By: Dr. Helmuth T. Billy, MD

I have had the opportunity to help patients transform their lives for the better and to reach goals that had seemed beyond achievable.  As a surgeon who has performed thousands of weight loss operations, I have seen lap band surgery become increasingly popular since first being approved in the United States in 2001.  But why is it that some patients succeed while others struggle?  In my practice, I've learned a lot about what makes a successful weight loss surgery patient.  Patients who do their homework, establish a plan, and embark upon this journey with their eyes wide open improve their chances of success.  That is what this book is all about.

What you will find here is very different than what you typically get from your surgeon.  This is not a medical book; this is a journey of self-exploration.  It is filled with valuable exercises, information, and real-life experiences.  It's a step-by-step journey guided by two people who have achieved and maintained outstanding results with their lap bands, two people who understand that the band is a tool and know how to use it.  Sandi and Gloria are your peers.  They know what it takes to be successful, and they can help you develop your plan.

By using this book, you can develop a clear and thorough understanding of how to use your lap band as a tool and find out what's in store for you should you decide to proceed with surgery.  It's time to get serious; weight loss surgery is not a magic bullet.  This book captures candid experiences, gives you an honest picture of the facts, and shows you how to optimize your lap band results.  Sandi and Gloria simplify the process of understanding how to achieve your goals so you can understand what to expect and what it will take to be successful forever.

The lap band operation by itself is not enough to allow you to achieve your goals.  To think that you will achieve your goals just by having an operation is delusional.  It takes more than a few adjustments and a feeling of being full to achieve lasting weight loss results.  Your ability to use your lap band to its full potential is increased when you surround yourself with other successful people.  You need the facts.  You need to know that your surgeon will perform the operation and work with you to adjust your band-but you need to do the work.  The band can help you with portion control, hunger, and satiety.  The rest is up to you.  Not everyone is prepared to do what it takes.  There are some patients who are too set in their ways to achieve the results they are looking for and some who are not willing to put in the effort it will take to get there.  To achieve optimal results, the responsibility is yours.  You must become empowered to achieve your goals.  The band will not do it for you.  The doctor will not do it for you.  You must do it for you.  And this book can help you understand what that means.

The book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is a study of what it takes to be successful.  To be a true expert in anything requires thousands of hours of work.  It takes practice.  There is no substitute for hard work and effort.  There is no easy way out when someone wants to become an expert at managing his or her weight.  It takes practice and desire to reach success.  Weight loss surgery is no different.  So you must ask yourself some questions before entering into this process:  How much do you want to lose weight?  What are your goals?  Are your goals realistic?  How much work are you willing to put in to achieve those goals?  What is your strategy?  What is your plan?  How are you going to practice weight loss?  How are you going to use this tool?

Patients learn best from their peers.  Gloria and Sandi have done extensive research and talked to hundreds of patients to bring together a comprehensive resource that is honest, uplifting, and invaluable to anyone considering weight loss surgery.  Gloria and Sandi are real patients.  They are among the most successful long-term lap band patients.  This book fills a gap in information.  It is an easy-to-understand, step-by-step process to guide you through your decision to answer the question:  Is lap band surgery for me?

The lap band system and surgery works.  Learning how to use this tool properly is the challenge.  Patients can be successful once they learn how this tool helps them achieve their goals.

Helmuth T.  Billy, MD Ventura Advanced Surgical Associates Ventura, California www.drbillybariatrics.com

Dr. Billy is the leading lap band and laparoscopic gastric bypass surgeon in Ventura and Santa Barbara County and has performed thousands of bariatric surgeries.  Dr. Billy is currently the director of Bariatric Surgery at St.  John's Regional Medical Center located in Oxnard, California, a recognized bariatric Center of Excellence.

Dr. Billy obtained his undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley.  He subsequently received his medical degree at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine.  Dr. Billy received additional training in the techniques of the lap band system prior to its release by the FDA in 2001.  He is actively involved as a teaching faculty member for placement of the LAP-BAND® System and has educated and proctored dozens of surgeons throughout the West as part of their educational training.  Dr. Billy has been a faculty member at numerous national educational events and surgeon training workshops.  He has been a featured speaker at the annual meeting of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and was a contributing author on the recently released SAGES Bariatric Surgery Manual published by the Society of Alimentary and Gastroendoscopic Surgeons.  Dr. Billy has an international reputation and has lectured and taught principles of bariatric surgery in Mexico, Taiwan, and India.   

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