Local Doctor, Patient Featured On CBS' "The Doctors"

Traverse City Plastic Surgeon Dr. F. Matthew Smith and Angela Sweeney, a Lake Ann patient, are being prominently featured this year on CBS health and wellness talk show The Doctors.

41-year-old Sweeney underwent a surgical procedure in 2013 called a brachioplasty - commonly called an arm lift - after she lost 287 pounds from her former 419-pound frame. The skin removal procedure ended diastrously, leaving Sweeney's arms scarred and unable to function. Smith offered to donate his surgerical skills to help repair the woman's limbs, a process that was filmed for The Doctors.

The first episode of the show aired in November 2015, introducing Sweeney, her family and Smith to viewers. Smith and his staff at the Great Lakes Plastic Surgery Center then completed surgery on Smith in December. A second installment of The Doctors aired May 19, further chronicling the surgey and rehabilatative process. The show intends to film one third, final installment after Sweeney's final surgery at the end of this year.

Sweeney's willingess to share her story on The Doctors "can give hope to people that they don't have to necessarily live with severe scarring," Smith said in a statement. "She is a living testament that people can overcome physical setbacks and get their life back on track."