• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
Bariatrics

UCLA Bariatric Surgery

Bariatrics
  • About Us
    • Our Expert Team
    • Program Overview
    • Insurance Coverage
    • Patient Stories & Photos
    • In The News
    • Publications
    • Clinical Trials
    • Webinars
    • Donate 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
    • Patient Handouts
    • Pre-op Class Schedule
    • Patient Information Video
    • Patient Stories & Photos
    • 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
    • Anthony's Story - Gastric Sleeve
    • 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
  • In The News
  • Publications
  • Clinical Trials
  • Webinars
  • Donate Today
  • Our Expert Team
  • Program Overview
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Patient Stories & Photos
  • In The News
  • Publications
  • Clinical Trials
  • Webinars
  • Donate 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
  • Anthony's Story - Gastric Sleeve
  • 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. Lolita's Story - Gastric Sleeve

Lolita's Story - Gastric Sleeve

Share this
Request An Appointment

Phone: 310-825-7163

Gastric Sleeve Patient Story

Weight Loss Surgery: Sleeve Gastrectomy - Total Lost: 72 pounds lost so far*

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

Lolita After
Lolita Before

"This surgery opened doors that I never would have dreamed." —Lolita

I struggled with 20 years of yo-yo dieting and a new heath problem arising each new year. In February 2018, my health got worse. I now was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure and was out on meds. I already was dealing with current ailments of hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome , acid reflux, heartburn, pre-diabetes, asthma, migraines, sinuses, foot and knee pain. I was told when I was 20 years old that I needed to get the lap-band or gastric bypass. I refused and struggled for the next 20 years.

I finally agreed whole heartedly and was in 100%. This was the smoothest experience ever. I experienced such royal VIP treatment. I felt like a billionaire. I wasn’t judged. Dr. Chen, the dietitians, the RNs and nurses took such great care of me. They treated me like I was the most important being on earth. Dr. Chen and all of his staff were and are informative, nice, welcoming and had such a genuine hospitality that hugged you with care, love and support. They rooted for me and everyone else going through this journey. They wanted us to live. They wanted me to succeed. The hospital staff was also memorable all the way down to the anesthesiologists and gave excellent bed side manner VIP care.

Lolita BeforeLolita Before
Lolita AfterLolita After

I will always be grateful for them all. I am blessed. Dr. Chen and his team keeps you informed every step of the way and they make sure that you understand everything from what you may feel before and after surgery to how to deal with life, years after your bariatric surgery. They give you the tools and interactive teachings to make the process easy. You are kept informed of where and what you can buy. And they offer you examples of meals that are easy to follow so that you won’t lose track of progress and success.

I no longer have High Blood Pressure, hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, acid reflux, heartburn, pre-diabetes, asthma, migraines, sinuses, foot and knee pain. I no longer take any medication. It feels good. I feel more motivated to take chances. This surgery opened doors that I never would have dreamed. It gave me the confidence to take on a new and higher position at work. I feel like life has a whole new meaning to it. I no longer feel invisible. My only regret is that I wish I would have done this earlier and sooner. My journey isn’t over. When I saw Dr. Chen in 2018, for a consult, I was 254. Today, I am 192 pounds a size large in shirts and between a size 12-14 in pant.


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

Learn more about myUCLAhealth