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Before	After

At 32 years old and 296 pounds (highest weight ever- 315 pounds), I knew that I needed help! I was mentally and physically tired of the weight loss roller coaster. I had always been "the big girl " in the group and was often told "oh, you aren't overweight, you just have big bones and besides you have a beautiful smile." If only that smile could talk, the misery, it could have shared. I hated being over weight and was ready for a change. I researched the different options and talked to other patients when I quickly realized that Rou-En-Y Gastric bypass was right for me. I soon met with Dr. Henderson and Sandra, PA and was comforted by their knowledge and experience with Bariatric surgery and also the passion that was shown to me for helping others. My journey began on June 4, 2007. Now having lost an astounding 140 pounds my life has forever been changed! I now smile because I am happy about the way I feel and look. I even enjoy exercise where before I hated it! The energy is phenomenal! Better than that, the smile I wear is no longer a cover up and I feel better than I have ever felt in my life! The staff at Georgia Coast Surgical is awesome! They are very supportive and just as excited about your journey as you. To Dr. Henderson, a special thanks to you as your knowledge and expertise has helped me to improve my quality of life and be healthy. I am very proud that I chose you as my surgeon!

Before	After

Hi! My name is Betsy Hodges, I am 34 years old; and, on July 17, 2007 my life changed FOREVER! I had open gastric bypass surgery. I had been morbidly obese my entire adult life and the majority of my adolescence. When I was ten, I wore a size 10, when I was fifteen, I wore a size 16, etc. My age and my size have paralleled for more than twenty years – I know it doesnt seem possible; but, it is. Ive calculated it over and over in my head, on paper, and with an adding machine. I had been on what I believe is perhaps every conceivable diet you can think of – even the “Water Diet”. Before coming under the care of Dr. Henderson and the amazing staff at Georgia Coast Surgical, I weighed 295 pounds. Although I was maintaining that weight – I was at my heaviest!!! I was on blood pressure medication – that was the gist of my medical problems. I had no energy. I had no motivation – until my daughter was born (after years of struggles). Even though my doctor NEVER blamed my weight because of other non-weight related issues, I know deep down that it was a contributing factor of the complications. I worked out, I walked, and I stayed more active than others – hence, the reason for better looking skin post-op. However, the future could never be told… Looking at my daughter and admiring her energy and enthusiasm made me want to have surgery more than anything else I could imagine. I knew that I wanted to be able to be an active mom who spends quality time with her child. I had researched gastric bypass after several friends had the procedure done in the 90s; but, my insurance would not cover the expense and I was already receiving loans for education. I knew I couldnt afford to pay for this operation. It all changed on July 2, 2007 – my husbands new insurance went into effect. And they ACTUALLY COVERED most of the costs. How amazing to be insured under a new company on one day and have surgery within two weeks!! Thank you Lord for opening the door and swinging it wide open… Today, I am half the woman I used to be…and I’m still losing weight. The surgery is just what it’s advertised to be – a tool. Finally, I am free from the plus-size women’s shops… I can walk in to any shop and pick up the latest fashions – knowing that I can get into them. I have gone from a size 28/30 to a size 8. Plus, I no longer open the weekly emails from plus-size shops that once guided my wardrobe purchases. Yes, I still have cravings. For example, instead of eating five cream horns in one sitting, it takes me five days to eat just one. Grocery shopping takes FOREVER but I dont buy ANYTHING without looking at the label. I know that the choices I make will influence my daughter for the rest of her life. We only eat out once a month and have made cooking fun for both of us. Also, she feels like she has contributed because we come up with our menus and she helps prepare just about everything. The only thing she has said she wants for Christmas is a kid-sized apron with her initials. I had always been the butt of people’s jokes. The ridicule of young girls – that is all I will say because not only does it still hurt, it burns me up! Just the other day one of the girls who made my life a living hell commented, “You look so wonderful, you are going to blow away if you keep losing so much weight.” I just glanced her way, smiled, and said, “I had a goal and I met it.” Needless to say, she has put on a good bit since the cruel days of junior high and high school. If anyone wants a before and after story, let me know.

Before	After

I had open gastric bypass on August 5, 2005. Even though my official before surgery weight was around 325 pounds, I had topped out the scales at somewhere around 360 pounds. My life has been forever changed. I have lost a total of over 220 pounds, including those ups and downs along the way. I finally settled at about 155 pounds, ten pounds lighter than I predicted. I have been able to stay that way for over two and a half years now. I have been lucky. I have not experienced any problems and am able to eat most anything, in moderation. I went into this knowing the surgery was only the catalyst. I had to change my eating habits and get the exercise I needed to keep from gaining. It is not easy. I have good days and bad days. I wish I had done this year�s ago. I could not have been this successful without help from others. I contribute a lot of my success to the Support Group, of which I am an active member. I enjoy the fellowship and have needed the support of others to stay focused. I would encourage others to do the same. It really does help, especially during those plateaus. The support offered by the doctor�s office has been wonderful. But, I could not have done this without the love and support of my husband Joe. Success in weight loss surgery is measured in many ways, not just on the scales. I may not be a perfect size ten, I have some hanging skin and wrinkles, but I have succeeded. I no longer take blood pressure medicine, my knees and ankles don�t hurt anymore and I can breathe when it�s hot outside. In addition to my success, my son Kyle decided to lose those extra pounds he had and lost over seventy-five pounds through diet and exercise. You see, success comes in many ways and I am thankful for the surgery and what it has done to enrich my life.

Before	After

Today is a great day! But I can't think of really having a bad day since getting my band. I haven�t always been overweight. I think it started about the time I turned 8 and I was considered a chubby child not a really heavy over weight child and that continued into high school. I then became real active in sports and cut back on calories and lost very easily. So years rock on and I meet and married my husband. I didn�t play sports much then and really enjoyed cooking and eating. Also found out I was a dang good cook! A couple of years after marrying I had my first child and 2 more followed. Time moves on and the kids get bigger, hysterectomy and low thyroid and I ballooned. But the miracle drug comes along PhenPhen and Pondimen. It was the answer to my weight problem...lost lower than I had ever been. It was wonderful but then it was pulled off the market and back comes the weight. Plus more! My legs and hips were hurting, I couldn�t walk any distance that I wasn�t out of breathe and had to sit down. I was using my inhaler more and more for asthma and using 3 pillows at night with meds for reflux. Not to mention the snoring that was keeping the whole house up at night. Then I had a picture with some family taken the summer before my surgery that just said it all�I had to do something! One day I saw a friend that I had not seen in awhile and she had had the band and looked so good. I could not wait to get home and tell my husband, my number one supporter! We decide that I should try for it. So I called my insurance and it took several months and lots of tries but finally insurance covered it. Thanks Ginger! I was beside myself! I saw hope at the end of the tunnel! I did all the pre op stuff required by our doctors and insurance and had surgery on June 5, 2007. I know I will have some arguments but the best doctor in the world is Dr Kent. I am sure Dr Henderson is wonderful too. Our doctors are there when we need them and Dr Kent keeps reminding me of things I need to hear and I just think there is no other surgeon as great as he is. I know that we have the best office staff in the country! Laura and Ami always greet you with a smile and if I need to see a doctor they do their best to get me in as soon as possible. I doubt there is another office with staff that works as hard to get insurance to cover our surgeries as this staff does. Another great thing about our surgeons is their whole concept of the way the surgery works to be successful. We have available to us Lauren, our nutritionist and Dr Greg, our psychologist all in one office. Plus the wonderful support groups at the hospital. Which I honestly think all contributes to successful weight loss. . It has been a life changing experience. I know my quality of life is better and will continue to get better as I lose more weight. I can�t thank Dr Kent and the office staff enough for all their help in my success. Phyllis Joiner

Before	After

I AM 47 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER SINCE 1997. MY JOB IS VERY STRESSFUL MOST OF THE TIME. IN 2002, I STARTED GAINING WEIGHT AND COULD NOT STOP. I WENT TO DIFFERENT DIET DOCTORS FOR PILLS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I EVEN TRIED OVER THE COUNTER PILLS, DRINKS, PATCHES, YOU NAME IT, I PROBABLY BOUGHT IT. I WOULD LOSE WEIGHT, BUT JUST AS SOON AS I QUIT TAKING WHATEVER I WAS ON, I WOULD GAIN THE WEIGHT BACK AND LOTS MORE. I WENT FROM 150 LBS. TO 237 LBS. IN 2006. I DID NOT FEEL LIKE DOING ANYTHING OUT OF MY DAILY ROUTINE. MY SLEEPING TIME WAS 7:00 PM. TO 5:30 AM. MY HUSBAND WOULD ASK ME TO GO PLACES WITH HIM AND I ALWAYS REFUSED BECAUSE I WAS TIRED ALL THE TIME. THE WEIGHT GAIN WAS VERY DEPRESSING TO ME. I WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR WITHOUT CLOTHES ON. IF I DIDN’T LIKE WHAT I SAW, WHO KNOWS HOW MY HUSBAND FELT. SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE OR I DON’T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME. I HATED MYSELF. I SAW A COMMERCIAL ON T.V. ABOUT THE LAPBAND. I HAD MY HUSBAND TO SEARCH FOR INFORMATION. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN. GEORGIA COAST SURGICAL WAS THE CLOSEST IN MY AREA. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SEMINAR. WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, DR. HENDERSON WAS PERFORMING MY LAPBAND SURGERY. I HAD NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING IN MY LIFE. I WANTED THIS SO BAD. I WANTED TO BE LITTLE AND HEALTHY AGAIN. DON’T GET ME WRONG, I WAS HEALTHY IN THE MEDICAL SENSE. AT MY WEIHGT, I WAS NOT HEALTHY IN MY FRAME OF MINE. THE TIME IS HERE, I HAVE LOST 105 LBS IN 18 MONTHS. I FEEL GREAT. I DON’T SLEEP MUCH. I AM ALWAYS ON THE GO AND NEVER SIT DOWN LONG AT A TIME. I HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY. I DON’T MIND SEEING MYSELF IN THE MIRROR. NOW I AM PROUD OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY LOOK AT ME. MY SELF-ESTEEM HAS SOARED AND I EVEN LOVE MYSELF AGAIN. I THINK THAT DR. HENDERSON AND HIS CREW ARE GREAT. I HAVE RECEIVED THE BEST CARE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THAT ANYONE COULD EVER ASK FOR. I THANK EACH AND EVERY PERSON AT GEORGIA COAST SURGICAL FOR THEIR SERVICES.

Before	After

My name is Paulette Chumley. I under went lap-Band surgery in Feb. of 2007. I weighed in at 294 and was wearing a size 26/28. My first grandchild was due to arrive in Dec. of 2006 and I was to turn 45 in Jan. of 07. How could I live the next half of my life the way I had lived the first? Unhealthy,depressed,avoiding social events as much as possible and that doesn't count the aches and pains that come with obesity. I had heard lots of talk about the band and knew a few ladies that had undergone the surgery and were having great success. I needed to know more and so started my own journey. My husband and I attended the meeting that was held in the Dr.'s office to learn more about this band. Dr. Henderson just put it out there on the table. What is important to you and how this can change your life. When I walked out of that very first meeting I knew for the first time in my life that I had hope of getting the weight off and keeping it off. I went through all of the requirements and what a blessing. My insurance would cover the lap-band!! From there I scheduled the surgery that would change my life. I am out 14 months now and have hit a major goal . I'm down 100 lbs. and have just 24 lbs. to reach my goal weight. I now wear a size 14. For the first time in my life I feel like I am really living. From playing on the floor with my grandson to running around with him outside. I would never have dreamed that this could be my life. What can you say to a group of people that have given you a life so worth living? Thank you seems so very little. Dr. Henderson and his group have been with me through every step of this journey and I couldn't have made it this far without their support. You all have made a difference in not just my life, but the lives of so many others. I have been blessed with the most wonderful support person that I could have ever asked for. My husband. In the 28 yrs. we have been married he never once said anything about my weight. He has always just loved me for me. He has accepted the changes that I have gone through and remarkably still loves me!! I am learning to love this new me and am trying to live every day to it's fullest. After all this is my new beginning.

Before	After

I started gaining weight when I was 12 years old. My parents were going through a very nasty divorce and food was my best friend. I turned to it anytime I had a problem. I was always very active in High School yet I was overweight. I hid my sorrow by being the Most Humorous of my Senior class. After I got married I continued to gain weight. After a tough pregnancy I gained even more weight. When I reached almost 250 pounds I had had enough. I tried many diets. Thirty eight diets to be exact. I lost a combined total of 220 pounds. After every successful loss I had the predictable gain. I was so unhappy. I have an extremely supportive husband but my self hate was causing a problem in our marriage. I had heard of Lap-Band because a member of my family had the surgery. After watching her lose minimal weight (later to find out that she did nothing she was supposed to) I decided that surgery would never be for me. One day I was sitting in my living room and my husband asked me if I wanted to go out and I told him no. He and my daughter went to leave and I heard my 2 year old tell her Daddy "Mommy never wants to go with us." I was devastated. I decided to review my options and I wrote down every diet I had ever tried and the weight lost on it. It was then that I thought maybe I should do some research on the surgery. I did my homework and found that LapBand was for me. It was simply a tool. I had to do the work. When success came it would be because of me. I had the surgery on 1/23/07 and I have had no regrets. I have my life back again. I have lost almost 100 pounds. I am now fulfilling all my dreams. I have ran 2 5ks and am finishing my Master's Degree in Social Work. I am now the person I have always wanted to be. Thank you so much Dr. Kent and all the people who supported me at Georgia Coast Surgical.

Before	After

When I started on my weight loss journey, I never knew how my life would change. I honestly have to say it has been the best thing that I could have ever done for myself. I am thankful for Dr. Henderson for performing Gastric Bypass surgery so I could live a more fulfilling life and his staff for everything they have done for me. I am truly grateful to each and everyone of them. I would recommend this surgery to anyone who needs a second chance.

Before	After

My gastric bypass was done on December 16, 2005, and it has changed my life drastically. I am only 5 feet tall, so carrying 195 pounds was causing a lot of problems for me. My blood pressure was high and I was having hip and foot pain. It was fate that I bought a new sewing machine and was taking classes from Bette Drecktrah. In passing, she mentioned her weight loss. I asked a couple of questions, got on the internet and did my research. Within two weeks, I had made the decision to have the surgery and contacted Dr. Henderson. After my surgery I did everything Dr. Henderson, Greg and Lauren told me to do. I had one occasion when I wasn't losing but at my support group I learned that I wasn't getting enough protein. I started drinking whey protein and the weight started coming off. It came off steadily ever since. I reached my goal weight of 118 in 12 months. I have now lost more weight and maintained my weight between 110 and 112 lbs.--my body seems to like that. My BMI went from 38 to 22.5. My blood pressure is normal again. And, best of all, I went from a size 20 to a size 2-4. It is fun to go shopping again and find clothes that fit. I think I owe the success of my weight loss to NEVER CHEATING and going to the support group. The support group helps to keep you on target, suggest new products and just plain understand what you are going through. Finally, I have to give thanks to Dr. Henderson for taking a chance on a 69-year-old woman and doing this surgery. I wouldn't be a happy 70 years old if he hadn't. I love my life now. I am working 2 � days a week in a securities office and am enjoying every minute of it.

Before	After

I had lost all hope of ever being successful at keeping the weight off so I stopped almost every effort connected to losing and tried to accept the fact that I was going to die and die early from super morbid obesity. Not just overweight but really dangerously obese. Then I got to a place where my knee needed to be replaced and I could no longer get up and down from a sitting positon without help. Not for me! I was not willing to be dependent on someone else for that so at the suggestion of the orthopedic DR/Friend I looked into Gastric Bypass. It took seven months of constant attention to get insurance approval but at last my desire and commitment happened. It is a miracle for me. Difficult decision to make and very difficult to begin with but with lots of support the best Drs and staff and a great program to follow I am successful with 265 lbs gone. I find that with new habits and the fact that I hardly ever experience real hunger this is the easiest way I have ever lived. Thank you so much for dedicated Drs who have not only a great program and exceptional skills but most of all a caring heart for obese people.