I was just curious if anyone noticed the significance of the patients TLC chose to use for Big Medicine. Perhaps I’m reading into this a bit much, but how typical is it that they use a very attractive blond girl for their “magical body makeover” to parade around in her bikini to capture audience attention. Or that they use a shockingly obese man (not meaning to offend) to make the audience gasp. To top it off, they have a woman who wants a new body to play in so she can go out with her friends? Self-confidence is great and all, but this surgery is about saving lives, not making people pretty. Leave that to the superficial shows like 10 years younger.

I’m not trying to attack these people and I have no right to judge them, but I can’t help muse that this show is out to capture ratings and not educate. It’s been discussed in this forum before, but this seems like a “make me over”. I have not had a gastic-bypass or even have a friend that has but, I’m pretty sure that the post-op is not as easy as they make it seem. Personally, I think the learning channel needs to do a bit more teaching. And while I understand ratings are important for profit, I think that if one television show is brave enough to step out the box and show the complexity of the surgery that they would get more attention than they think.
Thanks for taking the time to read

I havent seen the show yet.. But perhaps the Super Morbidly Obese man, was someone they felt needed the surgery most.

And Part of a life changing procedure, is in fact changing a life.. not just saving it. I know on a personal level, I wanted to have the surgery, so that I could do more things in life. go places, see things, and in the process be comfortable, and I wanted to look good to, superficial, perhaps.

Plus, remember, this IS television, they do have a right to be compelling, for that sake... It's what they do as a whole that will see if its exploitatious, or in fact genuine.

Now if there is a linie of clients all with 50 pounds to lose, I would begin to question things.. But I think they are owed our perspective being reasonable.

While I understand what you are saying regarding the show and it's choices of whose stories to share when, you also have to understand that this is the reality of obesity and obesity surgery. There are super morbidly obese people who have mind-boggling issues out there, and there are beautiful young women who are able to have their outsides match their insides through having the surgery and using it as the tool to get healthy. The people in this show and their stories are very real, and all compelling in their own right...even without editing.

Another thing to realize is that this surgery actually does create amazing changes when the people having the surgery use the new tool correctly. I'm sure it is not all that difficult to make these stories "dramatic for television", because they are dramatic life changes.

As the show goes on, I know that the great dynamic that defines Dr. Davis' practice will become more evident. Taking the step to having bariatric surgery is a difficult one, and the recovery is more than just physical. Dr. Davis and his team support their patients throughout the journey. Give the show time...you'll see it, I'm sure.

I don't think this show has sensationalized anything at all. I had my surgery in May 05, and if you saw my photos from then and me now, you might not recognize me. I am totally transformed. But also, and more importantly, if you would look at my pre-op labs and my post-op labs, you probably would not believe that they belonged to the same person. Many different people of many different weights have this surgery. It is a very serious procedure that produces drastic changes. I don't think there is one thing wrong with spotlighting a very attractive woman getting her reconstructive surgery or with choosing a super morbidly obese person getting this life-saving gastric bypass.

speaking as the " very attractive blonde girl" thanks btw it took me quite awhile to achieve that dr garth asked if i were interested in doing the show because i was one of his youngest patients and i was planning this total body lift
<3 Lauren

I wish they would show someone who had the surgery and lost the weight, but doesn't have all of the extra skin. I think it would be encouraging for people to see that not everyone has to have plastic surgery after weight loss.

congratulations on your weight loss lauren

BlackViolins,
I'm sorry I didn't see your posting sooner, because I have quite a bit to say. First of all...I did not see anyone "parade" around in a bikini. I saw a successful patient. If you have the surgery and follow the rules doctors give you can reach goals like Lauren did. No, that doesn't mean running around in a bikini. It means getting healthier, moving around, and for some, walking again.

It's not like the shows producers went out and did a casting call. There are plenty of SMO (super morbidly obese ) people out there.

I think it's good to show. Then people will be able to wrap their brains around the notion of this surgery truly being life saving. Then people will also see it's not such a simple matter of "get up and go for a jog" and you'll be fine.

You proved your on point on this post. People in general first judge by appearance then everything else. We are people who have had WLS and it makes a huge difference in our life. I really didn't know how big a change had been made in mine until recently. I now like to wear things that are more revealing and show lots more skin before I nevr did that. So if I was on the show- I would be walking around with pride.

Yes there are issues but every show showing all the bad- is like WLS bashing. It's important to show how much a change is made, but also how people have issues. So it has to be balanced. In my case, I developed an eating disorder after the surgery which is very rare. My Doc said I was 1 in 500 patients of his that had ever developed an eating disorder, coupled with my blood disease of hemochromostis- I am even rarer. But I am still a WLS patient so my care has to balanced just like the show. It's important to show the issues and the rare case but also the success people have.

PS I bet you know people who had the surgery- they just aren't talking about it. ( Just joking.)