almost five years out here. It is NOT the easy way out. The first few months aren't too, too difficult because most people lose their hunger for a few months, but for most of us, hunger eventually comes roaring back - and then things get a lot more challenging. And maintaining your weight loss is TOUGH - as tough as it was before surgery. It's just a tool that works as a strong tail wind to help you to drop a lot of weight quickly. But once you're there, it's a lot of work to keep it off.
if you don't want people to know you had the surgery, then don't tell them. They have no right to know your medical history. I hardly told anyone - just my family and my close friends.
and willpower is a myth. You are constantly fighting biology when you're trying to lose weight. Your hormones - your gut bacteria - everything is working against you. Only 5% of people manage to do it because you are fighting your body every step of the way. Luckily, surgery resets a lot of that, so it won't be as much of a struggle to lose it. It does make things easier - at least for losing it (as I mentioned, maintenance is really tough - I work at it ALL THE TIME). But even with losing, it takes work on your part, too. You have to be very committed to your program.