Question:
I was thinking whether after loosing all the weight after surgery, can't we go on

commercials on tv to market something like weight loss products ? cant we make some money out of it? If anybody knows on how to approach for it . please let me know. Thanks alot.    — mrjack (posted on August 2, 2007)


August 2, 2007
So... are you saying that you would loose the weight after surgery, then go on the television and claim that you lost it by using someone's New And Improved Magic Pill? Sounds totally unethical, and would do a disservice to people looking for legitmate help in their battle with obesity.
   — rayjean

August 2, 2007
Why don't you use your energy to post new recipies or suggestions we post WLS members can use. I think its illegal to do what you are suggesting. Also, do you know how many weight loss products I bought that claimed to work, but didn't? The number of dollars I've spent on such made me angry and frustrated over false advertising. Surgery was the only thing that worked for me. Put your energy to work in a positive manner....one that will be legal.
   — Nursehat

August 2, 2007
I agree with the other posters. I believe that is illegal and also unethical to have gastric bypass surgery and then claim some magic pill or products helped you to lose weightl. Do you realize if anyone found out the truth, you would be sued??!! You would lose everything...Do you want to do that? God Bless.
   — crystalsno

August 2, 2007
I had thought about it myself. But not marketing products, marketing the surgery. I wanted so bad for my surgeon to use me for his commercials or ads or posters. But they never asked me and I didn't push it. I mentioned it to them once and I think they thought I would be unrealistic since I had such a drastic change! No one recognized me for a long time (not even my own family!), and one man told me it was a "miracle" what they did for me. Now I am pregnant and gaining--so I know they couldn't use me, LOL
   — GAYLE CARMACK-LYONS

August 2, 2007
hey let me know too.
   — deb44m

August 2, 2007
If you are talking about marketing the surgery, that is up to your surgeon and the hospital. But, there is no money to be made. I know because I am on my doctor's flyers and in his informational PowerPoint and I facilitate his lapband support group. All for free. I do it because I believe in this surgery and the positive change it made in my life.
   — VickiStevens

August 3, 2007
That kind of sounds like Star Jones. She went all this time claiming she lost weight by dieting and even wrote a book about it. Then she just came out this week that she did have gastric bypass.
   — barfiep01

August 3, 2007
Well a member here one started a bariatric vitamin company, someone else sold recipes, Barb Thompson wrote that great book. myself I decided to give back by volunteering here, I am the board moderator or better term host. If anyone wants to advertise here e mail [email protected] she is head of member services and can help you futher. I became a spokesman of sorts for the surgery, got a nice article in a local paper link in my profile and tried to help others considering surgery. Really NEVER wanted to make a dime off it.
   — bob-haller

August 3, 2007
Heck, I would market for my surgeon for FREE. I think if insurance companies would use more intelligence and let people have the surgeries at a LOWER BMI instead of waiting until people are so SICK from the obesity that the morbidity and mortality from the surgeries would decrease. Why on earth make people wait to get healthy when study after study has shown that WLS is the BEST and sometimes only thing that truly gives us a fighting chance? So even if you CAN market some "magic diet pill", should you ?
   — MAG

August 3, 2007
I think that all of you have this ? all messed up,,,I think what this person is saying is we then MARKET WLS,,not try to pass it off as some fake diet pill,,,,WOW,,,people on this site are too jumpy & ready to jump down everyone's throat. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this site & have learned some very valuable information, but ask ?'s about drinking alcohol or something as simple as marketing your new look after WLS & WATCH OUT!! Of course, we all have our own opinions, I know that!!!!
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 3, 2007
Somehow the idea is distasteful to me on so many levels. Not sure why you feel the need to make money off something that potentially saved your life - wasn't that payback enough? Besides, I don't see much of an advertising payday for the several THOUSANDS of us who've had this done, unless you already have celebrity status. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable being the poster child for WLS, because it IS a serious operation that should be really researched and given serious consideration. I don't want to be in the boat of having "sold" it to someone and having them have serious complications or even death! Also it seems to put the operation in the class of a cosmetic option, not a medical necessity and people have fought so hard to get the insurance companies to recognize it as medically necessary. Somehow I can't picture heart bypass patients thinking of how to make money selling their operation on tv!
   — sandsonik




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