"My Patients Are My Patients For Life: Why I Am An Obesity Surgeon"

	Dr. Juan Lopez Corvala Gastroenterologist Surgeon

I have been a surgeon for twenty-five years, and began to specialize in obesity surgery more than 15 years ago. We started the program in Hospital Angeles Tijuana two years ago, and I have personally operated on more than 3,000 American patients.

We are in touch with almost all of our patients. Our support team is large. We have patients from Alaska, New York, Hawaii - all over the world. We keep data on all of our patients - not just the number of pounds lost, but also changes in life, changes in self esteem.

Success for the obesity surgery patient is about much more than weight loss - it is about changing your entire life. Our goal at Hospital Angeles Tijuana is to help the patient achieve weight loss as well as improved self esteem. Both are essential to experience true quality of life.

My philosophy is, when I operate on a patient, that patient is my patient forever. When a surgeon removes the stitches from a gall bladder surgery you say "I am finished." But removing the stitches is only the beginning of the journey for the obesity patient.

It is so important for the patient to understand that my goal - the goal of my team - is not to only to remove tissue or to fix a problem. Our goal is to work with the patient as a person, to understand them, and help them have real success.

This cannot be done only by the surgeon - you need a team, and each person on the team must understand the uniqueness of the obesity patient. The psychologist, cardiologist, nutritionist - even the hospital director needs to understand the special needs of the patient who suffers from obesity, as well as the anesthesiologist.

Most patients want to change. They are here to change, and they know that change will be difficult. They need help and they know it. We are here to help them understand that surgery Is not the success, but rather the tool for success.

We are here to help them understand that the surgery is on the body, which is only the beginning - the difficult part is to change the head, the lifestyle. We are dedicated to helping the patient find it in themselves to succeed. I believe every patient has this capability.

My most important message to the patient is that they are part of the team. A patient must understand that we are going to work together. They are here because they know that they need help.

"You will be my patient and I have responsibility to you... but you as a patient need to take responsibility as well. It is impossible for the doctor to do everything for you. I will do the surgery. My team will help you to help yourself have success. You, as the patient, are part of the treatment and part of the team."

My job is the surgery. But my calling is the patient. To be a surgeon specializing in obesity, one must realize that it is not enough to think you can 'fix' the patient through surgery; one must also to know how the patient feels, how they will live after the surgeon is finished with the surgery. Surgery is not the answer. Even perfect surgery is not enough. Ultimately, success is in the patient's hands.