It takes two to make a weight loss dream come true. Just ask Isela Mauri and Martin Espinosa of Anaheim Hills, a married couple who both underwent weight loss surgery at Foothill Regional Medical Center in Tustin to regain their health.
Martin had a gastric bypass performed last year by Atif Iqbal, M.D., a bariatric surgeon at Foothill Regional who is a board certified and fellowship trained surgeon who specializes in bariatrics. Isela had a gastric sleeve bariatric procedure some months later.
To date, Martin has lost more than 100 pounds and Isela has lost about 50. Not only has the couple’s health been transformed, but their quality of life as well.
“It’s amazing to be able to put my own shoes and socks on without any help,” says Isela, 41, an administrative assistant for a company in Santa Ana. “Our lives have changed so much since we both have been losing significant weight. Dr. Iqbal is our angel doctor.”
Isela joined Martin to his pre-surgery visits with Dr. Iqbal and his team of specialists, who all collaborate to make the weight loss surgery journey a success for each patient. “I asked a lot of questions and just felt so comfortable with Dr. Iqbal’s approach and education. He explained each procedure and the pros and cons. His confidence in our outcomes put us at ease,” she said.
Isela said their lives no longer revolve around food or their struggle with weight. “We split meals and our bodies now tell us when it’s time to stop eating.”
New clothes, better overall health and engaging time with their children are now the norm for both Martin and Isela. “My daughter and I went to Universal Studios and for the first time I didn’t have to worry about fitting in the seats and being embarrassed,” she shared. “That’s was one of the best times we have had in a long time.
Martin underwent a gastric bypass procedure, which helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and small intestine handle the food you eat. Essentially, Martin’s surgery is now much smaller and he feels full with less food. Isela had a gastric sleeve procedure, which surgically creates a smaller stomach (about 15 percent of its original size), leaving a sleeve or tube-like structure that absorbs the food you eat.
Both procedures are the most typical weight loss procedures being performed today, according to Dr. Iqbal. The procedures induce a weight loss of about 10-15 pounds per month and most patients learn to adjust their diets and eating habits very quickly.
“Martin and Isela are a great couple who wanted a new lease on life,” Dr. Iqbal said. “They have been very participant in their recovery and have established a new relationship with food. “To see their weight come off and the joy and better health it has given them is a testament to their commitment to change their lives for the better. I couldn’t be more pleased with their success.”
The article above was published on behalf of Foothill Regional Medical Center in Tustin.