Before and After VSG with Alysia, down 89 pounds!

October 12, 2021

Why I decided to have WLS

Before and After VSG with Alysia, down 89 pounds: All of my life until about seven years ago, I have been lean. I was never healthy about the ways I went about it. I struggled with body image and an eating disorder most of my life. Seven years ago, I started taking fertility meds and hormones, and my whole body just got out of whack.

I developed PCOS, and my weight skyrocketed after I had my son. After he was born, I couldn’t do the things I wanted, wear the clothes I wanted and hated how I looked and felt. I couldn’t be the mom I needed to be for my little boy. So I reached out to a friend who had gastric sleeve surgery, and I started researching it.

Before and After VSG with Alysia

Name: Alysia
Total Weight Loss: 89 pounds
Surgery Type: VSG
Surgery Date:  7/24/2020
Surgeon: Dr. Guillermo Alvarez

My Surgery and Post-Op Life

Arriving at the Endohospital was incredible. I ended up going on my own because my mom had to stay home with my son. I received better care at this hospital than any hospital I have ever been to in the US. Every staff member spoke fluent English, and the nurses were there immediately if I hit my call button after my surgery.

When I arrived at the hospital, I was taken to a gorgeous five-star like a hotel room at the hospital to stay in the night before my surgery. We were allowed to have a light dinner the night before, and the roasted vegetables and the poblano pepper soup that I had was incredible!

After my surgery, Dr. Alvarez came in to check on me, and I only had some mild gas pain which was relieved by walking around. The hospital staff also took us out to have a massage, or facial and to enjoy a mango slushy nearby. Traveling home was easy as I was in nearly no pain, and any pain that I did have, I was able to manage with mild pain medicine easily. The first few weeks postop are pretty strict guidelines; however, I stuck with them to a T. 

Since I have had my surgery my life has drastically changed. I can wear the clothes that I want now, I do not have to wear compression garments, I am more confident now than I have ever been in my entire life, and I can work out and do things with my son that I could not do before without being in constant pain. I am no longer ashamed of what I look like and no longer hide in photos.

My advice to anyone considering the surgery is to number one choose Dr. Alvarez as your surgeon, and number two, do not be scared that you will regret it. The only regret that I have is not doing it sooner. I have never once missed being able to eat certain foods. I can tolerate pretty much everything, but my tastes are much different now than before surgery. I no longer care for super sweet foods, which were a huge weakness before surgery. I am satisfied very quickly and never feel like I am deprived of wanting something.

I try to stick to high protein low carb for the most part, but if I want something, I allow myself to have it. It’s just a much, much smaller portions now. My mom is so impressed with my success she is actually going to have the surgery herself in October, and I’m hoping she will be able to get off all of the medication that she is on related to her weight.

Special Milestones: Before and After VSG with Alysia

Celebrate your own Before & After WLS Success, milestones, non-scale victories, and inspire others! The OH team wants to hear from you to share your weight loss surgery journey. Visit our Before & After Submission page for details.

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