The Journey To Success
Tony Watkins

Before

After

Tony Watkins, a salesman from Boynton Beach, researched bariatric surgery for 2 years before taking one of the most important steps of his life. "Logically, the decision to have the surgery was a no-brainer—I knew I needed it. I had high blood pressure, I was borderline diabetic, and I had developed arthritis," says Watkins, who attended support group meetings under the care of Norman Samuels, M.D., the general surgeon on staff at Plantation General Hospital. "But it’s a big step emotionally. It takes a huge commitment, both from you and your family."

At 5 foot, 10 inches, Watkins weighed in at 315 on the day of his surgery—October 16th, 2001. In a little over a year, he has lost 145 pounds and his waist is now a trim 33 inches.
"I couldn't feel any better," he says. "It made all the difference in the world. I don't dwell on my weight, and I don’t think about food as much. I would recommend the surgery and Dr. Samuels to anyone considering it. He's the best, and his staff is great. They really care about you and want you to be OK, both physically and mentally, after your surgery."