HOUSTON -- A local woman underwent a brand-new weight loss surgery in Houston, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.

Susan Wise had a new procedure called a sleeve gastrectomy, where her stomach was downsized dramatically to end up the shape of a sleeve.

"I've never been thin," she said before the procedure. "They're going to cut off about 60 to 80 percent of my stomach and throw it away."

Wise, 56, said she's struggled with weight her whole life. In high school, when her friends were 130 pounds, she weighed 180 pounds.

"When your family tells you you're heavy, you need to lose weight, it hurts," she said.

She said she tried dieting, but the weight always came back. Her goal is to lose 120 pounds with the help of this surgery.

"A lot of people find it more attractive than any other operations, and we've met with lots of success," said Dr. Robert Davis, a bariatric surgeon with Memorial Hermann Hospital. "We're thinking, we're not 100 percent sure yet, but we think that the gastric sleeve, across the board, is probably the best operation."

They doctors aren't sure because they haven't done enough of the procedures.

KPRC Local 2 interviewed Wise several hours after the operation. She was smiling, but still out of it.

Her doctor said they will keep a close eye on her because there could still be problems.

Davis said the recovery time is remarkable and the procedure is fast, but there are risks, such as the newly created stomach leaking.

"Nothing comes without complications, but the problems that go along with this surgery are relatively insignificant," said Davis.

Wise will stay in the hospital overnight.

The other big issue for Wise was that the procedure is too new to be covered by insurance. Still, she believes it will be worth every penny of the $18,000 if she can walk without pain.

"I know that I'll never be a size 8 or 10, but if I could be a 14, I'd be very happy," said Wise.