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LIFE AFTER LAP BANDING
When Michaella Cutmore and her friend Shelley Gowley signed up for lap banding, their lives took a profoundly positive turn.
THANKS to her lap band surgery in 2009, Michaella Cutmore has dropped from 144kg to 68kg and halved her dress size from 28 to 14. But, most importantly, she’s prevented future health problems. “I’ve sidestepped chronic illness and premature death,” says Michaella. “I’d been warned by doctors that my blood pressure and cholesterol were up and my family and friends were suffering watching me go through that.” It was an advertisement for a North Queensland Obesity Surgery Centre (NQOSC) seminar that marked the beginning of Michaella’s turnaround. “My friend Shelley Gowley had seen it and called to say ‘let’s go’. We were so impressed with the presentation and testimonials that, on the way home, we decided we were going to do it,” Michaella says. “We signed up the next day and had our operations on the same day within two weeks.” “My advice would be to include a friend and go on the journey together,” says Michaella, adding that Shelley has also had tremendous results and the duo now call themselves ‘The Bandits’.
We’ll help you get there and stay there
Once NQOSC received their GP referrals, Michaella and her friend had their surgery with Dr Sam Baker with Dr John Avramovic assisting. NQOSC also organised a psychiatrist and nutritionist to support the pair in their lifestyle change and NQOSC’s Laura, Dr. Maree Poggio and Meghan monitor and perform all their lap band fluid adjustments post-surgery. These follow-up injections take under a minute and are painless, Michaella assures. “You can’t feel the lap band and having one doesn’t stop you from doing anything – flying, travel, sports. I’m now more active than I’ve ever been.” NQOSC also monitors Michaella and Shelley’s bloods and Michaella is thrilled the current diagnostics show no indicators for any chronic illness. “I’m so thankful for the love, support and encouragement of my family, friends, GP, NQOSC and my workplace − the Telstra Call Centre at River Quays,” Michaella says.
1300 WEIGH LESS 9 3 4 4 4
5 3 7 7
Specialising in: Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrecomy Laparoscopic Gastric Banding Intragastric Balloon Procedure
www.nqobesitysurgery.com.au DUO MAGAZINE MAY 2012 duomagazine.com.au 55