Dawn had her surgery in April of 2007 and so far she has lost 120lbs.  Having the Lap-Band not only changed her life, but it changed the lives of her husband and daughter, whom have also adopted a lifestyle of healthy eating.  Before her surgery, Dawn was wearing size 22-24 and now she wears size 11.  When asked about her weight loss journey, she said "I lost most of my weight even before I had my 1st adjustment.  I've only had 2 adjustments to my Lap-Band and although I never got sick, I had to learn how to eat the right foods".  Dawn suffered from severe back pain and took many, many medications prior to Lap-Band placement.  Now Dawn takes very few and she is more active than she's ever been.  She no longer has to say "no" when it comes to spending active time with her daughter and she now know's that the health benefits of the Lap-Band Adjustable Gastric Band System outweigh the complications of weight loss surgery.  She is thankful for the Lap-Band and Dr. Patel.
	Gabriella is enjoying her new look, and it shows.  She had her surgery less than a year ago and she has lost 160 pounds.  Wearing size 22-24 was no picnic for her, but now she enjoys her 9-10 size.  Sometimes she even gets into 7-8.  Gabriella's journey proved to have it's ups and downs, but in the end she said it was worth it.  She chose the Lap-Band because it is so much more safer than gastric bypass and the weight stays off when you follow Dr. Patel's program.  This is what Gabriella had to say about her weight loss with the Lap-Band.  "Someone asked me if I had to do it over again, would I?  Absolutely!  Dr. Patel is not only a kind doctor, but an excellent surgeon.  I've gotten my life back because of him.  Thank you Dr. Patel, I wouldn't have chosen anyone else".
Say hello to Norman, whose lost over 120 lbs. with the Inamed Lap-Band.  He weighed just over 400 lbs and from the beginning of his plan to lose weight, Norman got right to it.  He began losing weight even before his surgery on February 16, 2006.  He dedicated himself completely to his goal of losing weight, and look at him now.  Sorry ladies, he's taken.  His wife Sharon was so inspired by his weight loss, that she too is a Lap-Band recipient and doing great.  Norman no longer worries about shortness of breath, in fact, he now takes deep breaths as he does his cardio and weight training.  His Yoga is his way to relax his mind and then he's ready for anything.  Norman learned; the only way to succeed, was to choose the right foods and develop portion control.  Now, there's no more shopping in just Big N Tall departments, Norman has a much larger selection of clothing choices, after-all, he went from slack size 58 to 42 and his shirt size from 5XL to just XL.  How great is that!	When asked about the Inamed Adjustable Gastric Band System, Norman had this to say.  "The Lap-Band is a tool to better health, but it takes commitment, dedication, and perseverance for successful weight loss.  In our monthly support group meeting, a member deemed a quote from Benjamin Franklin saying... one should eat to live, not live to eat.©" Norman certainly has it right, doesn't he.
		Marie had her Lap-Band placed in March 2007, and what an exciting day it was in her life.  Getting ready for her surgery was trying for Marie and would be for anyone.  Paperwork, testing, more paperwork, meetings.  What a ride.  This would make the most patient person want to give up, but Marie was on a mission to change her life and she wasn't going to let anything stop her from reaching her goal.  Since her surgery, she has lost 127lbs. and she's still losing weight.  She went from 271lbs. to her current weight of 144lbs.  Now, she loves the woman she sees in the mirror.  Before the Lap-Band, Marie wore size 32  and now wears size 12.  Shopping was a nightmare, because nothing fit her and black was the "in" color for her entire wardrobe.   Marie feels great these days and even wears bright, light colors that hug her new slim figure.  When we asked her if she would recommend Lap-Band to others, Marie had this to say "The Lap-Band can really change your life.  It prevents you from overeating and I'm so glad I did it!  I would never have been able to lose this much weight without my Lap-Band, anybody struggling with weight loss should try it".
This is Jennifer whose already lost an incredible amount of weight with her Lap-Band.  Since her surgery in March 2007, she has lost 130lbs.  Jennifer says she would do it all over again.  "My experience through this weight loss journey was a wonderful one".  Jennifer went from size 22 and now she easily slips into size 6.  Jennifer feels re-born and loves the way she looks.  No more stares from strangers and no more embarrasing moments at the amusement park.  "I would recommend the Lap-Band to anyone".
		Judi lost 68lbs with the Inamed Lap-Band System and she feels wonderful.  "I developed other health issues that prevented me from doing the things that I loved.  I struggled with obesity since the age of 16 and I never thought that I would become the healthy person that I am today.  I shopped for clothing a lot because I wanted to bring attention to my new outfits and not my weight.  Now, I don't have to spend so much on clothes.   I wear anything I want and it feels and looks great.  I finally got rid of those old size 22/24 outfits because I will NEVER go back to being that person". "For the first time in my life, I feel positive about myself".
	Kim lost 70lbs. and has kept it off for over 2 years.  She was wearing size 18-20 and now love her size 10.  Kim had this to say about the Lap-Band.  "Portion control is the key, you have to take your time eating even the smallest meals and chewing your food properly is important too.  Some foods are hit or miss, but I knew very soon after my surgery which ones to stay away from". "I'm glad I had my surgery, it has made a big difference in my life.  I recommend the Lap-Band to others because I know it works.  Just look at me now, I feel great and I know that I'm healthy.  Lap-Band definitely boosted my confidence and outlook on life".
This is William and before his Lap-Band placement, he weighed 265lbs.  Now his weight is under 200lbs and he feels fantastic.  He recalls being obese since early childhood and in his adult life, he battled not only his weight, but his co-morbidities assoicated with his obesity.  Those who knew him best called him "Big Bill" and it was a name that fit him well.  Now, he looks and feels great and he has the energy to exercise regularly; adding lean muscle to his now healthy body.  He no longer has the need for all those medications he was taking before his surgery and he no longer feels the need to over-indulge.  With his wife as his biggest supporter, he has managed to regain control of his life.
		Say hello to Mike, who lost 134lbs after his Lap-Band.  Before surgery he struggled with everyday simple tasks like tying his shoes.  He couldn't exercise because it caused too much pain and forget about playing baseball with his two kids - it just wasn't happening.  Now Mike weighs 214lbs. and at 6 feet tall, he looks fantastic!  His wife couldn't be more pleased with the results he achieved with the Inamed Adjustable Gastric Band System and his surgery took only 1 hour.  No more shortness of breath and no more pain from climbing the stairs.  Mike can tell you, the Lap-Band works and he says he would recommend it to anyone.  "The journey wasn't all fun, but it was certainly worth it"!
	This is Pat, she had her Lap-Band placed over 2 years ago and she's keeping the weight off.  She lost over 130lbs. and it's changed her life for the better.  Pat was wearing size 22-24 and now wears size 9-10.  She looks and feels healthier than she ever has and is glad she did it. When we asked her to describe her experience with the Lap-Band, she said "It was an awesome experience.  I had some ups and downs, but overall it was a great ride.  I've recommended it to a dozen people". "The Lap-Band surgery changed my life, my marriage, and my self esteem for the best"!
Margaret had her Lap-Band in the summer of 2005 and it's a summer she will remember forever because it was the turning point in her life.  She has lost over 150lbs. and to her that's priceless.  She described her journey in one word "amazing".  Before her Lap-Band, Margaret was wearing size 4-5x and now she's making her way towards size 14.  She weighed 377lbs before surgery and recalls a terrible day she had while shopping at her local supermarket.  "I was doing my shopping as normal and I slipped and fell in one of the aisles.  I was so embarrassed because everyone started gathering around and soon there was a huge crowd.  The paramedics were called and I had to wait there on the floor until help arrived while everyone stared as they walked by.  When the paramedics arrived, they tried to lift me onto the stretcher and it just wasn't possible.  They had to call for back up.  How humiliated and helpless I felt that day.  It took 5 EMT's to lift me and I just knew that I had to do something about my weight.  I never would have thought it was possible to lose so much weight though.  The Lap-Band is a terrific tool".  Today Margaret is healthier than before and she feels great.  She no longer has a fear of falling and in her own words, she is a work still in progress.  "My goal is to get enough weight off that I'll be able to go back to my dancing which I love.