WDEF News 12

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For many people, it could be the difference between life and death. That's why well over 200 thousand people turn to surgery to lose weight.

When you have more than 80 pounds to lose and eating right and working out just don't work out. There's an option that's saving lives.

Rhonda Jacks, Had surgery, "It kind of hit me when I turned 39 that I'm running out of time."

Fearing a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure, Rhonda Jacks took the surgical option at 302 pounds.

Nordia, "What was life like at 302?"

Rhonda Jacks, " Uncomfortable. "

Along with gastric bypass which creates a small stomach pouch the size of an egg, Doctor Robert Sass suggests the newer lap band procedure.

It places an adjustable band around the upper end of the stomach.

Dr. Robert Sass, Surgeon, " It is truly a tool and the patient learns how to use this tool to their advantage to get rid of their medical problems to get rid of their excess weight and to move on with life."

Jacks took off over 160 pounds with surgery but she still couldn't move on with her life.

Jacks, " Summer came and I realized that while I was physically fit and I could wear normal size clothing I still didn't look normal because I had all this lose skin.

These before and after pictures show it's a common problem, one that Doctor Jeanne Sclanland can fix.

Dr. Jeanne Scanland, Plastic Surgeon, "A lot of them have a lot of lose skin of the abdomen the tummy area that hangs over the thighs and back rolls and lose skin of the lower thighs and the buttocks and a lot of lose skin folds."

Doctor Scanland performs several procedures to tighten tummies, slim down thighs, lift up buttocks and reduce fat rolls for people who've lost more than 80 pounds.

And for those with less than 50 pounds to lose she offers liposuction.

Dr. Scanland, "It's not going to make them skinny just to give them a better contour ."

But she warns against mesotherapy injections which promise to get rid of cellulite and fat.

Dr. Scanland, "I would not promote that. I would not have that for myself yet until we can prove that it's safe."

It took four years and four surgeries for Jacks to reach her goal.

Jacks, "I wore a bathing suit and all day long I was not self conscious. I didn't worry if my sister wanted to take a picture of me with my niece and nephews. I felt normal for probably the first time since I was 14 wearing a bathing suit and it just was incredible".

Dr. Scanland warns that there's no quick fix. She urges folks not to believe everything seen on the Internet or TV. And make sure any procedure is FDA approved and the plastic surgeon is board certified.

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