Patient Story: Life-Changing Confidence and Lasting Results with Medically-Supervised Weight Loss
Lasting weight loss is about more than a number on the scale. For many patients, it’s a deeply personal journey tied to confidence, health, identity, and the quiet hope of one day feeling like yourself again. When traditional dieting and exercise plans fail, board-certified Wichita plastic surgeon James M. Shaw, MD understands that the emotional toll can be just as heavy as the physical one.
In this powerful online review, one special patient shares her journey from frustration and fear to renewed strength and self-confidence. Through Dr. Shaw’s medically-guided and physician-supervised weight loss program, which includes a personalized combination of FDA-approved medications like semaglutide and personalized lifestyle support, our patient found not only a path to sustainable weight loss, but also a transformation that changed the trajectory of her health and life. Her story is a reminder that with the right guidance, support, education, and commitment, meaningful change is possible at any stage!
We invite you to read about her journey below, and to contact our compassionate team at Shaw Plastic Surgery if you’re ready to start the journey of reclaiming the best, healthiest version of yourself.
How One Patient Changed Her Life
“I woke up one day at my lowest point, not just physically, but emotionally. I was overweight, exhausted, and completely defeated. I had tried everything to lose weight, and nothing worked. No matter how hard I tried, the scale refused to move. As I approached my 40s, it felt like my body had turned against me, and I was running out of hope.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
On November 12, 2024, I made an appointment with Dr. Shaw after seeing he offered a weight loss program. I still remember stepping on the scale that day and seeing 199 pounds staring back at me. I cried. I felt embarrassed, overwhelmed, and defeated, like I had failed myself. That number wasn’t just weight. It was years of frustration, self blame, and feeling trapped in a body I didn’t recognize.
When my lab results came back, Dr. Shaw sat down with me and spoke honestly. If nothing changed, diabetes was in my near future. That conversation scared me, but it also gave me clarity. For the first time, I wasn’t being judged. I was being guided.
Dr. Shaw didn’t just offer semaglutide. He offered support, education, and a roadmap for real change. He taught me about food, healthier choices, and what my body truly needed. One piece of advice stuck with me and still guides me today. If you can’t say it, don’t eat it. That simple rule reshaped my relationship with food and helped me become mindful in a way I had never been before.
I committed fully. I followed the plan. I trusted the process, even on the hard days.
Slowly, my life began to change.
By March 12, 2025, the scale showed 175.5 pounds. By January 9, 2026, I weighed 139.8 pounds. My BMI dropped from 31.21 to 21.89. My waist shrank from 41 inches to 31 inches, and my hips from 44 inches to 37 inches. But the most important change wasn’t on paper. It was how I felt.
Over the past year, I’ve lost over 60 pounds and gained confidence, peace, and self love. I wake up now loving myself. I feel strong. I feel healthy. I feel free.
Semaglutide didn’t just help me lose weight. It helped give me my life back. Combined with Dr. Shaw’s guidance and the lifestyle changes I committed to, it became the tool that finally worked when nothing else did.
This journey saved me, not just from future illness, but from a version of myself who felt hopeless. Today, I am proud of the woman I see in the mirror. I am grateful I chose myself. And I will never forget the day I woke up and decided something has to change.”
Key Takeaway: Feel Empowered, Take Control
We love hearing about the experiences of our patients because they reflect what’s possible when medical expertise and personal commitment come together. Sustainable weight loss is not about quick fixes or willpower alone — it’s about understanding your body, addressing underlying health risks, and having the right tools and support along the way.
With a comprehensive, physician-guided approach, patients can achieve more than a physical transformation. They can regain energy, confidence, and control over their long-term health. If you’ve been feeling stuck or discouraged about where your health is headed, know that change is possible and you don’t have to navigate your journey alone.
Book an appointment at Shaw Plastic Surgery today to work with our team to develop a custom-tailored, medically-supervised treatment plan.