A Journey Years in the Making
When Dawn asked Evan why he decided to pursue weight loss surgery, his answer was one that many patients can relate to.
Evan shared that he had been battling his weight for most of his life.
Throughout his teenage years and into adulthood, his weight fluctuated, but the struggle remained constant.
As time went on, he began to realize he was losing the battle.
"I realized that I was getting older and I was losing this battle," Evan explained.
Like many people, his motivation wasn't solely about appearance.
His concerns centered around his health, future, and quality of life.
He wanted to avoid some of the long-term consequences that can accompany obesity and unhealthy lifestyle habits. At the same time, he acknowledged the emotional side of the journey.
"You don't like the way you look. You don't like the way you feel. Nobody wants to look in the mirror and not see what they like."
For Evan, bariatric surgery became an opportunity to take control of his future.
Pre-Bariatric Surgery
Post Bariatric Surgery
Choosing Surgery Was Choosing Health
Evan ultimately underwent gastric sleeve surgery at Saint Agnes Hospital under the care of Dr. Hamdallah.
When Dawn asked about his experience with the bariatric program, Evan spoke highly of the team.
"They were extremely helpful. Everybody was really nice. They gave me the information I needed and helped me throughout the process."
The support was so strong that the team even worked to accommodate his surgery timeline so he could complete the procedure before changes to his insurance deductible occurred.
Today, less than a year after surgery, Evan has lost nearly 100 pounds.
When Dawn asked how he felt, his answer was immediate.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It feels good."
But what followed may have been the most important part of the conversation.
The Most Important Step Wasn't the Surgery
Like many bariatric patients, Evan initially viewed the psychological evaluation as just another box to check.
When he first heard he needed a psych evaluation, his reaction was similar to many others.
"When you hear psych eval, immediately you think, 'I'm not crazy.'"
However, after completing the process, his perspective changed dramatically.
In fact, he now considers it one of the most valuable parts of his entire journey.
"I think it's the most important step before anything else."
That statement often surprises people.
After all, how could a psychological evaluation be more important than the surgery itself?
For Evan, the answer was simple.
The evaluation uncovered issues that may have eventually become barriers to his long-term success.
It helped him understand some of the behaviors, patterns, and emotional challenges that contributed to his weight struggles in the first place.
As Dawn frequently reminds her patients:
Bariatric surgery is not a fix-all.
It is a powerful tool—but it is still a tool.
Lasting success requires lifestyle changes, self-awareness, and emotional growth.
The Power of Honesty
One of the themes that repeatedly surfaced during Dawn and Evan's conversation was honesty.
Dawn recalled a moment during the evaluation process when Evan told her:
"I could tell you what I think you want to hear, but I know that's not going to help me."
That honesty ultimately changed the course of his journey.
Rather than immediately clearing Evan for surgery, Dawn identified areas that needed additional attention and recommended postponing his approval while they addressed those concerns.
For many patients, that news would have been discouraging.
Evan admits it was.
At the time, he viewed the evaluation as a small step standing between him and surgery.
Hearing that there would be a delay was difficult.
But looking back, he sees it differently.
The additional time allowed him to prove to himself that he was serious.
It gave him an opportunity to address potential roadblocks before they became problems.
Most importantly, it allowed him to enter surgery with a stronger foundation for success.
"If I hadn't been truthful, things wouldn't have worked out the way they worked out."
Why Psychological Evaluations Matter
The purpose of a bariatric psychological evaluation is not to determine whether someone is "crazy."
It is designed to help identify factors that could impact long-term outcomes, including:
Emotional eating patterns
Stress management challenges
Depression or anxiety symptoms
Support systems
Lifestyle readiness
Behavioral habits
Motivation and expectations
The goal is not to disqualify patients.
The goal is to help them succeed.
When emotional barriers are identified before surgery, patients can begin developing the tools necessary to navigate challenges after surgery.
As Evan's story demonstrates, addressing these issues early can make a tremendous difference.
A Message for Men Considering Surgery
As Men's Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us, many men are taught to handle problems on their own.
They fix things.
They push through.
They stay strong.
While those qualities can be admirable, they can sometimes make it difficult to ask for help.
Evan's journey offers a different perspective.
His success was not built on doing everything alone.
It was built on honesty, vulnerability, accountability, and support.
The willingness to ask for help didn't make him weak.
It helped make him successful.
Final Thoughts
Today, Evan's nearly 100-pound weight loss is certainly worth celebrating.
But perhaps the most inspiring part of his story isn't the number on the scale.
It's the mindset shift that happened along the way.
His journey demonstrates that bariatric surgery is about much more than weight loss.
It's about understanding yourself.
Addressing obstacles.
Building healthier habits.
And creating a life that supports lasting change.
For anyone considering bariatric surgery, Evan's advice is simple:
Be honest.
Trust the process.
Do the work.
And remember that asking for help may be one of the strongest decisions you ever make.
