Courtney Love recently appeared in People magazine looking svelte and thin, reporting that she lost the weight following a macrobiotic diet, but is this really how she lost the weight? Her dramatic weight loss is now making people speculate that she may have undergone gastric bypass surgery. However, Love's rep is denying that she got the surgery and Love is sticking to her original claims that she lost the weight eating raw foods.

Gastric bypass surgery has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Many people find they can't lose the weight on their own and are relying on the surgery. The FDA approved the surgery in 2001, but there are still many risks involved with the procedure.

The premise behind the surgery is to reduce the stomach. During the procedure a surgeon uses a laparoscope and places a silicone ring around the stomach. This reduces the size of the stomach lining causing the stomach to fill up more quickly, with less food. When your stomach is smaller you'll need less calories to feel full.

Regardless of how she lost the weight, the 42-year former Hole singer has significantly slimmed down. She's been spotted on the beach in a skimpy bikini sporting her flat stomach and new nose.