Weight-Loss Surgery Brings Hope: Carlos' Story

Patients who have long battled high blood pressure, hypertension and type 2 diabetes are turning to weight-loss medications like semaglutide injections, better known by the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. However, these interventions are not a one-size-fits-all solution.

(Related: PODCAST: Do Weight-Loss Medications Work? Are They Safe? Who Are They For?)

Fortunately, there are other options. Carlos Hernandez, a patient of bariatric surgeon Dr. Jason M. Balette, has achieved significant health improvements following his decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery.

A transformative shift after weight-loss medications were unsuccessful

After struggling with weight and related health issues, Hernandez had reached 368 pounds. Over the years, numerous diets and medications, including the weekly semaglutide injections, had failed to produce lasting weight loss.

Hernandez decided to have gastric sleeve surgery, a restrictive weight-loss procedure that helps a person feel fuller on smaller amounts of food by reducing the size of the stomach. Thanks to the intervention, he's lost nearly 100 pounds and seen a transformative shift in his health. Daily activities that previously exhausted him, like mowing the lawn and grocery shopping, are now manageable.

"I now walk over two miles a day and my diet is tremendously improved because the cravings are gone and I am full faster," says Hernandez. "After my gastric sleeve surgery, I've lost 97 pounds and am no longer on any diabetic or cholesterol medications."

A more permanent solution to weight loss

The benefits of gastric sleeve surgery for weight loss, a minimally invasive procedure that involves just five small incisions, include restricting the amount of food a person can eat and lowering the level of ghrelin, also known as "the hunger hormone."

It also doesn't share one of the limitations of weight-loss medications.

"The use of semaglutide and similar medications is not meant for life, and many patients regain weight after stopping them," Dr. Balette says. "In contrast, surgical weight loss has more sustainable outcomes. Seventy percent of our patients are off their medications within two years of surgery."

(Related: 4 Things to Know About Weight-Loss Surgery)

Hernandez's decision to have surgery came from a desire to avoid weekly injections and lifelong medication dependency.

"The medications improved my sugar levels, but I wasn't losing any weight and I was getting frustrated," says Hernandez. "Surgery presented a more permanent solution without weekly medication."

Impressed with Hernandez' most recent follow-up, Dr. Balette offers reasons why weight-loss surgery might be beneficial for more patients struggling with medications.

Enjoying a new lifestyle after weight-loss surgery

"For patients like Carlos, weight-loss surgery, combined with lifestyle changes, offers a comprehensive solution for lasting health benefits," Dr. Balette says. "Weight management is a complex issue requiring a multifaceted approach. Surgery is a viable option for those frustrated with the costs, supply issues and weekly injections associated with medications. Seeing our patients achieve such positive outcomes is incredibly rewarding."

Hernandez plans to maintain his new lifestyle, regularly exercising and adhering to a healthier routine.

"With my current energy levels, I'm more active than I've been in the last decade," says Hernandez. "I consistently keep in mind that I have gained more than just my energy back. I have also gained an extra 10 to 15 years of life by losing this weight and continuing to maintain this lifestyle. That motivation drives my continued commitment to my health."

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