WLS pioneer has gastric bypass surgery

[Guest guest]

SAN DIEGO -- It took years for Dr. Wesley to turn to weight

loss surgery to prolong his own life. And if there is anyone who

understands the risks and rewards, it's him.

pioneered laproscopic gastric bypass surgery , in which the

patient's stomach is stapled and cut, creating a smaller stomach and

separating it entirely from the lower part of the stomach.

" It's always termed drastic, to be such a drastic move to take, but

let's face it, dying is drastic too, " said.

said he started thinking about having the surgery last summer

when he noticed the scale was going up, despite his best efforts to

loss weight. But who would perform the surgery?

" When I first started thinking about it I thought 'Who could do it?'

There was only one answer: Dr. Ellner, " said.

With more than 700 surgeries on her resume, Dr. Ellner was a

natural choice, said.

recruited and trained Ellner seven years ago. Now, the student

is the doctor and the doctor is the student.

" It's a huge honor to be chosen by one of your instructors to

operate on him, " Ellner said.

Now, will not only reap the rewards of the surgery he

pioneered, but he will be able to tell his patients " I understand, "

and mean it.

The surgery took place on Tuesday at San Diego's Alvarado Hospital.

It took almost two hours longer than hoped, but that's not unusual.

Within hours was up and walking.