Gastric Bypass Surgery at NJBC: Anthony Lost 225 lbs

For as long as I can recall, I have struggled with being overweight throughout my entire life. I have tried to lose weight since I was around 9 to 12 years old. I tried Jenny Craig®, eating only once a day, and many other diets, but they never worked. After trying many unsuccessful weight loss methods, I decided to try bariatric surgery. That's when I found New Jersey Bariatric Center® through a Google search and YouTube videos. Before NJBC, I weighed a little over 500 lbs. After meeting with the doctor and reviewing my options, I ended up having gastric bypass surgery. I ultimately lost 225 lbs. 

”In this photo, I managed to do something I never thought possible: I stood with both of my legs in a single pant leg, while my wife did the same in the other.” 

How I Decided Bariatric Surgery Was Right for Me

Before bariatric surgery, I was taking a variety of medications—likely around 8 or 9 different types due to various health issues. One day while on a long flight home from the Philippines, I had a deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot that formed in my leg on the plane. When the flight landed, I was immediately taken to the hospital. While I was being treated, my doctor shared a few words in front of my wife that made me look at life in a totally different way. He told me that I should look into getting weight loss surgery. 

I decided to take his advice and did a Google search for ‘bariatric centers’ and found New Jersey Bariatric Center®. I liked that they had a lot of reviews and the overall score on Google was good. Then I saw that one of their doctors, Dr. Goyal, is one of the highest rated doctors and was at the top of the search list in Google results. That’s what really brought me to NJBC. 

After learning a bit about their practice on Google, I researched bariatric surgery and found gastric bypass surgery on YouTube. I saw a lot of videos, but one that caught my eye was a patient of Dr. Goyal's. That’s when I learned more about the procedure. That one decision to move forward changed my life. 

Understanding How Gastric Bypass Surgery Works for Weight Loss

Gastric bypass surgery jumpstarted my weight loss. The procedure works by creating a small stomach pouch and rerouting the path that food normally takes so that it “bypasses” a large section of my stomach and a portion of my small intestine. It also causes the release of fewer hunger hormones called ghrelin. This made me feel full faster and I'm less hungry. 

I lost a lot of weight, well over 200 lbs. I have gone down in clothing sizes from 8X pants to about 3 or 4X pants. My shirt sizes have gone down from about a 6 to 8x shirt down to a 1 to 2x shirt. My wife is able to wrap her arms around me and touch her elbows. 

How the NJBC Team Supported Me in My Weight Loss Journey

When I met Dr. Goyal and registered dietitian Karen Kelly for the first time, they truly helped me get on the right path. Meeting with the psychologist also helped me navigate and resolve personal challenges I was facing in my life. I went through some kind of physical therapy as well to help me see what I need to do before, during, and after surgery. I would absolutely recommend Dr. Goyal and his staff at New Jersey Bariatric Center® because I believe I was their most overweight patient. At first, I wasn’t the easiest person to deal with as a patient, but Dr. Goyal never gave up on me.  

Life After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Before gastric bypass surgery, I couldn't really walk very far and I didn't really do much activities or anything like that. I never really wanted to walk with anybody or do anything. But now, I'm able to walk for many hours. My life has become better and I've accomplished many things in a short period of time. I continue to get better in life.

After losing weight, I managed to do something I never thought possible: I stood with both of my legs in a single pant leg, while my wife did the same in the other. At that moment I realized how far I’d come. Since then, I love that I can now wear smaller sized clothes, take less medication, and, eventually, one day get excess skin removal surgery. I would tell anybody looking to get the procedure to go in with an open mind and follow all that the staff tells them. 

This surgery wasn't the hard part for me. Everything after the surgery was harder for me to do because of the lifestyle changes I had to make. But, I put my best foot forward and followed everything that was asked of me. I came out on top successfully. All of my success is because of Dr. Goyal, the NJBC team and the support of my wife!  

Key Takeaways of Anthony’s Weight Loss Journey with NJBC:

• I struggled with being overweight throughout my entire life, trying methods like Jenny Craig® and eating once a day. 
• After being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis  and reviewing my overall health history, my primary doctor recommended weight loss surgery.
• A Google search result and Youtube videos led me to New Jersey Bariatric Center® and deciding to have gastric bypass surgery.
• Before gastric bypass surgery I was 500 lbs and after surgery I lost 225 lbs. I take less medication, wear smaller sized clothes, can walk for many hours, and overall, I feel great!   

FAQs about Gastric Bypass Surgery

• What BMI do you need for gastric bypass surgery?

The body mass index (BMI) you need for gastric bypass surgery is 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35 with obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.

• Is gastric bypass surgery usually covered by insurance?

Gastric bypass surgery is usually covered by many health insurance plans, potentially making this procedure more financially accessible. While insurance typically covers a substantial portion of surgical costs, individual out-of-pocket expenses vary depending on your specific policy. New Jersey Bariatric Center® accepts many insurance plans except Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare. Our insurance navigation team ensures insurance verification before your initial consultation and a strategic approach to maximizing coverage and minimizing expenses. We have a proven track record of successful insurance authorization. CareCredit financing is available for patients with partial coverage or high deductibles

• How long is the recovery time of gastric bypass surgery?

The recovery time for gastric bypass surgery is one to two days. After surgery, patients are encouraged to get up and walk around as soon as they are able to do so – usually within a few hours. 

• What is the difference between gastric bypass and sleeve?

The difference between gastric bypass and sleeve is that gastric bypass creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes the path that food normally takes so that it “bypasses” a large section of the stomach and a portion of the small intestine. The gastric sleeve removes a portion of the stomach and narrows the remaining parts to the size of a banana or a thin vertical “sleeve.” The total weight loss with gastric bypass is 60-80% of excess weight, while gastric sleeve is 40-70% of excess weight loss.