Our Success Stories

My name is Greg Fowler and this is my story.

Starting Weight: 225kg    12 months after surgery: 118kg

Since my surgery in October 2020, I have lost over 100kgs. It has changed my life.

A bit of background:

Like many blokes, I played sport when I was younger. Training during the week and going to the gym 5 times a week. I then got a job that kept me very active physically. I was always on the big side but considered myself relatively fit and strong and in control.

My career took a different path that saw my day-to-day physical activity decrease significantly and becoming more sedentary. Long work hours and family time became an excuse not to exercise.

Over the years, my weight ballooned. I was putting on about 10kgs a year without realising.

After seeing other people’s success with weight loss surgery and talking to them about it, I decided to do it.

My first visit with Dr Hatzifotis was an eye opener. I got on the scales (2 sets actually) and saw a number I never wanted to see. It added up to 225kg. I won’t say what my thoughts were.

We had a discussion and Dr Hatzifotis wanted me to lose 30kg prior to surgery (6 weeks). I set my mind to do the best I could. At my pre-surgery visit, I weighed 195kg.

I had the surgery, and it was very successful. I left hospital and started my journey towards a new life. I stayed true to the post-surgery diet plan and made sure I didn’t do anything to jeopardise my healing process.

It was sometimes difficult in the first few weeks after surgery, but knowing I had the support of the Surgery Brisbane team and my close support network at home and work made it easier.

After 6 months of steady weight loss, I began to get back into light physical training. My PT put me on a program that saw my mobility improve while also doing resistance training. I was feeling so good, I started doing longer and longer walks and even tried running a short distance after many years away from hard activity.

I was enjoying my new life so much that I joined a run club. I was up and running every Saturday with a supportive group that saw me enter the Bridge to Brisbane 10km fun run in 2021. I completed the 10km in 1hr 32mins. Not a record time, but a time I never thought possible 18mths ago.

With continued light exercise and easy to follow dietary requirements, I now weigh about 118kg. My life has changed. I’m back to being the happy, fun guy that I used to be.

I still see the team at Surgery Brisbane quarterly to make sure I’m on track. Dr Hatzifotis has been great. He monitors my nutrition to make sure I stay healthy. Simone monitors my diet and suggests ways to improve or offers solutions to any issues to arise. They have the whole journey covered. I don’t think my story would have been as successful without this team. 

8th July 2025 Update from Greg

I just wanted to update Dr Hatzifotis on another post-surgery achievement. He saw me during my first marathon a couple of years ago in 2023. I have now lost approximately 120kg since my surgery in 2020 and this year I completed a double marathon on the Gold Coast. I ran the half marathon (21km) on the Saturday and the full marathon (42km) the following day on the Sunday. The photo is of myself after completing the double. 

After running my first 10km Bridge to Brisbane in 2021, one year after surgery, I have run many marathons. It appears running is addictive. Better than iced coffees and food like in my old life.

I'm doing the Paris Marathon in April 2026 and the New York Marathon is a dream of mine.

I hope my story can help people make the decision to change their lives.

Again, I want to say thank you to Dr. Michael and the crew for essentially saving and changing my life. Not a day goes by I don't think how lucky I was to walk into that office and proceed with surgery. 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Cheers,

Greg

Greg is running the Paris Marathon in 2026. Stay tuned for more photos.

My name is Denyse and this is my story.

Starting Weight: 103kg    12 months after surgery: 57kg

I cannot recommend Dr Michael Hatzifotis and the entire team at Surgery Brisbane highly enough.

When I first met Dr Michael Hatzifotis for my initial consultation, I weighed 103 kg, with my heaviest weight being 108 kg.

After years of failed diets, I knew I needed a permanent solution. Dr Hatzifotis took the time to thoroughly explain the gastric bypass procedure, answered every one of my many questions with patience and compassion, and never made me feel rushed. I left that appointment feeling informed, confident, and certain I was making the right decision.

I had my gastric bypass surgery on 14 July 2025, and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Today, I have lost 46 kg and weigh 57 kg.

This journey has transformed my life in ways I never imagined. Before surgery, I struggled with my self-confidence and avoided having my photo taken because I was so unhappy with myself. Years of unsuccessful dieting had taken a huge toll on my mental health, and I felt defeated.

Thanks to Dr Hatzifotis and his incredible team, I have been given a second chance. I am now healthier, happier, and full of confidence. I have so much more energy, I enjoy life again, and I no longer shy away from photos. My physical health has improved beyond measure, but the greatest gift has been the positive impact on my mental wellbeing and quality of life.

The care I received from Dr Hatzifotis and every member of the Surgery Brisbane team has been exceptional. They are professional, compassionate, supportive, and genuinely invested in their patients’ success. From my first consultation through every follow-up appointment, I have always felt cared for and encouraged.

If you are considering bariatric surgery, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr Michael Hatzifotis and the team at Surgery Brisbane. They have truly changed my life, and I will always be grateful for the care, expertise, and kindness they have shown me.

Denyse

My name is Georgie.

Starting Weight: 130kg   Current Weight: 70kg

I am so happy I decided to have weight loss surgery with Dr Michael Hatzifotis.

I had been on so many diets throughout my teenage to adult years. I was always Yo-yo dieting. You name the diet, or medication for weight loss, I had tried it. I would lose weight and then after a few months regain the weight plus extra.

My reasons for deciding to have surgery was because Cancer and Type 2 Diabetes runs in my family and both my parents, who were obese, died in their early 50’s and 60’s. I knew that surgery was the only solution for me to lose and keep the weight off and hopefully not get type 2 diabetes. I was starting to have body aches, I was snoring, I was physically unfit and would get out of breath walking upstairs. I was also beginning to find it hard to buy clothes I liked in my size.

I had been seriously thinking about having weight loss surgery for at least 1-2 years before making an actual appointment with a surgeon. I researched online people who had had weight loss surgery and this information was very helpful in making my decision and I decided to book with Dr Michael Hatzifotis at Surgery Brisbane. His website was very informative and the medical secretaries when booking my first appointment were helpful, positive and were able to answer any questions I had.

Dr Hatzifotis is not only a great surgeon he is also easy to talk to and has a great bedside manner. He saw me every day while I was at Greenslopes hospital. I followed all his directions both pre-operative and post-operative. The anaesthetist I had for surgery was also great. I was anxious in the lead up to surgery but knew this was my best chance at losing weight and keeping it off.

I believe my weight loss success is because I followed Dr Hatzifotis’ and the dietitians' instructions. I started to exercise by walking in the weeks leading up to my operation and continued to exercise post-op, when I was able to. This aided my recovery. My weight was dropping each week because my stomach size was reduced, and I followed all the post-op stages. I physically could not overeat.

Before surgery my portion sizes were too large. I didn’t have a “full mark” and I would eat a lot of snacks and processed food. After surgery I am now more mindful of what I eat. I make healthier choices and I exercise.

I am at the stage now where I can eat just about anything I’d like to, but in smaller portions. I also have a “full mark” now.

Two years on and my confidence has improved, my physical fitness has improved, and I now enjoy exercising. I no longer snore or have any body aches and I enjoy shopping for clothes that I like and not just clothes that fit. I am still me but a better version of me!

I absolutely have no regrets about surgery. I am so glad I had it.