Jason Doptis — Bariatric Surgery Patient Success Story
Jason Doptis struggled with his weight ever since high school. He tried every diet and exercise program but the weight wouldn’t come off.
Having a friend who had bariatric surgery at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Jason started researching the various weight loss surgery options.
He viewed UPMC's bariatric surgery informational webcast and made a decision.
A Life-Changing Decision
Jason decided to have bariatric surgery. He chose Magee-Womens Hospital because of the bariatric program's center of excellence status and made an appointment with Giselle Hamad, MD, a bariatric surgeon.
When Jason informed his family and closest friends of his decision, he received mixed reviews.
For those who thought he shouldn’t proceed with the procedure, Jason used it as an opportunity to educate them about bariatric surgery.
Before his surgery, Jason went to his primary care physician for his required, six-month supervised diet, noting that his doctor was very supportive of his decision.
On July 30, 2010, Jason underwent the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedure.
Winning His Battle
Since his surgery, Jason has:
- lost 125 pounds
- decreased his waist size from a 48 to a 34
- dropped shirt sizes from a double extra large to a medium/large
Jason says he:
- generally feels better overall
- is more energetic
- has more confidence
He's incorporated a healthy diet into his lifestyle, as well as a routine exercise regime.
He walks one and a half miles each day and goes to the gym — two to three times a week — for cardio, weight lifting, and aqua aerobics.
Jason attributes his continued success with “being in the right mind set about eating.”
When dining out, he:
- orders senior portions or meals under 500 calories
- asks how the food is prepared
- immediately boxes half of his meal
His “non-scale” victories include getting complimented on his weight loss and being able to:
- wrap himself in a towel
- fit onto the rides at Kennywood
- shop for clothes in retail stores, instead of online
Jason's parting words to anyone who has had, or is considering, weight loss surgery:
“Stay focused on your long term goals.”