This is how Michelle Damaro looked right after gastric bypass surgery, when she weighed well over 200 pounds. Today you might not recognize her.

"Its like when I look in the mirror now, I think now who is that," said Demaro.

At Alegent Health, surgeons prefer to do gastric bypass using a laparoscope. It is safer and patients recover faster. Using an electronic scalpel, surgeons divide the small intestine and connect it to a smaller stomach pouch created partially by staples. Within months patients don't need medications for everything from high blood pressure to diabetes.

"It is very staggering to see the overall health of the patient improve within the first 6-18 months, as well as the health care costs, go down dramatically," said Dr. Thomas J. White. 

Find out more about Thomas J. White, M.D.

This surgery is not for everyone with a weight problem. The ideal candidate has a body mass index over 40 and is more than 100 pounds over their ideal weight. That tells doctors that the added weight is a bigger risk than the surgery itself.

"There is no doubt in my mind that I would have died a lot younger had I not had this surgery and lost the weight," said Michelle.

And life after this surgery is much different. Patients can wind up within 20 pounds of their ideal body weight, but staying healthy takes work. Alegent Health carefully screens patients who must meet strict standards for gastric bypass surgery.