Your Success

From Fat to Fabulous !!

Sarah's Story - Only 10 months after her procedure and she has lost 53 kg



I've always been the "fat" one.

As a kid I was always teased for having thunder thighs, being the one my friends liked to go out with to make themselves look like supermodels when they were next to me.



Guys would come up to me and ask for my hot friends numbers. ask if "this seat was taken " Just to pick up the seat and move it away.



I was always the one taking the photos not being in them unless i was hiding behind everyone at the back. I suffered from depression.



I ate because I was depressed

and I was depressed because I ate.



I always had my hair and makeup done nicely to try and mask my fat face.



I wore drapey black clothes and scarfs to try and hide my body. Clothes shopping was always depressing and limited to the plus size section.



Oh goodie I thought another black cardigan. Shoes looked great till i couldn't squeeze my feet into them. Boots were a big no no.   [CONTINUE READING ...]

Dr Maani Changed My Life!

Before surgery my knees would grind and I needed a hip replacement. After surgery I ran in the City 2 Surf.

Tom

I Feel Amazing in Myself!



I was 155kg with Type 2 Diabetes, Sleep Anea, Heart Meds and I was a ticking time bomb. I just wore clothes that fit irrespective of what I looked like. It was embarrassing. Simple things like tying my shoe laces was a chore.

From assistance with Self Funding down to the day of procedure and Post op, Dr Maani was smooth, easy going and no question and conversation was off the table. He is very relatable and made the process as easy as possible.

9 months post op. I’m down 65kg. From 46/48inch waist down to 34 inch. I can shop at a normal store. I can sit at a concert and not be concerned about smearing myself onto the person sitting next to me. I can adjust my seatbelt on an aircraft and most importantly, I feel amazing in myself. My only regret … should have done it sooner.

T.A

This Procedure Was Life Changing

Suffered from chronic eczema my entire life. Always had cuts and infections and tried everything under the sun including traveling abroad to see renowned dermatologist, Chinese doctors, naturopaths and nutritionists to name a few. I was bordering 100kg, developed polycystic ovarian syndrome, was pre-diabetic, had no energy, bad sleeps, poor concentration and my self confidence was at an all time low. So much so that I started isolating myself from social interaction and would make excuses up so I wouldn’t have to go into the office.

I was close to booking this procedure elsewhere (rushing into it) and felt extremely pressured to book and pay a deposit. I want to flag to anyone starting this journey - if something doesn’t feel right, then you’re probably right. Trust your gut and make sure you’ve done extensive research to find the best surgeon. This is a big surgery and you want to make sure you minimise the risk of complications and have the best chance of success. Look at reviews, check qualifications, read forums and testimonial and make sure you thoroughly understand the pros and cons of surgery and who your chosen surgeon is. That’s how I found Dr Maani and I couldn’t have been more happy with my decision. 

Dr Maani and his team are extremely helpful. They are warm, compassionate, considerate, professional and don’t put you under pressure to commit like other places (where it feels like a sales pitch). Dr Maani and his team genuinely care that you are making the right decision for you regardless of whether that means you proceed to surgery (or not). 

The process leading up to the procedure and the procedure itself was seamless. The physical healing was the smoothest of any surgeries I have had (which is upward of 10 - both health related and cosmetic). I have felt very well supported throughout my journey and still now, as I continue to recover and adjust to my new life.

I’m three months post op and the biggest change (which I didn’t even consider as a potential outcome) is that my life long chronic eczema has been cured. For the first time in my life I no longer have multiple cracks / cuts and infections in my skin. It negatively impacted every aspect of my life. I no longer have polycystic ovarian syndrome, I’m not pre-diabetic, I have good quality sleep, my stress levels have significantly reduced, I’m more confident and social, I’ve dropped two dress sizes in three months (15kg), I have more energy to do activities with my daughter on the weekend, my mental clarity and focus has improved. The list goes on. 

Post op made me realise how much my life revolved around food… the time I spent thinking about food, buying food, planning to go out to eat, feel bad for eating too much food, cleaning up after food, trying not to cave to cravings or binge eat. Post op, my relationship with food is changing for the better. I eat to fuel my body and now I have so much extra thinking time to spend on other things that matter in my life. Do I miss eating larger portions? Yes! Do I miss having a drink? Yes! But do the pros outweigh the cons? Absolutely!! Overall, this procedure was life changing and my quality of life has shy rocketed more than I could have ever imagined… and it’s only month three! 

T.S

Life Is Worth Living After The Surgery

I was 71 years of age when I had the gastric sleeve and hernia repair. The three years prior to the surgery I was constantly at the GP. I could not breathe, I was constantly coughing, unable to walk without coughing so needless to say my weight had ballooned to 110kg. It was a circle of puffers, antibiotics and steroids. So disappointing as my husband and I had plans to travel in our retirement plus we are both community minded and had been prominent in our community here on the South Coast of NSW. When my GP suggested bariatric surgery it was not something I had even considered but after consultation with my family, I realised that I did not want to continue my life as it was, besides I was only seventy!

The first contact I had with Dr Jason Maani was at an online meeting giving details of the bariatric surgery. I found him to have a quiet, calm and caring disposition so I asked to be referred to him at the visiting site in Wollongong. He agreed to perform a gastric sleeve and after the necessary checks on my health, I was admitted to St George Private for the procedure in February 2021. I cannot say that I did not feel apprehensive about having this done at my age but I was reassured by the doctors and nurses at the hospital. My husband came up to Sydney and stayed close to the hospital. Looking back, after being discharged, I remember the journey home being a horrendous four hours' drive home but after a couple of weeks I felt quite well and was coping fine with the liquid diet. I did not have the reflux problems I had suffered with prior to surgery. It was strange to feel full after just a small amount of food. I do not remember feeling full before! I lost 25kgs pretty quickly and have maintained my new weight. It is three years since the surgery. I know that I need to do so for health reasons as I never want to go back to my pre surgery life.



Having good health is most important and I thank Dr Maani each time I talk to him as he has changed my life. I am able to walk into town quite easily. My husband and I have been travelling quite extensively. I have had the energy to move house. I am President of my local Rotary Club and we have a good social life. When eating out, I just eat what I need or share a meal. I have found that restaurants are very obliging if you ask to do this. My weakness is a glass of wine but I feel that life has to be worth living and I know that mine is so worth living after the surgery and I look forward to the future.

P.T