Dr. Balder is the BEST! My surgery went great and recovery has been uneventful. The whole process was smooth from beginning to end. As long as you follow what they say to do you should have no problems.

Dr. Balder has been an amazing physician that has made this exciting journey a reality. He has a friendly personality that you feel comfortable asking questions and is skilled at Lap Band managment with his experience. I even gave him a little "thank you" present at my first fill appointment yesterday.

I had my Lap Band Surgery on Jan. 26, 2008 and as of March 16, 2009 I have lost 86 1/2 pounds. I'm thankful that I had the surgery done. I feel better and feel better about myself.

I have been able to come off my insulin. My feet do not swell like they did before my weight loss. I'm wearing a smaller shoe ad I'm enjoying getting smaller clothes.

I'm thankful that Dr. Balder did the surgery for me.

Dr. Balder,

Having lost nearly 90 lbs since my LapBand Surgery in September '08, I find that it is the “small” things that I notice most about the changes I’ve experienced.

Last week I had to fly to NJ at the last minute for my Grandmother’s funeral. Normally having to fly puts me into a panic at the thought of fitting into the seat, strategizing how I would strategically hide the fact that the seat belt did not fasten around me and how to sit as to impact the others sitting around me the least…things “normal” people never have to think of! Last Thursday, I was actually pretty excited going to the airport, I knew I would fit in the seat, by how much was the question. I’m sure I looked silly as I sat there on all 4 legs of the trip smiling broadly and laughing to myself with delight as I easily clicked the seat belt and pulled it tight around me – with room to spare! I thanked God for the changes in my life and THANK YOU for helping to give me my life back!

I just wanted to share that with you :-)

Since September 2008 I have gone from 323 at my pre-surgery weigh in at the hospital to 183 lbs. I’m literally half the man I once was a little less than a year ago. I’ve been able to discontinue my blood pressure medication. My mobility, strength and stamina have all drastically improved I even sleep better at night. I am a new person. I struggled with my weight through my teenage years and all of my adult life. Dr. Balder has given me a tool that has been the help I needed to get me on the road to a healthier me. It has not been simple, I work out hard, run regularly and still have to eat smart. The same rules still apply to me… eat less and move more. Some people ask me if I have any regrets about having had the surgery and I tell them only one…I wish I had been able to have had it done 10 or 20 years ago instead of waiting until my mid 40’s.

Bariatric Surgery My Reasons For:
The reasons for making this decisions started when I wa in my twenties. I got caught up in some personnel problems and my way of dealing with them became food. During the years that followed I went on many diets and would lose some weight and an illness or some other problem would come along and I would revert back to food.
Because I have so many serious health problems and I know that the weight I am carrying is not helping me, I knew I had to loose this weight. I spent a long time thinking and talking with someone who had to make the same decisions and he said it was the best decision he could have made. Many of his health problems have disappeared.
Now that I had my surgery (12/8/08), I know that it is the best decision that I have made. In tn months I have lost 72 lbs. I did this by making small goals and this has worked fro me. I now am off my blood pressure medcine and my sugar is down to normal.
My mother is in a nursing home and one of the ladies who os friends with my mother and cannot speak because of a stroke saw me for the first time in months and started clapping her hands because she thought I looked so good. I can now get my wedding ring on that I have not been able to wear in years. Alsi, I can do so many ore things that I have not been able to do for years.
Dr. Balder has done two surgeries for me and has done a wonderful job. He and his staff have been so supportive. I don't think I could have gotten this far without them!

Professionional Golfer John Daly - Radio interview on Lap Band prodedure, and his success