The Expert's Guide to Weight-Loss Surgery: Is It Right for Me? What Happens During Surgery? How Do I Keep the Weight Off?

I definitely recommend this book to anyone considering weight loss surgery whether it is for gastric bypass RNY or band. There is so much information in this book which really educated me on what to expect from the very beginning to the very end. Everything is explained in simple terms versus "big wig" jargon terms. I have done much research on the topics in the book and Garth's explanations really tied everything together for me. The book is an easy read and keeps you interested.

I had been investigating bariatric surgery for some time but was still undecided about having it. Even though I have struggled with my weight for over 50 years and have been through many episodes of yo-yo dieting, I kept thinking maybe I could still do this on my own with dieting and exercise. Dr. Davis points out that, statistically, only about 3% of obese people are able to achieve ***long-term*** weight loss that way. Since I have never been able to keep off any weight I lose, I finally realized that I was in denial and that I was NOT part of that 3%. Reading this book answered questions I didn't even realize I had and expanded in more detail the 6-month program I am going through with a local bariatric practice. The book covers every aspect of bariatric surgery including explaining the various types and pros and cons of each, as well as the lifestyle changes required by each type. Once I had finished the book, I knew that bariatric surgery was the right step for me to take. Dr. Davis seems to prefer gastric bypass surgery over banding but I've decided on having a gastric band. Hopefully, that will happen shortly after the first of the year. ---------- Update as of August, 2010 ---------- Well, I had my gastric banding surgery in late February and I couldn't be more satisfied with the results. I weighed over 290 pounds when I began the 6-month program and 265 on my surgery date. In the 6 months since surgery, I've lost over 50 pounds and weighed 214 this morning. Perhaps more important than the weight loss, during the pre-surgery tests my surgeon discovered my long-term acid reflux was caused by a very large hiatal hernia. He did an endoscopy and discovered the acid reflux had caused pre-cancerous changes in my esophagus. My family doctor at that time had always minimized both the hernia (which he knew about but never determined the size of) and the acid reflux so I now have a new family doctor. The surgeon repaired the hernia during the band surgery (the hernia repair actually took 3 times as long as the banding did) and I no longer experience *any* acid reflux. It is a blessing to finally be able to lie flat in bed without heartburn. I will have to continue to have an annual endoscopy to make sure the damage to my esophagus does not advance to cancer and I take Prevacid to help prevent any further damage. So, not only am I healthier because I am finally getting my weight under control, but my decision to have this surgery may have literally saved my life by avoiding cancer of the esophagus. Thanks, Dr. Davis!

I'm almost two years out from my RNY and I've read close to 25 books about WLS. I've learned something new in every book and enjoyed Dr. Garth's book. It was interesting to view from his perspective and he has a unique way of phrasing that I found a little odd. I really like the show but wish it would be shown on a regular basis.

I actually purchased this book for my Kindle on the day it was released while sitting in Dr. Davis' waiting room for my after surgery follow up to remove my stitches. He and his father are an awesome duo and the book has been of tremendous help to me. I highly recommend it and the doctor who wrote it!

Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) can be a confusing thing. Am I a candidate? Do I qualify? Do I even *want* to do it? It's like a maze that needs to be navigated through to the end. If you're lucky, you have a terrific support - but that doesn't change the fact that it can be a long and exhausting process...just to get TO the surgery! Then the aftermath begins a whole new confusing time. Garth Davis is a doctor who primarily does WLS in his practice, along with his father. Apparently (I didn't know this before I bought the book), their practice is featured on the TLC show "Big Medicine". He has taken his extensive knowledge and research and written this book, in an attempt to help potential WLS patients answer the many questions that exist. The Expert's Guide to Weight-Loss Surgery is an excellent resource, both for anyone contemplating the surgery and/or for anyone who has questions following a friend/family member's surgery. He lays out everything in detail, and in chapters that make sense in their organization. And he manages to do it in a language that is not overly technical, but rather like the conversation you might have if your next-door neighbor were a surgeon...friendly and full of information. Dr. Davis starts out immediately in the introduction, explaining why he chose to write the book. He says that as someone who has become in the public eye, he is frequently stopped by people with questions. This took is his attempt at answering all those questions. He is also VERY clear - WLS is *not* a magic cure-all. It takes a lot of thought, a lot of preparation and a ton of commitment to change the destructive behaviors that have gotten most patients where they are. These are the remaining chapters: One - The Costs of Obesity : He discusses the official definitions of obesity, BMI , and the economic, social and physical costs of obesity. He covers many of the co-morbidities and their associated effects on the body. Two - How We Got Here - and Why What We're Doing Now Isn't Working: He discusses some of the newest research into why WLS can be so incredibly successful for patients, including the chemicals and hormones (such as ghrelin) that affect the body in obese patients. There is some absolutely fascinating information here - such as the nugget that a surgical body in Europe recently had a convention to discuss whether or not WLS can/should be done on patients with diabetes. This is one of the best chapters in the book. From there, the other chapters go into the different kinds of WLS, and their associated benefits and risks. He makes no bones about being a bigger believer in the bypass than the band and explains why, but he is very thorough in giving information for both. How to find a doctor, navigating insurance and preparing for surgery (another excellent chapter) precede chapter Nine, called The Big Day. He goes through every step of the process, including what your loved ones should expect. He is also VERY careful to explain that your