational and included people who have had bariatric surgery and those contemplating surgery. Dr. Dallal believes The N.E.W. Program is unique in several respects. "Most importantly, the surgeons, myself and Dr. Quebbemann, are true bariatric experts having performed nearly one thousand laparoscopic procedures," says Dr. Dallal. "Because of our expertise, we have a 100 percent success rate in finishing an operation laparoscopically. We are able to perform a laparoscopic operation even in patients who have had previous abdominal operations and who even weigh greater than 700 pounds. No other national bariatric program has our laparoscopic success rate. And no other national program comes close to our very low complication rate. Our expertise does not stop in the operating room. We offer our own psychologists, nutritionists, bariatric internists as well as organized support groups, internet chats and personalized hands-on care. Unlike most programs that are interested in quantity, we are interest in the absolute best quality."