How do you thank a man or woman who has changed your life?

I think a nice thank you card and writing him a letter telling him what you just told us...would mean alot to him.  I wrote mine a letter telling him and I think it makes them really feel apprecited.  Isn't it amazing how much losing weight adds to our lives..I feel the same way!

Happy tears are great!
Patty

My suggestion is a bit different. 
Perhaps you can find ways to become an advocate for WLS; be willing and even aggressive in sharing your success with others - friends, neighbors, church members, etc.  In other words, if you believe, as I do, that this is a life-saving medical procedure, then pay-it-forward by sharing the good news.  There are still far too many people who want to hide the facts about what is making them healthy in the same way we would hide the facts about what made us obese. 
I'm 65 - at the upper age limit for this procedure - and I hope I can share with my younger boomer generation this life-extending program.  So I share the facts about my program and my victories with those around me.  One neighborhood friend heard my story, investigated it further, and is now scheduled for VSG in about 2 mos.  His diabetes was out of control and, like the rest of us, he wants to take control over the rest of his life.
I guess it's the retired teacher in me, but when I find knowledge that is powerful and can change someone's life for the better, I am compelled to share it.  Pretty sure my surgeon would consider that a great "thank you."    Just my thoughts - congratulations on your wonderful success.
Pop-Pop

Write a testimony for your surgeon to use in his practice. I also frequently stop in and give my surgeons mini-updates. I rarely get to physically see them without a scheduled appointment. So, I leave little notes for them, and just recently I dropped a note off to them about the pregnancy, thanking them for all of their amazing aftercare, and encouragement.

They have asked me to attend the support group meetings to lead by example, and to come to a couple of informational seminars as a testimony.

The best thing I know to do is pay it forward. I've sent 6 friends to my surgeons for the sleeve, and all have done amazingly well. They've even asked me "how many more people are you going to refer to us", and my reply "as many that will listen" ! ! !

Congrats on your new found love for life ! ! !

At my 3 month post op meeting, when ALL my comorbidities were resolved after 15 years of sufferin from em....I tackled my surgeon!! I threw my arms around him in a death grip and thanked him for saving my life whisperin it in his ear. lolol

His nurses started crying! They never saw a patient do that! lmao!!

My surgeon took it like a MAN...plus is a bonafide babe ! lolol

I was thinking when I got to goal I was going to send a thank you card and a letter to my surgeon and then one of those edible arrangements for everyone in his office. His office staff was wonderful. I asked 1000 questions to one nurse via e-mail when I was pre-op and she answered every single time--which I am really grateful for. I heard some peoples after care and before care was not so great.