Seven Myths You Need to Know About Lap Band Surgery

Myth 1: Lap Band Surgery is an easy answer for weight loss

Many people who have been overweight for their entire life regard Lap Band surgery as an easy fix. But in fact, this procedure should be seen as the opportunity to make significant and long-lasting lifestyle changes.  To have this type of surgery, you must demonstrate that you have tried a number of diet and exercise plans – without success. If your surgeon agrees that you are a good candidate for Lap band surgery, it will be because you can be trusted to make a commitment to losing your excess weight in this safe, yet challenging way.

Myth 2: You may lose excess weight, but you’ll probably gain it back

To make Lap Band surgery work long-term, you have to be ready to make a lifelong commitment to changing your eating habits and losing weight. If you don’t make any significant changes, and continue to eat the types and amounts of food that you used to, it’s is unlikely that you will successfully lose your target weight amount.

Myth 3: You can’t receive proper nutrition following Lap Band surgery 

Actually, yes you can. Many physicians require their Lap Band patients to take a regimen of vitamins and supplements following their surgery, as a means of easing them through the recovery phase. Although the size of the stomach will be restricted, patients will still be able to get the proper nutrition. Patients need to keep in mind that they will need to change their thinking to realize the importance of getting the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals.

Myth 4: You will be on a strict liquid-only diet

When you are in the recovery phase following your surgery, you will need to be on a liquid diet. But that’s short-term. In time you will be able to eat solid foods, but not the high-fat, high-carb fast foods that you used to eat. The aim is to eat food in smaller portions, three times a day, which will help you to feel full.

Myth 5: The rapid weight loss from Lap Band surgery is unhealthy

Regardless of the type of weight loss surgery you have, you simply aren’t going to lose a lot of weight immediately. When you follow your doctor-recommended diet and exercise plan, it is reasonable to expect to lose 2-3 pounds per week, which is a healthy goal.

Myth 6: You can lose the weight without a drastic lifestyle change

A person who is morbidly obese certainly didn’t have the healthiest lifestyle prior to weight loss surgery. There’s no question that if you want to change the way your body looks, you will need to make some serious lifestyle changes. There’s nothing easy about losing a large amount of weight, but it can be a realistic goal if you have the proper commitment and support.

Myth 7: Follow-up care in unnecessary

This is false. Actually, the post-operative follow-up care is vital, because it is the time when you are making unfamiliar changes to your former lifestyle and eating habits. For people who are truly committed to losing weight, this phase of the process will be easy.