Bariatric surgeryUnited States4 min read
Did Rex Ryan have weight-loss surgery? Yes, and he says it has been great
The former NFL head coach Rex Ryan had Lap-Band surgery in March 2010 and went public with the dramatic results two years later, describing the procedure itself as a clear success. Here is what he said, as reported by The Star-Ledger, and what the operation involves for anyone considering it today.
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The main points in 30 seconds
- Rex Ryan had Lap-Band surgery in March 2010, and spoke about the results in 2012 (NJ.com).
- He'd dropped 106 pounds, he said, and turned to check if someone stood behind him in the mirror.
- Ryan said the Lap-Band was, without question, the answer to his weight loss, and it's been great.
- He disclosed he was a paid endorser of the Lap-Band product while discussing it publicly.
- At City Medical Centre gastric bypass is $4,000, sleeve gastrectomy $3,600, free first consultation.
Key facts about the procedure
- Back to work2–4 weeks
- Stay in clinic1–5 days
- Final result18–24 months
- Price
$4,800from $3,600
Profile
Rex Ryan
- Country
- United States
- Who
- NFL head coach
- Year of operation
- 2010
- Quote source
- The Star-Ledger / NJ.com, 19 July 2012
What did Rex Ryan say about his weight-loss surgery?
Ryan received Lap-Band surgery in March 2010. Speaking to beat writers in 2012, as reported by The Star-Ledger / NJ.com, he described seeing the scale after dropping 106 pounds: “I couldn't believe it. I turned around and looked to see if someone was behind me.” Asked about the cause, he said: “To me, the answer was without question having the Lap-Band, and it has been great.”
Ryan also disclosed that he was a paid endorser of the Lap-Band product while discussing it publicly. This is what the article relies on; he did not give further surgical detail beyond the type of procedure, so this article does not guess at it.
Why his account is useful
Ryan's description of not recognising his own reflected weight loss is a vivid way of describing a result that surgeons see often: a gradual process that patients themselves sometimes only register fully once it is pointed out in numbers. His direct statement — crediting the Lap-Band “without question” — is an example of a public figure endorsing a result plainly, without hedging.
His disclosure that he was paid to endorse the product is also a useful reminder to separate marketing from medical fact: his own satisfaction with the outcome is still his own account, but it was given as part of a promotional campaign, not a neutral interview.
Bariatric surgery abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
How a gastric bypass or sleeve is done today
Bariatric operations are now routinely performed laparoscopically, through a few small punctures. The main options discussed at a consultation today:
Principle
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Stomach reduced to a narrow tube
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Small pouch plus intestinal bypass
- Mini gastric bypass
- Single connection to the intestine
- SADI-S
- Sleeve with a single intestinal bypass
Usually considered for
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- BMI 35–45
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- BMI over 45–50, type 2 diabetes
- Mini gastric bypass
- Chosen individually
- SADI-S
- BMI over 50
Average excess weight loss
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- 60–70%
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- 75–85%
- Mini gastric bypass
- Up to 75–80%
- SADI-S
- 80–90%
After any bypass-type operation, vitamins and minerals are needed for life. The mini bypass carries a risk of bile reflux, which the surgeon weighs when choosing the method.
Who is a candidate and how to prepare
The usual indication is a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Before surgery patients go through:
- blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and a coagulation panel;
- consultations with a GP, endocrinologist, cardiologist, psychiatrist and, for women, a gynaecologist;
- two to four weeks with fewer fast carbohydrates and fats;
- quitting smoking at least a month beforehand.
Recovery after bariatric surgery
The hospital stay is one to five days and walking starts on day one. Office work is typically possible after two to four weeks, physical work after about six. The diet moves from liquids to soft food to normal food over one to two months. Swimming is allowed after about 30 days, and travel is best planned at least a month after surgery.
The final result is judged after one and a half to two years; pregnancy is advised no earlier than 12–18 months after the operation.
How recovery after bariatric surgery usually goes
- Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through several small punctures.
- Day 1Up and walking; the team monitors you in the ward.
- Days 1–5Discharge from hospital, depending on the procedure.
- Weeks 2–4Back to office work; liquid and then soft diet.
- Months 1–2Normal food textures return gradually; swimming and travel are allowed.
- Months 12–18Pregnancy can be planned from this point if relevant.
- Months 18–24Weight stabilises and the final result is assessed.
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S, all laparoscopically through four small punctures of 5–15 mm, for international patients including patients from New York. A gastric bypass costs $4,000 and a sleeve gastrectomy $3,600. The first surgeon's consultation is free and can take place online; the cost named after the assessment is fixed in the contract.
Planning the procedure from your city? Read more: Bariatric Operations in Phoenix, Obesity Surgery in Singapore and Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery in Benoni.
A personal coordinator stays with the patient from the first enquiry through recovery. More information is on the bariatric surgery page and the page for patients from New York.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Rex Ryan or his treatment. We quote him only because he spoke about the procedure openly.
Frequently asked questions
When did Rex Ryan have weight-loss surgery?
He received Lap-Band surgery in March 2010.
How much weight did Rex Ryan lose after his surgery?
He said in 2012 that he had dropped 106 pounds since the procedure.
How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?
A gastric bypass costs $4,000 and a sleeve gastrectomy $3,600. The consultation is free, and the price is fixed in the contract.
Do I need vitamins after bariatric surgery?
After a bypass-type operation, part of the intestine is bypassed, so vitamin and mineral supplements are needed for life, and blood tests are checked regularly.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- The Star-Ledger / NJ.com, 19 July 2012
Considering the same operation? Get a free consultation
We reply right in the chat — you can send photos
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
In other cities
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