Jets’ Head Coach Rex Ryan has been in the news lately for his impressive weight loss since undergoing lap band surgery with Dr. George Fielding last year. But it’s not just the public who has been impressed with Rex’s success: his twin brother Rob Ryan – defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys – also underwent Lap Band surgery after seeing the weight Rex was losing.
Img credit: The Dallas Morning News
Dr Adam Smith of Fort Worth Lap Band is Rob’s surgeon and says he’s lost 55 pounds so far. Weight loss with the Lap Band is generally slower than with other weight loss surgeries like the gastric bypass or gastric sleeve. “It’s important for people who have Lap Band surgery to be patient with themselves and the weight loss process. The band is a great tool for helping with weight loss, but the patient is still the one doing the work,” said Dr Smith. The Lap Band surgery is done laparoscopically, which means the patient has very small incisions, instead of a large incision as you would have with an ‘open’ surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon places a small silicone band around the top of the stomach. This creates a pouch about the size of a golf ball, which food passes through first. Because the pouch is small, patients feel full by eating a smaller amount of food; they also generally feel fuller for longer.
Dr Adam Smith is Rob Ryan’s surgeon
In addition to his experience operating on thousands of patients, Dr. Smith is also a Lap Band patient himself, so he has first hand experience with what it takes to lose weight: “I know how life-changing it is to lose a significant amount of weight. My own experience with weight loss surgery, and the difference in my health and quality of life, are what inspire me to dedicate my practice strictly to weight loss surgery.” In addition to treating patients full time in his Fort Worth practice, Dr Smith will take over as President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons next month. “The decision to have surgery is not an easy one to make. No surgery is risk free, and it’s something that a potential patient needs to fully understand before they and a healthcare team can decide if it’s right for that person. I’m excited for Rob and his success so far. It’s great to see someone lose weight and begin to reach their health goals,” Dr. Smith added.
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