Patient Testimonials

Jenny
Operation: Lap band surgery

On October 20th 2008 my life changed forever. That is the day I underwent Lap band surgery with Mr Ahmad Aly as my surgeon.

Before surgery I was 160 kg but this was not the heaviest I had been, at my worst I probably topped the scales at 180 kg. People knew that I was overweight but a lot didn't realise how much as I am quite tall (181cm or 5' 11 1/2"). I had also developed Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension as a result and was needing more and more medications especially for my Diabetes.

For the first year after my banding I relied on my band for all of my weight loss and then my weight loss stalled. Rather than getting my band adjusted, I decided to change other aspects of my life. I joined a gym, got a Personal Trainer and started working out regularly. I have had the band adjusted 3 times and continue to lose weight slowly. I use the band as a tool in my weight loss but don't rely on it.

Now 2 1/2 years down the track I weigh 120 kg and have about 25 kg to still lose to achieve my goal weight. My Diabetes is so well controlled now that my blood sugars are within normal ranges and my blood pressure is great and well within normal range also. My GP is ecstatic with my progress and has even said that I may come off all medication in the future.

My fitness level is improving daily and I have made some great friends at the gym whom I would never have met without having had my Lap band. I recently participated in The Run for the Kids and was very happy to complete the 5.2 km course in under an hour. I would never have contemplated doing this prior to my surgery.

All I can say in conclusion is that I will be eternally grateful to Mr Aly and his wonderful team for their ongoing support and encouragement and that I look forward to a longer, healthier and more productive life because of them.

James Uren
Operation: Gastric Lap Band

Hi my name is James. I had a gastric lap band just under two years ago. It has been one of the most affirmative life changing choices I have made. Throughout my life I have been considerably over-wieght I peaked at about 135 kilos before I had the surgery. I had tried many times to loose weight through but they were always unsuccessful in the longer term.

It is not a decision to be taken lightly. I first spoke to Mr Aly three years before I had the surgery. Weight loss  does require changes to eating and exercise patterns. The important thing to note is that banding allows the effective management of feeling full when you eat so it helps you know when you have had enough. A properly adjusted band will allow you not to feel hungry without problems like reflux.

My story began with feeling depressed and hopeless. I now ballroom dance for approximately 9 hours a week and have entered my first 5k fun run. I have lost about 20 kilos and I still have weight to loose but my weight loss has been steady after an initial burst out of the blocks.

If you do decide to make this choice I can recommend the whole team at Darebin weight loss surgery. My surgery was managed beautifully form word go and I still have excellent ongoing followup and support.

Isabel
Operation: Gastric Band

My name is Isabel and I am now 59 years old. From the age of 35 I have put on a substantial amount of weight. I have try almost every diet imaginable and would lose some and gain double. I could hardly walk and certainly could not do a lot of house work let alone play with my grand children.

My referral to Mr Aly meant a complete life changing for me. I have never felt better and with more energy. I can now go for long walks and have fun. I never suffered from ill effects from having the gastric band and lost 20kgs. I had my operation in July 2008.

Kimberley
Operation: Sleeve Gastrectomy

"This is the best thing that I could have possibly done. It is also the hardest thing that I have ever done - but I wouldn't change a thing. On my wedding day I wanted to wear a pale blue dress - I bought that pale blue dress - I then turned around and bought a navy dress because I was so worried about how I looked. People are never short on expressing their opinion on how you look. While I had a fantastic wedding day, I look back at those photos and wish that I had been the way I am now. While I still have quite a way to go, I have come an enormous distance and I am ecstatic. The future certainly feels a lot brighter now."

Stephen
Operation: Sleeve

Seeing my wife Kimberlie go through the gastric sleeve surgery about 2 months before I had the surgery was a real motivation and great for us to support each other and share our experiences. The small things as you lose weight are really exciting and are great motivation. For example, when I had to get new holes punched in my belt, or when my wedding band got so loose I had to get ring re-sizers, or trying on my wedding suit and seeing how much I have shrunk - I was actually seeing results, it's fantastic! I love the feeling of having so much more energy, such as walking and playing with our two very energetic beagles. It is so much fun to be able to run around with them now.

We are both so grateful for the great team of professionals at Darebin Weight Loss - they guided us through the whole process and provided information and support all along the way and it is still ongoing long after our surgery. We are forever grateful for all they have done. We have now lost a combined weight of about 110kg (Stephen 50kg and Kimberlie an amazing 60kg!). We are feeling so much better than we have felt in years. There are challenges, but we have no regrets and feel that we have made the best decision for our health and our family.

Kelly
Operation: Sleeve Gastrectomy

My journey all began in January 2010. I decided that I would give a good go at trying to lose weight all by myself. Why? Because I know I can do this. I'm not an idiot. Well up and down those scales went. It was painful, but I thought, "No I can do this, I work for an obesity surgeon, I know what the right & wrong things to do are". Well needless to say the less I ate the more I gained. Then in September we had family portraits done. I did my best to look great and you know what, I did look "hot!". Couldn't wait for the photos to come back. Bugger! The day came and I looked at the shots, planning not to be too critical of one self and I looked like Chrissie from the Circle (a show on channel 10). I'd been told this often before but took no notice because "she's big". I think my world came crashing down that day. For the first time I realized I was way bigger than I thought. A bit of a kick in the guts, but I worked out that I had to find something good from this experience. This lead to a long chat with Shelley (who is a wealth of knowledge) followed by a talk with Ahmad, my saviour. After seeing the team at Darebin and lots of researching, I decided I wanted to have the procedure called 'Laparoscopic Sleeve gastrectomy'. Sounds scary, but I had faith in the team especially my surgeon.

December 26th 2010, I am on holidays with my family at Kennett River. Enjoying the sunny days and indulging in beautiful food and wines with the rest of my extended family (all 12 of us) when New Years Day rolled around. This was the day to start Optifast. By day 3, I thought this is a breeze and it didn't bother me that the rest of the family were enjoying good food, until about day 5 when I found it harder and harder to drink my milkshakes and eat my bars. (Bad luck I thought, this isn't for ever).

January 10th 2011, my surgery day. How exciting! I was dropped at Warringal Private at 7am and I haven't looked back since. This is the best thing I have ever done. I'm now 20kgs lighter, but that is incidental to me, because I know that I feel a whole lot better, I can move much easier, I'm not as tired and grumpy with my kids, I haven't put weight on, I'm more confident and I'm a healthy person on a new journey of life.

Melissa
Operation: Sleeve Gastrectomy

I was born a very chubby nine pound baby but grew up as a normal and healthy child. My weight gain started when I was 22 years old stemming from an unhappy marriage. Over the next 29 years my weight went up and down but gradually rose to peak at 113 kgs. During that time I went through a stressful divorce; 2 breakdowns and experienced a tragic death with a close family member. Unfortunately the only way I could cope with the emotional experience of these events was to see a psychologist and go onto antidepressants. This meant more weight gain; more depression from the weight gain and more medication for the depression. I was on a constant merry-go-round that wouldn't stop to let me off.

I became obsessed with diets and always started a diet on a Monday which ended by the Friday. I couldn't go past buying every weight loss magazine and book that promised successful weight loss and watching every weight loss show hoping that this would inspire me to lose weight. They all did; but then I put it all back on - plus more. Another merry-go-round and no way of getting off.

In August 2010 I decided I needed help. No more diet books and magazines.. I started to research weight loss surgery. I talked to people who had the surgery and I chatted to many people on line on sites dedicated weight loss. More importantly I was referred to Darebin Weight Loss Clinic and I spoke with many of their clients who had either Gastric Band Surgery or Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I wanted to be like them – to lose the weight like they have. They are inspirational. The information and conversations that Shelley the Nurse Practitioner had with me was invaluable as well as the time spent with Mr Aly, my surgeon. They are honest; up-front professionals that allow you time to ask as many questions that you need to and to also take the time you need to make your own decision.

After lots of research I chose to have the gastric sleeve surgery which took place on the 24th of February 2011.

I no longer buy endless magazines and books on how to lose weight; I eat healthy foods and no longer large amounts to feel satisfied. All the clothes I couldn't bear to give up when I put on weight I am now starting to fit back in to. I have never felt more energetic in all my life. I have joined a running group; boxing group and I'm also learning how to dance.

This has been life changing and life saving for me. I am now off the Merry-Go-Round of diets and now on the Ferris-Wheel of life enjoying the endless view.

Brierley
Operation: Gastric Bypass

My name is Brierley and I am 30 years old and I have been over weight my whole life. Going shopping with my girlfriends when I was at school was never the fun experience for me that it should've been. I was always so embarrassed because I either couldn't get anything to fit me or I had to buy my clothes from the big section.

I was 24 when I first decided to see Mr Aly about having Lap Band Surgery. I lost 30kgs and got down to a size 14. I was so excited I hadn't been that size since I was in Primary School.

I then had two beautiful children but in doing so I put all of my weight back on again I ended up back up to a size 24 and I just couldn't seem to lose it.

It was then after many discussions with Mr Aly that I decided that the best thing for my situation was to have my Lap Band removed and to have a Gastric Bypass. This would have to be the hardest thing that I have been through but also the best thing.

I had the operation February 7th 2011 and it has now been 10 weeks since I had the procedure and I have lost 23kgs and I am down to a size 18. It hasn't been easy but already in this short amount of time it has changed my life so much for the better and I cannot thank Mr Aly and the team at Darebin Weight Loss enough.

Anthony
Operation: Gastric Band

Probably the first question I have asked after I explain to someone about my lap band is what was it that made you decide to get it done.

I will never forget the day my life changed...I was walking towards set a double sliding glass doors that grace all shopping centres about to treat myself to a birthday present. I saw a bloke walking towards me who was that overweight that I stood there as a man of 171.9 kilos and thought ..."GEEZ, what a big bloke, I know I'm fat but this bloke is kidding himself…" As the doors opened the man disappeared and a young family walked out. They closed and there he was again. I then realised that man was me!!!!

Funniest thing was when I look back at this is day things such as my ever growing waist line, consistently sick feeling, aching body and the range of medications I was taking to control Blood pressure, sugars, cholesterol and anxiety hadn't made sense that my health and life were at risk.

Something had to give and when I heard about lap band surgery and the way that many had used as a tool to guide them back to the path of good health I decided to learn more about it. I dug my head into research I read many publications, jumped on the internet and most of all had a good hard look at me and what it was that food meant to me. I then made up a list of pros and cons and the pros came out in front. I wanted a long, healthy and fulfilling life and was going to give myself the best shot at it.

March 26th 2007 I had my surgery done and I was petrified and very excited about my new stage evolving. I can't remember much about the rest of it however I remember waking up and the first thing I wanted to do was get up and walk as I didn't want to waste not one more second and walk I did. The rest is history. The way I started is the way I keep going. I wasn't really sure what had happened but I felt super and as though I was going to be OK.

Over the first month I could feel the weight melting away and it almost felt like there was no band at all. I had energy for the first time in a long, long time and got up every morning and would go for my walk. I would pace myself and see does my one lap of the course which was 3.817kms the first time it took me 1 hour and 47mins. I still kept on becoming more educated on a healthier lifestyle and again immersed myself in reading on basic psychology, diet and exercise to name a few.

Not to bore you anymore now but my life has turned full circle. That walking track I first went around in 1 hour and 47mins is now done in about 15 mins on average. I have talking my studies even further and have completed my Personal training course and I have undertaking further work to teach me and others about personal empowerment.

Lap band for me is my tool to a healthier new life!

I don't really want to bang on about this part however the Lap band is a very powerful tool is but like everything you must view it as that and use your own personal motivations to enure you take control. It will help get you on track to a healthy new you but will not do it all for you.

In conclusion, I started my story with the question I get asked most at the beginning of the piece I will end with the second question I then get asked, "Would you do it again?" for me this is a no brainier "Without doubt!!!!"