UCLA Center for Obesity and METabolic Health (COMET)

Reviews

• JK

  jean klima

  Jun 7, 2018
  5.0
  I am one year out from my gastric sleeve surgery. I no longer take diabetes meds or high blood pressure meds. My reflux has also gone away. I have lost 57lbs and feel fantastic. The staff here is so helpful and knowledgeable, they always make me feel like I am part of the family. Dr Chen is so caring and awesome, I had a wonderful experience and highly recommend this procedure and this facility to everyone. You are in good hands at the UCLA Center for obesity and metabolic health.
• TR

  Tom Ritter

  Mar 23, 2018
  5.0
  The UCLA COMET Program and Dr Chen and his team are simply amazing! I came to the program as a super obese male (350+ 5ft 4) and in 3 months am down almost 94lbs. The surgery has changed my life dramatically. Things I could only dream of doing before are now realistic and I can walk my dog, bike, and just do normal life things (I was progressively turning into a invalid). I had severe diabetes, sleep apnea, kidney issues, heart issues, etc. I have been so excited that all of these issues have been resolved since the surgery. The staff is very supportive and Dr Chen is just amazing. If you are planning this surgery, I strongly encourage you to check out the program. Be prepared for a fairly strict process that starts you on the path to a better life, there are many tests to confirm your ready for surgery (varies depending on your issues, the more you have, the more tests in my experience), but it was all worth it in the end. UCLA Ronald Regan was an exceptional facility to have the surgery in as well. If you plan to have this procedure really research your program and most especially your surgeon it will make all the difference and honestly you have one stomach, don't risk it to someone without a lot of experience doing the procedure. One final thing, don't be afraid about "not being able to eat" to not start the program, I was and honestly, you can generally eat whatever just in very small portions, but my cravings, my food obsessions and my cravings for sugar and carbs disappeared after the surgery. I pretty much eat 5 protein based meals a day. Good luck embarking on the journey. Trust me its so worth it. And believe me UCLA and Dr Chen are exceptional!
• JM

  Janice McDonald

  Dec 13, 2017
  5.0
  My experience with the COMET program at UCLA was excellent. From the first appointment with Dr. Chen, I was fully informed, treated with extreme care and felt this was the best decision for my life. I would recommend anyone who is interested in this procedure to come to UCLA. My hospital stay was also excellent and 6 months later, I am doing fantastic, especially with the wonderful support from the COMET team.
• BM

  Bryan “Bryan o Mac” Miranda

  Sep 30, 2017
  5.0
  I like take fat out sign Bryan miranda
• LL

  leslie lockhart

  Sep 21, 2017
  5.0
  I feel like I have been on every diet that was ever invented. I tried all of the mainstream diets and those that were not so mainstream. Injections, pills, quick fad diets, points “eat only” diets. If it existed I tried it. Sometimes I would try a diet that I knew probably wasn’t safe for me to try but I did it anyway. I was willing to take a chance and possibly put my health at risk just so I could lose some weight. I had not always had a weight problem. In my youth I could eat anything and it would never make a difference. I could eat tons of carbs and not gain a pound. After three children and a very sedentary lifestyle the weight just packed on. So if I found a new diet, and there was a chance that I would lose weight, I would try it. To no avail. In fact with every diet came a very small success and even a larger failure which resulted in more weight gain, depression and a huge blow to my confidence. I never thought I would ever consider gastric sleeve surgery. In fact for many years I was dead set against it. I somehow felt that surgery was the easy way out and why would I ever consider doing something permanent to myself. It felt like that was the weaker path to follow. Until one day, I was on a shopping trip with my daughter and she and I have always had a great time shopping. We were fanatical shoppers. I realized that the only thing that I was comfortable buying was make up. I had relegated myself to online shopping because the cute stores didn’t have my size and I was embarrassed. I thought that I would just go along with her on our shopping sprees and I would hold her clothes as she tried them on and never really pay any attention to my shopping needs unless it was make up or maybe earrings. I looked at myself in the mirror on one of our epic shopping trips and took a long look at my face and realized how sad I looked. Of course I was happy to be with my daughter but I was not happy in my skin. I went home and took a look at an old pictures and saw what I use to look like and sat down on the floor of my bedroom and cried. I had made so many excuses and made sure I took care of everyone else’s needs but never took the time to pay attention to what I really needed. I needed my life back and I needed to be healthy again. I wanted to be happy. At that point I decided to speak to my general practitioner and ask for a referral to Dr. Chen and the COMET program. Aside from marrying my husband and having my children, deciding to gastric sleeve surgery was the best decision I have ever made. The program was comprehensive and educational. The surgery was great and the care that Dr. Chen and his staff provided me was exceptional. Seven months later I am 70 pounds down and I feel fantastic! I can exercise without my knees hurting, I sleep better because my sleep apnea is no longer a problem. I make healthier food choices. I am a happier person and I love shopping because I can go into any store and get something off the rack! Unbelievable. I have given myself a second chance at being healthy. I have given myself additional years to enjoy my husband and my children. It has provided me with my confidence and my life back! -Leslie L.