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Patient Testimonials

If you do the research, you can learn a lot about bariatric surgery. You can find out what to expect from your procedure, how long your hospital stay will be, and what dietary and lifestyle changes you'll need to make. Your research will also confirm that Dr. John Rabkin is one of only a handful of duodenal switch surgeons worldwide with the specialized training to perform laparoscopic duodenal switch surgery. But only the words of real patients who have had bariatric surgery at Pacific Laparoscopy can truly describe the experience of weight loss surgery at our San Francisco practice.

Our patient testimonials offer greater insight into the life-changing experience of weight loss surgery than we could ever provide. Their true stories of physical and emotional transformation are a valuable resource for anyone considering bariatric surgery at our Bay Area practice. We invite you to read or listen to their words, and hope that they inspire you to take the next step toward a healthier life.


Videos

Watch patient testimonial videos and FAQ's with answers from Dr. Rabkin in our video library.


Success Stories

Kerry's Story

Kerry J - Santa Clara, UT

"People on the DS Forum kept telling me I needed to talk to Dr. Rabkin. I arranged the consult and, within 10 minutes, knew I wanted Dr. Rabkin to do my surgery. He had an opening in 12 days and I went for it. I had a difficult 6 weeks of recovery; but after that, it's been all good. In many ways I feel like I owe my life to the people who helped me get where I am today." Read More


Martha's Story

Martha B. - Ukiah, CA

"I had my duodenal switch surgery 5 years ago on Oct 4th. I lost a total of 130lbs and feel good. I don't know what my life would be like had I not had this surgery. I truly feel that I made the right decision for me. I am happier, healthier, and a lot more active than I ever have been in my life." Read More


Kelly's Story

Kelly B. - Chicago, IL

"I tried every diet and exercise regimen out there. After a while, I would start gaining the weight back even though I was still exercising and following the diet regime. In 2006, I was up to 290 pounds. My self-esteem was in the toilet. I was so frustrated as I had tried so hard for so many years and it was like trying to run in quick sand - I got nowhere! I felt horrible about myself." Read More


Dennis' Story

Dennis G. - Sunnyvale, CA

"I had gotten to the top of a difficult climb up a mountain biking trail in Lake Tahoe called "The Flume Trail." It was spectacular to gaze out on the lake from up there. It was pretty difficult to reach the top, but I did it and I was quite happy and proud of myself for having done it. I know that I never would have been able to do it at 390 pounds." Read More


Colleen's Story

Colleen G. - Folsom, CA

"I have battled my weight all my life and lost the battle every time and gained more weight. I was to the point where I could hardly walk. I was a heavy equipment operator and was struggling to do my job. For it was hard to get up and down on the equipment. I had to do something and fast." Read More


Brooke's Story

Brooke C. - Atherton, CA

"After attending a Pac Lap suport group, I was so inspiried hearing about everyone's sucess and the one repeated theme was that folks wish they had made the decision at a younger age. At 27 and frustrated I decided to take the leap. I lost a total of 147lbs and I have never felt better!" Read Now


Dawn's Story

Dawn B. - Celebration, FL

"In one conversation I knew I had found my doctor. He spoke to me not at me. He explained the procedure in a way I could understand but not in such simplistic terms that I felt as if I was being spoken down to. He was also very clear about the post op journey, which I think is important. You don't have surgery and wake up thin. It's a process." Read More


Marilyn's Story

Marilyn B. - Walnut Creek, CA

"I chose PacLap because the duodenal switch procedure offered me the best long term healthy way to lose my weight. I did not want to risk losing the 100 pounds that I needed to lose and then re-gain it." Read More


Theresa's Story

Theresa S. - Cloverdale, CA

"I've been overweight all of my adult life. I've struggled with all the diet programs and what they say is true... what you lose you gain back plus more. When I decided to go through with the duodenal switch surgery, I weighed 323 pounds. WOW!! I can't believe it. Today, almost four years later, I now weigh 150 pounds. AMAZING, isn't it? My only regret is that I did not do it sooner." Read More


The Hess Family Story

The Hess Family - Portland, OR

"We all are thrilled to say that we had the duodenal switch procedure. As parents, it has been so wonderful to see our children flourish with such confidence like they have never been able to in the past. It is like we have been released from prison—a prison of fat and poor health. We are all active and doing things we never could do due to our weight." Read More


Zack's Story

Zack C. - Atherton, CA

"I have been overweight since I was a child. I remember children being mean to me when I was younger. One year before my sleeve (vertical) gastrectomy, I was at an all time high of 442 lbs and only 18 years old." Read More


Richard's Story

Richard L. - Methuen, MA

"In February 2009, an orthopedic surgeon told me my only option for my osteoarthritis would be a total hip replacement. He also told me that he wouldn't touch me until I was less than 300 lbs - at the time I was 423 pounds. Weight loss surgery was suggested." Read More


Shirley's Story

Shirley L. - Bellingham, WA

"In July 2000, I had Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, an open surgery and my choice at the time. Initially, I lost weight quickly but it slowed down and it took me more than 2 years to lose 140 pounds. Then, the tide turned and the weight started to come back. I was gaining weight and slipping backwards. I had re-gained about 60 pounds before I decided to contact Pacific Laparoscopy." Read More


Kevin's Story

Kevin F. - Washington, D.C.

"Over the years, I had tried every type of diet, every type of program, every type of new idea in an attempt to lose weight. Every attempt had failed. In fact, while I frequently lost weight initially it seemed that I always yo-yo'd back with even more weight gain. And then, my physician looked at me during an office visit and said, 'Kevin, you've got a real problem. You're killing yourself.'" Read More


Olin's Story

Olin D. - Wichita, KA

"After about a year of research on gastric bypass surgeries with patients that were post-procedure from five to ten years, I was checking on long-term results and had decided that the DS was the best procedure for me. I found that Dr. Rabkin was only one of two doctors doing the procedure at that time. He was having excellent outcomes." Read More


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