COSTA MESA, Calif., March 7, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- She's appeared on the cover of People and other national magazines for her extraordinary tale of massive weight loss and recovery and now Traci Smith will be the subject of a Discovery Health Channel episode of "Plastic Surgery Before & After" on Sunday, March 11 at 9 p.m. (repeats on Monday, March 12 at midnight and Saturday, March 17 at 1 p.m.). The Rowland Heights resident, 39, once weighed in at nearly 500 lbs. Thanks to Lindora Medical Clinic, she shed 325 pounds and 11 pant sizes and gained a new lease on life. The Discovery Channel episode will focus on the dramatic surgeries to remove the excess aprons of skin that resulted from her dramatic weight loss.
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According to local plastic surgeon, Donald Altman, M.D. of Irvine, five surgeries were required to remove the excess skin and scarring so that Smith could regain her figure.
"I was moved and inspired by Traci's extraordinary story," said Altman, who donated his services. "I knew that she had the courage and determination to make this a life-long change and I wanted to be part of the team behind her success."
Added Smith, "I have shared my story in the hopes that by doing so I can have a positive impact on the lives of others. While my tale is an exceptional one, I think that it offers hope to others who may be saying, 'if she can do it, so can I.'"
Smith lost the weight and became "lean for life" via Lindora Medical Clinic's medically supervised, non-surgical weight loss program. Since losing the weight, she had been forced to wear a special girdle-styled undergarment to contain the numerous folds of excess skin in order to project a more slender appearance. Thanks to Altman's surgical intervention, Smith no longer requires the girdle and she enjoys an active and "normal" life.
Cited as an authority by "The Today Show," "Good Morning America" and CNN, Lindora Medical Clinics' medically supervised program combines diet, moderate exercise and motivational tools. Emphasizing the philosophy of "Eat Better, Move More, Stress Less(tm)," Lindora helps thousands of patients each day at its Southern California clinics as well as via online and workplace programs.
Lindora partnered with Rite Aid to establish Lindora Health Clinics in select Rite Aid locations to increase public access to medically supervised weight control services as well as offer non-emergency, acute care services. In addition, Lindora co-founded the Convenient Care Association, an organization representing healthcare facilities that provide routine, non-emergency services to walk-in patients at pharmacies and retailers nationwide. Lindora is a member of the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management, a coalition composed of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Federal Trade Commission, Center for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. For more information, call (800) LINDORA or visit www.lindora.com.
Photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
