• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
Bariatrics

UCLA Bariatric Surgery

Bariatrics
  • About Us
    • Our Expert Team
    • Program Overview
    • Insurance Coverage
    • Patient Stories & Photos
    • Patient Story Videos
    • In The News
    • Publications
    • Clinical Trials
    • Webinars
    • Donate Today
    • Share Your Story Today!
  • Obesity Treatments
    • What is Obesity?
    • Appointment Request
    • Bariatric Surgery
    • Gastric Bypass
    • Gastric Sleeve
    • Gastric Bypass Revision
    • Lap Band Revision
    • Adolescent Bariatric Surgery
    • Patient Testimonials
    • Video Gallery
    • BMI Calculator
    • Medical Weight Loss Program
    • Patient Information Video
    • Endoscopic Treatment of Weight Regain
    • Anti-Reflux Surgery
  • Gastric Sleeve
    • Gastric Sleeve Introduction
    • Gastric Sleeve Illustrations
    • Gastric Sleeve FAQs
  • Patient Resources
    • Ready To Care For You
    • How to Get Started
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Insurance Coverage
    • New Patient Forms
    • Pre-op Class Schedule
    • Patient Information Video
    • Patient Stories & Photos
    • Patient Story Videos
    • Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
    • Safety of Bariatric Surgery
    • Preparing for Surgery Video
    • Support Group
    • BMI Calculator
    • Video Gallery
    • For Post-Op Patients
    • Share Your Story Today!
  • Nutrition Corner
    • Support Group
    • Nutrition Before Bariatric Surgery
    • Nutrition After Bariatric Surgery
    • Transitioning to Soft Foods
    • Healthy Eating Home
    • Healthy Snack Choices
    • How to Lose Weight
    • Keep Yourself on Track
    • Dining Out Tips
    • Holiday Eating Tips
    • Shopping List
    • Recipe Collection
  • Contact Us
    • Map and Directions
  • Our Expert Team
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

UCLA Bariatric Surgery

About Us

About Us

About Us

  • Our Expert Team
  • Program Overview
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Patient Stories & Photos
    • Jennifer's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Kallista's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Daniel's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Courtney's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Kristen's Story - Lap Band Revision
    • Michael's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Armen's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Samuel's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Tara's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Brianna's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Charlotte's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Jose's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Elizabeth's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Frank's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Allison's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Lolita's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Trinette's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Elsa's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Rubina's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Rebecca's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Maria's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Jean's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Lori's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Danielle's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Margarita's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Jackie's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Michaele's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Rogelio's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Julie & Patrick's Story - Gastric Bypass/Gastric Sleeve
    • Sheena's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Sarah's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Neil's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Derrick's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Therese's Story - Bariatric Surgery
    • James' Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Jeremy's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Robert's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Maria's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Olga's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Angelika's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Monica's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Krystyn's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Laura's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Deb's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Mervilyn's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Lynne's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Judy's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Merwin's Story: Gastric Sleeve
    • Martha's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Randall's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Michelle's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Gina's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Denise's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Cari's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Janet's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Jamie's Pictures - Gastric Sleeve
    • Heather's Pictures - Bariatric Surgery
    • Female Patient Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Ashley's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Hector's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Martha's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • C.M.'s Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • Virginia's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Chuck's Story - Gastric Bypass
    • Michelle's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Patient Story Videos
  • In The News
  • Publications
  • Clinical Trials
  • Webinars
  • Donate Today
  • Share Your Story Today!
  • Our Expert Team
  • Program Overview
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Patient Stories & Photos
  • Patient Story Videos
  • In The News
  • Publications
  • Clinical Trials
  • Webinars
  • Donate Today
  • Share Your Story Today!
  • Jennifer's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Kallista's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Daniel's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Courtney's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Kristen's Story - Lap Band Revision
  • Michael's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Armen's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Samuel's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Tara's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Brianna's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Charlotte's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Jose's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Elizabeth's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Frank's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Allison's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Lolita's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Trinette's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Elsa's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Rubina's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Rebecca's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Maria's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Jean's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Lori's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Danielle's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Margarita's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Jackie's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Michaele's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Rogelio's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Julie & Patrick's Story - Gastric Bypass/Gastric Sleeve
  • Sheena's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Sarah's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Neil's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Derrick's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Therese's Story - Bariatric Surgery
  • James' Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Jeremy's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Robert's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Maria's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Olga's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Angelika's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Monica's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Krystyn's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Laura's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Deb's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Mervilyn's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Lynne's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Judy's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Merwin's Story: Gastric Sleeve
  • Martha's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Randall's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Michelle's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Gina's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Denise's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Cari's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Janet's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Jamie's Pictures - Gastric Sleeve
  • Heather's Pictures - Bariatric Surgery
  • Female Patient Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Ashley's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Hector's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Martha's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • C.M.'s Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • Virginia's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Chuck's Story - Gastric Bypass
  • Michelle's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  1. Home
  2. Bariatrics
  3. About Us
  4. Patient Stories & Photos
  5. Derrick's Story - Gastric Sleeve

Derrick's Story - Gastric Sleeve

Share this
Request An Appointment

Phone: (310) 825-7163

Sleeve Gastrectomy Patient Story

Surgery: Sleeve Gastrectomy - Total Lost: 120 pounds so far*

*Weight loss results can vary depending on the individual. There is no guarantee of specific results. Read full disclaimer >

Derrick After
Derrick Before

Derrick Update:
"I am doing wonderful, and have been following my post op diet and lifestyle extremely well. I wanted to let you know an update so you guys can keep my story on the site accurate. Total weight loss so far of 120 pounds! I am ecstatic with my results!" —Derrick

Growing up we were told to finish our plates, and with an Italian mother who loves cooking, we ate a lot of carbohydrates and fatty meals. Before I knew it, I was 25 years old, had high cholesterol for years and was taking an antacid daily for severe reflux (GERD). I was in the constant cycle of diet, exercise and failure. Genetically my family is predisposed to extreme obesity, along with many ailments due to weight. No matter how hard I tried, the weight would waiver and plateau.

I spoke with my PCP about what my options were regarding weight loss. She mentioned that UCLA’s COMET program could get me the answers I was looking for. I was nervous because surgery seemed like a very intense path to take, but after a few more months, and a few more pounds, I decided to make the call. Everyone in the COMET team was so helpful in getting me the answers I needed. The preoperative meal plan was easy to follow and I was able to reduce 15 pounds before surgery. Three months after my first appointment, I had the gastric sleeve. I couldn’t believe that an operation only lasting an hour could change my life forever.

I was so comfortable with the postoperative directions and the diet was simple and straightforward. While having soups and shakes for 2 weeks after surgery may get tiring, you’re reminded that it’s only a fraction of time in the scheme of the rest of your life. It’s now been 4 months and the feeling is truly amazing. I am still walking by the mirror so shocked. The best part is that I feel like the same guy, just with more energy and the ability to do more. For the first time in my life, I’m active and getting a chance to enjoy my life.

Derrick Before
Derrick Before
Derrick After
Derrick After - Update: Total loss so far of 120 pounds!

Contact Us

To schedule a consultation with UCLA Center for Obesity and Metabolic Health, call us at (310) 825-7163 or
fill out our online form >

For a physician referral, please call (800) UCLA-MD1 (825-2631).

* Weight loss results can vary depending on the individual. There is no guarantee of specific results.

Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest

Sign in to myUCLAhealth