From 368 Pounds to a New Life: How Weight Loss Surgery Helped Identical Twins Rewrite Their Future
June 5, 2026
When Elton Rogers thinks about why he chose weight loss surgery, the answer isn't complicated: he wanted to live.
He was not battling diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. In fact, despite weighing nearly 368 pounds, many of his medical tests looked surprisingly normal. But he had watched family members struggle with obesity-related health problems, and he had seen too many people lose years of their lives due to excess weight. Most importantly, he had a wife and two young children.
"I wanted to see my kids grow up," Elton says. "I wanted to one day enjoy my grandkids. I wanted to live my life."
That decision would set him on a journey that transformed his health; the life of his twin brother, Shelton; and the future of his family.
A Chance Meeting That Changed Everything
Elton initially met with a bariatric surgeon at a community festival in Louisburg, NC. He and his twin brother, who both worked for the state and shared similar struggles with weight, stopped to talk with the young surgeon at his bariatric surgery booth.
"There was just something about him," Shelton recalls. "His attitude, his charisma, the way he made us feel comfortable. It felt like talking to family."
Soon after, both brothers underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery (lap band) on the same day in October 2008 at a Louisburg facility. Initially, the procedure helped. But years later, both brothers began experiencing complications due to band slippage.
According to Biology Insights, "While exact national statistics are limited, clinical data suggest it occurs in roughly 4% to 13% of patients over time."
When a Routine Surgery Became a Lifesaving Procedure
By 2018, Elton's lap band had caused significant internal damage. With emergent care now in the hands of a WakeMed bariatric surgeon, the care team planned what they expected would be a straightforward procedure to remove the band and address the complications. Instead, the surgery became far more complex.
When Elton woke up after surgery, his brother, Shelton, was standing beside his hospital bed.
"He told me, 'For you to live, they had to do a gastric bypass,'" Elton says.
At first, Elton was disappointed. He did not want gastric bypass. Yet, the procedure ultimately became a turning point.
"I wish I had done it sooner," he offers. "If I had to do it all over again, I would go straight to gastric bypass."
Losing Nearly 200 Pounds
The results were dramatic. Elton went from a high weight of approximately 368 pounds to a low of 175 pounds. Today, he maintains a stable weight of about 226 pounds.
Elton's twin brother experienced complications from his lap band as well. After doctors discovered the device had slipped, causing severe reflux and other symptoms, Shelton also underwent gastric bypass surgery a year after Elton's at WakeMed Cary Hospital led by the WakeMed Bariatric Surgery & Medical Weight Loss team.
Their success didn't happen overnight. Following surgery, they carefully followed postoperative instructions, progressing from liquids to soft foods and eventually returning to regular meals. They also completed regular follow-up visits and blood work to monitor their nutritional health.
More than eight years later, they still take daily vitamins and remain committed to the habits that helped them succeed.
The Unexpected Benefits of Weight Loss
Many people assume weight loss surgery is only about medical conditions or numbers on a scale. For Elton, some of the biggest victories came in everyday life. Before surgery, shopping for clothes often meant specialty stores carrying larger sizes. Today, he can walk into a typical retail store and find clothes that fit.
"I went from wearing a size 54 or 56-inch pant to a size 36," Elton says. "That felt like a miracle."
The physical changes also opened new opportunities. He enjoys long walks with his wife at the beach, shoots basketball with his brother, exercises regularly, climbs stairs without difficulty and stays active in ways that once would have been challenging.
"I'm just enjoying life," Elton shares.
Elton has also experienced tremendous career growth since losing weight.
"Many obese people are discriminated against. People look at us and assume we are lazy and unreliable. We are often overlooked and not considered for opportunities. After I lost the weight, my career was put on the fast-track to success. I received multiple promotions and more responsibility. Surgery has been a gamechanger for helping me become a better provider for my family."
A Family Transformation
Perhaps the most meaningful impact has been the example Elton set for his children. His son and daughter grew up watching their father make healthier choices.
Before surgery, soft drinks were a regular part of life. Today, his children, now 19 and 24, rarely drink soda and are mindful about nutrition and maintaining healthy lifestyles.
"They saw me make a health change," Elton beams. "Even my wife shifted her approach to food. Coming from a family where obesity is prevalent, I've helped to turn us each toward better nutritional and lifestyle choices."
Indeed, those habits have helped shape an entirely different future for the next generation.
Brothers on the Same Journey
The brothers have supported each other throughout the process, celebrating milestones together and encouraging one another to stay active.
"We can see the weight loss in each other," Elton shares. "We've been through it together."
Advice for Anyone Considering Weight Loss Surgery
Today, Elton is a passionate advocate for bariatric surgery. He understands the hesitation many people feel, but he also understands what can happen when excess weight limits a person's health, mobility and quality of life.
His message is simple: "Make the choice to enjoy the rest of your life. Talk to a doctor. Learn your options. Bariatric surgery weight loss can improve your knees, your back, your confidence and your ability to play with your kids and grandkids."
He also emphasizes one key factor for long-term success: "Don't just have the surgery," Elton offers. "Stay connected with your doctor."
For Elton, that partnership — and a lifesaving surgery — helped him gain far more than weight loss.
It gave him the opportunity to live the life he always hoped for.
About WakeMed Bariatric Surgery and Medical Weight Loss
Weight Loss is a journey that starts with a single step and ends with better health. If you want to achieve or maintain a healthy weight, the team of experts at WakeMed is here for you. From our board-certified physicians with expertise in medically-directed weight loss, to bariatric surgery and non-surgical weight loss procedures, to our multidisciplinary team of diet and exercise specialists, we enjoy working closely with our patients to determine the best path to good health. Because, in the end, it’s not just what you lose; it’s the health, confidence – and all the other good things – that you gain. Offering a full continuum of services, WakeMed is committed to supporting patients on their journey to losing weight – or simply maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you.