Patient Story: Bariatric Surgery Transformation
In this article you will find the answer for:
- What is Bariatric Surgery?
- How to Find a Good Doctor?
- Recovering from Gastric Sleeve Surgery.
- Removing Excess Skin After Weightloss.
- Regrets About the Bariatric Surgery?
Why Bariatric Surgery?
Meet Brittany Brown, a young Aussie with a fierce passion for sports and a healthy way of life. Whether she's crushing it on the court or whipping up a nutritious meal in the kitchen, Brittany lives and breathes all things fitness. Get ready to be inspired by this powerhouse of energy and determination! Brittany used to struggle a lot with her weight, but on her Instagram page, she shares happy, fun, and joyful moments from her life. According to her, her problem got out of control and hindered her from enjoying life to the fullest. It affected not only her confidence but also made her worry about her health and overall well-being. Two years ago, she decided to take action and make a change.
"I decided to have weight loss surgery in 2016. My weight had ballooned to 120kgs and I felt my eating habits were out of control. I researched gastric sleeve surgery and booked my surgery date. Once I had the surgery my eating was very restricted and I lost weight quickly. Seeing the results kept me motivated. I found an exercise style I enjoyed and that also helped me stick to my plan. Feeling confident and comfortable in my body was a big motivator as well."
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Finding a Good Doctor
She had to find a doctor in Sydney as none performed such surgeries in her hometown. She found one via online research that seemed trustworthy and with good reviews.
"So, I searched online and I had a friend who had the surgery as well. I live in a small island state of Australia called Tasmania and at the time, no surgeons here were performing the surgery. I looked online at mainland surgeons and found someone in Sydney who had good recommendations. The initial consultation was great. I felt reassured and positive. It was scary, the surgery is irreversible but I left knowing this would be a fantastic tool to help me control my weight."
Read more on this topic on Ultimate Guide For Bariatric Surgery Abroad
The Weight Loss Surgery
"I had to do a 2-week shake diet pre-surgery. Then post, I had 2 weeks liquids, 2 weeks purée then 4 weeks soft food. Cost varies from surgeon to surgeon. In Australia, if you have private health covered you just need the appropriate level that covers bariatric surgery and they will cover a portion of the cost."
Read more about Preparing For Sleeve Gastrectomy: Essential Steps For Success
Recovering from a Gastric Sleeve Surgery
From her experience, the recovery was not too difficult, she spent 3 days in the hospital and took 2 weeks off of work. She did not have major pain, just some discomfort and a lot of nausea. Also, she did not have trouble moving, besides being a little stiff and sore. The hardest thing for Brittany was how little she could eat at first, but even with such dietary restrictions, she says the switch wasn’t very difficult.
"The change in diet initially wasn’t hard because I had no hunger sensation. I never felt hungry, I even had to remind myself I needed to eat at times. As time went on I was able to eat more and my hunger returned. Now I have to be very mindful of what I’m eating. I try my best to stick to a healthy diet and exercise regularly."
More on Navigating the Recovery Process After Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Comprehensive Guide
Losing The Weight and Dealing With Excess Skin
After she lost the majority of the desired weight she had to deal with the excess skin. The usual but not as easy solution is plastic surgery. Her recovery after these ones was much harder than the first bariatric surgery, with more pain and a longer period of recovery.
"So I had lost 52kgs by early 2018. I had a lot of excess skin on my stomach arms and breasts. I was referred to see a plastic surgeon who recommended a 360 circumferential lipectomy with muscle repair, and breast and arm lift. I had those done in August and September 2018. It was scary. They were big surgeries with long anesthetics. I had to have 3 months off work. The recovery is slow and you need someone’s help for a few weeks. Often you can’t shower for some time so I had someone wash my hair. I needed someone to help me in and out of bed. It was hard and because it’s painful and restrictive, it’s frustrating."
Regrets About the Bariatric Surgery?
Brittany is truly happy with the results of her weight loss surgery and she does not regret it at all. More than this she advises the same procedure to everyone who is in a similar position to her and thinks it's a solution for them.
"Do not wait! If you think weight loss surgery will be a good tool for you, then book an appointment now", said, Brittany.
Read more on Identifying And Managing Complications: Post-Sleeve Gastrectomy Care
At the moment she tries to be as active and healthy as possible, she feels more comfortable with her body and can reach her fullest potential. She thinks it's crucial to treat our bodies the right way and be healthy to feel confident and positive about our appearance.
Want to understand more about Bariatric Surgery? Dive into our in-depth Bariatric Surgery guide.
Considering similar life-changing decisions? Explore our comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Packages from various trusted clinics.
Content editor, treatment insights and research at MedicalTourism.Review