My name is Alan, I am from the city of Leon, Guanajuato. I want to share my experience of the endoscopic gastric sleeve, which I underwent with Dr. Carames. Before, I would like to talk about my history. From a young age I suffered from overweight, not resulting from personality issues. Instead, I just could not stop myself from eating at every available opportunity, any food at any quantity until I felt bad about myself. This bad habit led me to eat by compulsion, by instinct.

By the age of 35 I weighted 160 kg (353 lb), and was addicted to bread, coffee, meat, and I had a tendency to face my family and friends to satisfy my cravings. My family worried for me, and convinced me to visit a bariatric specialist. The physician explained the surgical gastric sleeve to me, and only managed to wake in me a fear of a mutilated stomach.

Following this, I tried to follow a diet and exercise plan. Some months I lost up to 10 kg (22 lb), but I quickly returned to my old habits and gained all the weight back.

A few years back I met Dr. Carames and his team at a conference where they talked about proper eating habits and procedures that aid people in need of weight loss. I got interested in their approach because they offered more than a surgical procedure; instead, they offered an integral rehabilitation health program.

I began my treatment with them. Initially, they would perform a different procedure but as the appointed date approached, they told me of a new procedure called endoscopic gastric sleeve and its benefits. Of course, it inspired trust in me because, in addition to not being open surgery, the procedure did no require cutting the stomach, and a year ago I underwent the procedure in the city of Reynosa. The physician team has always been kind and willing to answer any of my questions, and have provided support before, during, and after the procedure.

I cannot say the procedure alone will solve all your problems, because it’s important to be conscious of the problem and be willing to learn to have self-control to change all incorrect eating habits. No method can do what determination can do. In this case, the procedure becomes a powerful tool to reach the goal of losing weight. The support of my family and friends was key to transform the environment around me.

Today I weight 122 kg (268 lb), having lost 38 kg (83 lb) and my goal is to reach my ideal weight in a few months. I truly feel better. It is very gratifying to use clothes that I haven’t put on for years, that is now fitting loose, and to find clothes that I could not consider before because anything my size was meant for people older than me.

And obviously, the most important aspect is I eat much less, feel satisfied faster after eating, my stomach feels healthier, and I even suffer less from sickness than before. I hope that sharing my experience can be useful for people who are considering to make the determination to have a healthy life. I am deeply grateful with Dr. Carames and his team, who has always provided excellent service and care, and have dedicated so much of their time for my health needs.