Alex's Lap Band SurgeryLos Angeles, California |
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My Take on the Lap-band Surgery Five Years Later
My name is Alex and I’ve been a professional dieter since I was a child. That means, as many of you belonging to the same club, know all of the diets, read every book and watch nearly all of the television specials on obesity. Yes, I starved myself, binged and purged, went to health spas, commonly known at that point as “fat farms,” until I was so out of control, I knew that I had to take another course of action. I knew that I was in desperate need of help, when one Saturday afternoon, I decided to go browsing at Bloomingdales, I found myself living in sweat pants every day, isolating and miserable unhappy with myself. Going to a lovely department store, helped me to get my mind off of myself.
That Saturday afternoon, while at the department store, I went to the second floor, heading to the ladies’ restroom, when I passed a triple full length mirror, glancing into it, as I passed,. I was in shock seeing a woman very obese and felt so sorry for her until, I looked again into the mirror and found that it was me. When I did, I burst into tears and ran out of the store. I couldn’t’ believe that image was me!
About four months later and having done a good deal of research in gastric by=pass and Lap-band surgeries; I met with several different doctors. The last one I met with was the highly acclaimed, Dr. Carson Liu, who was with UCLA University Hospital at the time. I found him to be reassuring, caring and extremely knowledgeable in the field. I walked in wanted gastric by-pass surgery, but left his office taking his advice and preparing for the minimally invasive Lap-band Surgery instead. It has been since 2002, when I had the surgery and over 80 pounds less.
I feel great about myself and am so very grateful that Dr. Liu truly was the doctor for me. Today, he is as wonderful in manner, as he is in his expertise of surgical procedures to aid people who have problems losing weight and keeping it off. I was one of the first to have this surgery and I am so glad that I did.
At my heaviest I was a size 18 and today, I bought two pairs of size 6 jeans. Am I happy you ask? I’m thrilled and blessed to be healthier and happier. Thank you, Dr. Carson Liu for being an answer to many prayers.
Alex Nassif
