[Rachael]

Maybe this should have gone under stupid questions, but I don't think it is stupid.

I've been here and at another site as well, checking out the before and after pictures and what I have seen is absolutely amazing. Everyone after looks SO different - yes, obviously because they are thinner, but it goes beyond that. There is...well, I can't quite put words to it, but just such a total transformation that isn't just physical, but very obvious.

I haven't had the opportunity to talk with a surgeon yet, only to my regular MD, but for those of you who have worked with surgeons, do they ever say anything about this as their reason for doing what they do? I mean, you know they make a "decent" living doing this, but have any of you found that they understand what this really does and how it totally changes someone's life and that is what they get out of it? I mean, it is kind of like making wishes and dreams come true.

If someone has never been a fat person (and I don't mean someone who has had to lose some weight, I mean a FAT person), they just have no idea - no idea what it is like to want only to look and feel "normal." I mean, to actually NOT be noticed - because you aren't the fat one in the room. Yes, that is my goal - to NOT be noticed - because I look like anyone and everyone else.

Yeah. Just to be normal. Normal weight, normal blood work, sleep in a bed like a normal person instead of sitting up, drive my car without the steering wheel in my tummy, cross my legs, and, as someone else said, bend over and tie my shoes.

I know it can be a lucrative buisness, but I just wonder if anyone comes across doctors who are doing it because they find it so meaningful as well, who really feel what they are doing and know what it actually means.

They would have to when they see the results.

[clancythecamper]

Well, they could just as easily chosen not to do WLS, there are certainly many lucrative specialties. I appreciate what you are saying, this journey is not merely weight loss. Many of us are on a trip of self discovery and really becoming fully ourselves! Have a great day!

[Chilly]

Yep.....we have another Kenya on our hands And I mean that in a GOOD way!!!! I LOVE it when a person makes you "think". I've never really thought about why the surgeons chose this line of business. But I can't imagine them NOT getting gratification out of this. I would love to be a surgeon in the WLS business. To see every transformation you helped make happen. Man, what a rush! And yes Rachael, you are right it goes waaaaay beyond just losing weight. I agree with Clancy. It is alot of self discovery too.

[Kenyar]

i think its way deeper than just the weight loss which is why we all look as different as we do to others. i think for me, being fat was a symptom of something much bigger and working thru this has made me a much more happy person. people dont realize what carrying all of that around with you does to a person....i guess its different for everyone.

as for the surgeons, i would guess some do it to help, others do it for the $$$. i would think the good feeling from being of help to someone is why most go into the medical field to begin with.

[LittleLisaMarie]

Its hard to tell sometimes if a surgeon is in this for the money or the personal rewards or a little of both. I know my surgeon was amazing. He has such a huge heart and you can see in his eyes how proud of you he is with results. He is actually not here right now he left for Africa on a peace mission and volunteer work,,, i guess that says alot.
The plastic surgeon i used also goes to third world countries and does operation smile for little kids with cleft lip and palate....

I put alot of time and effort in feeling out my surgeons....
You want to hope and pray that they do get some kind of personal rewards out of making people healthy and it isnt always about money!

Love ya
LittleLisaMarie

[DocSanae]

Actually, the biggest reason most drs choose whatever speciality is what interests them most--the intelectual exercise, so to speak. Since even the preliminary training takes a number of years, we have the chance to shop around, before zooming in on a particular choice. Concern for the patients is secondary in the sense that whatever area we choose to specialize in, concern for patients always play a part. Gratification of seeing our patients smile is a kind of bonus. We'd do whatever to help our patients, whether we get to see that smile or not. $$$ will come into play pretty big for some, but for a lot of drs, since we are sorta guaranteed some level of $$$, it doesn't really make a difference.

I hope what I'm trying to say makes sense.

[traciflud]

I truly believe my surgeon get great satisfaction from seeing his patients make that "change". I got this feeling when I went to his seminar, he really put alot into sharing with us the numbers on obesity and the rate at which it is going up in this country, the difference in eating out over the years, like portion sizes, fast food, easy food to prepare at home (he hates microwaves). He really puts alot into keeping the statistics for his medical group and tracking the patients and their results. I was so surprised to hear of some who never see or hear from their surgeon after the surgery! I saw him after 1 week, at 3 weeks, 3 mos. next will be 6 mos. then 9 mos. then 1 year. and after that he really wants every patient to see him once a year for the rest of their life! I also was impressed with his stories of losing 2 nannys cause he gave them WLS and they got out and ended up married!

[ilovemykids]

My surgeon, who is a general surgeon, but specializes in Bariatrics, told me he did bariatric surgery to give people a chance at a better life. He believes that obesity is a disease and he can help those who need his help. He does it because he loves to help others make a change. I genuinely believe he does it for those reasons too. If you met him, you would agree.

[Jill]

I agree Racheal, I think what you are seeing in the pictures is a happiness that goes much deeper. I know for me it is a sense of freedom from the struggles with food that plagued me all my life. I have a whole new lease on life and it is so amazing! As for why the surgeons do what they do; I would imagine most just chose this specialty because of the number of people they can have an impact on. I am sure there are many that really have a deep sense of purpose about the change they are helping people make in their lives -- but there are others who are just gifted surgeons and this is a quick and relatively easy surgery for them to perform. If you figure that on average surgeons who are paid by insurance companies get approximately $8000 per surgery performed (some more, some less) and they can do an average of 5 surgeries a week -- that's $40K a week - that's almost $2 Million in a year if they take a month off. Not a bad return on their medical degree investment and they get a lot of happy patients to boot!

[mlg78]

I agree with DocSanae. A few years ago I had a dermatologist looking at my skin about two inches away from my face just zeroing in on a zit. I asked why on earth she wanted to go into dermatology and she simply said, "Skin is just SO interesting!" Then, at my annual appointment (when you try to make small talk at the most inappropriate time :P) I asked my gyno why she chose to do what she does...and she said that the way the female body works interests her.

Makes sense!