Success Stories

Anna

"When I first started seeing Dr. Chang in February of 2019, my weight was 190 pounds. For some that may not seem excessive, but keep in mind that I’m only 4’11”. My BMI was at a 38. I was also on a C-Pap machine due to having Sleep Apnea, in addition to having numerous issues with foot pain. Looking back, picking up the phone and making that initial call to set up a consultation with Dr. Chang was the hardest thing for me to do. But something inside of me said, “You can’t keep living like this. You cannot keep sweeping your weight issues under the rug!” Once I began seeing Dr. Chang and began following my pre-surgery diet, I lost 20 pounds, bringing my weight on surgery day down to 170. I had my sleeve on June 20th, 2019. It is now late March of 2020, almost April, and I am now 120.6 pounds!! Wow….just wow! I can move around so much easier! I no longer have to hold my breath to tie my shoes. I can climb stairs and not be out of breath. I also fit into clothing sizes that I haven’t fit into since my late teens and early 20’s! And best of all, my foot pain issues are now almost completely non-existent!! I’ve lost more weight than I ever could have on my own. I hadn’t realized the extent of the lifestyle changes I needed to make until I started seeing Dr. Chang. Thank you SO much to Dr. Chang and his staff!! I would recommend Dr. Chang to anyone looking to have weight loss surgery in a heartbeat!"

Rhonda

"I was the porcelain doll that was supposed to be perfect, and I was, with one flaw, my weight. I have battled my weight since I was ten years old. “Superchunk” and “Chunk Norris” are names I can laugh at now, but when you are thirteen, it hurts to hear them coming out of people’s mouths. There was diet after diet and when I wasn’t successful, I would just eat more. So, after flying to see some friends and not being able to fasten the seatbelt, I decided it was time to make a change for ME. Not to prove to anyone else that I can do it, but to prove it to myself. My highest weight was 269 before I started this journey and I had the gastric sleeve on January 28, 2019 weighing in at 249. Currently I am 19 pounds away from my goal and I am happier and healthier than I have been in my life. Is it easy? NO! I struggle every day with choices of what to eat, drink and how to move my body to be successful. Have I fallen off the rail? Sure, but I get back on and keep going. Dr. Chang’s program has changed my life. He and his staff gave me the tools and showed me that I am worth the sacrifices I have made and keep making to be the best version of myself I can be. Will I ever be a perfect porcelain doll? No, and I don’t want to be. I’m perfectly happy being the rag doll that enjoys life instead of sitting out."

Holly

"As someone who never had a weight problem growing up and then becoming overweight as an adult after having kids was extremely difficult for me. I tried diet after diet only to fail or gain every pound I had lost and then some back. I was embarrassed when I would see people who use to know me and didn’t recognize me. I felt ashamed of myself and felt bad for my kids for having a fat mom. I felt that I had cheated my husband out the woman he had met and fell in love with. August 2015 I had enough!! I found Dr. Chang's website and called and made an appointment as soon as I could!! After sitting through the seminar and having my first conversation with Dr. Chang and deciding on having the gastric bypass surgery I felt hope for the first time in years. After completing the 6 months of the dr supervised diet and exercise required by insurance my life changed. It was hard, and scary at times. It took hard work and dedication but here I am nearly 2 post op and I’m healthier than I have ever been!! Going from 5’0” 240lbs to 116lbs gave me a whole new lease on life! I have energy again, feel sexy again and for the first time in 10 years I’m proud of myself. So thank you Dr.Chang and staff. Without you I wouldn’t have been where I am today!!"

Wanda

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Julia

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Caroline

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Nikki

"We all have our reasons for starting anything in life. For sometime I had contemplated starting my journey to pursue weight loss but due to the possibility of failure, I kept putting it off. One morning I woke up and decided, sink or swim I am gonna do it! I discussed options with my primary physician and she had a specific surgeon in mind. She was concerned that this surgeon and I would lock horns and duke it out since we were both stubborn and hard headed. I told her sounds like the perfect surgeon for me. I need a stern individual to help guide me as well to focus on the task at hand. And this is how Dr. Craig Chang entered my life. In 2014 I had my appointment with Dr. Chang and his staff. I had to complete 6 months of weight management with my primary physician and prove that I could make necessary lifestyle changes. Each time I came in for an appointment I was educated on different and better options regarding food choices, exercising and even stress management. At the time i did not realize how important these tools were. After my gastric sleeve, I entered a phase that I referred to as hell but yet it was dream was coming true. By no means was this an easy Journey. I have worked hard and still try my best to utilize the tools and knowledge given to me by Dr. Chang. Without his knowledge and willingness to provide Bariatric Surgery to our community, I truly feel a successful Weight loss would not have been possible. For this I am eternally grateful. Nicholle"

Victor

"Well I guess to start out before I met Dr Chang in 2010 I had weighted my highest at 399 and started to loose some weight and when I started with him I believe I was 367 and with bcbs insurance I had to loose 10% and I was 336 the day of surgery. I have RNY gastric bypass. I believe in my first year I went down to a low of 220. Then after a long plateau I went under 200 lbs and now kinda go between 185 thru 198. I did just have my stomach skin removed in may. I have gone from a waist size of 56 to a 33 now. I do get a little upset when people say I took the easy way out. Because with gastric bypass it's just a tool. You still have to work hard and keep your physical exercise up too kee your weight off. I'm 6&1/2 years out and have seen many people do awesome and some don't. I have to say to the ones that fail, they think it's a magic pill. Or a magic surgery. This is something you stilll have to work on and never give up."

Jeri

"On Dec. 3, 2015 I had the sleeve surgery. On the day of surgery I weighed 214#, slept every night with a cpap, I was diabetic and had high cholesterol. I had low back pain on a daily basis, folding clothes was painful. I tried dieting, exercising, and even did phentermine at one time. Yes, I lost weight, at one time 60#. Each time I gained back what I lost and more. I was tired, depressed, and unhappy with myself. I hated shopping for clothes because I had to find something to cover up my growing middle! In July I went for my annual woman exam and my Dr. suggested weight loss surgery, specifically the sleeve. Honestly, I laughed at him, I told him I loved food too much and really didn’t think I would qualify. I told my husband about it and he said something that made me think long and hard about it. He reminded me that our oldest son, who had gotten married in 2014, would be having kids some day and did I want to be around for that? Wow! Talk about a wakeup call. I had my first appointment with Dr. Chang in August. I barely qualified weight wise, but I had two co-morbidities and that helped me qualify. I had to quit smoking, which was hard, but doable. I had to learn a new way of eating and not gain and most importantly not lose any weight. I made it through all the pre-surgery requirements for Dr. Chang and my insurance and had the surgery. I am 1 year out and as of today I weigh 118#. That’s 96#. I work out lifting weights 3-4 days a week. I eat 3 meals a day and 1-2 snacks that include protein in order to maintain. I have more energy than I could have imagined. My first grandson was born in October and I have a granddaughter due in March!! I was told by a couple of people I took the easy way out. Really? There was nothing easy about having surgery and having to change my eating habits. If it was that easy I could have made that change and kept the weight off. No drinking before, during, and 30 minutes after I eat. I love carbs! But I have to make protein a priority and I do. I am no longer diabetic nor do I have sleep apnea. My cholesterol is down. My back doesn’t hurt every day. Being healthy is way more important than any food I think I miss. Being there to hold my grandbabies and see them grow up is more important than bread and pasta. I thank God that I decided to have the surgery and that I chose a great Dr. with an awesome staff!"

Andrea

"I battled with being overweight since I was 10 years old. I was always teased, I became withdrawn, and so food and chocolate became a great comfort for me at a very young age. I tried all the diets before: Jenny Craig, SlimFast, Fen-Phen and Atkins among them. I would lose weight, but then gain it right back times three. I began to suffer from many illnesses I was on almost 12 medications and was told I was getting close to being put on insulin that's when I knew I had to make a change. If it wasn’t for my primary care physician Dr. Cindy Jacob, I would have never met Dr. Chang. We all worked together to make this life-changing decision for my health and wellbeing. The entire staff at His clinic are very professional, encouraging and gave me the necessary information I needed in order to make the best decision of my life! From beginning to post-op, all the work I have done has improved my health, my self-esteem and the relationship with my family. After surgrey, I went from a size 24 to a size 5-6. I sleep better at night, I make healthy food choices to keep my new stomach healthy and I have an abundance of energy and strength. Shopping is no longer a bad experience – I actually enjoy it because I can purchase the clothes I like. My children are happy because their mom looks healthy and because I have the energy and motivation to do things with them. My biggest motivation is the fact that I am on no medication anymore. All my panels for health are perfect within a years. I am truly thankful to Dr. Chang and his team for putting the biggest smile on my face. I recommend this surgery to anyone who is tired of being unhealthy. Now, here I am 13 months post op and I couldn’t me be happier with myself and my health. Dr. Chang and his staff team along with my PCP Dr. Jacob, were so supportive and informative through the entire process. This new tool helps me to think about what I’m putting into my body nutritionally and helped me achieve weight loss that I could have never imagined. I know for a fact I would not be where I am today without this amazing tool and the amazing team of people that helped me get here. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. Best decision I’ve ever made Do the research, follow the program plan and commit to this life changing experience! Andrea"

Holly

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Lisa

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Hunter

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Charles

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