Surgery Misconceptions

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Posted on Wednesday December 6, 2017 | Bariatric Surgery, Uncategorized

Common Weight Loss Surgery Misconceptions

There are many weight loss surgery misconceptions that can dissuade one from getting help when needed. With the obesity rate as high as it is in the United States, many people consider weight loss surgery. If you may be having any doubts about Bariatric surgery, The Bariatric Experts would like you to be informed of these myths.

Weight Loss Surgery Misconception #1: High Risk

The most common weight loss surgery misconception involves risk. Perhaps in the early 70s and 80s, doctors had less advanced technology, and far less experience in this area. Open incisions used to be a requirement, but the risks of weight loss surgery have been virtually diminished.

Procedures nowadays are minimally invasive and so commonly performed that the patient will most likely gain full recovery in a much shorter time frame.

Weight loss surgeries also assist morbidly obese patients in preventing or overcoming life threatening conditions, such as Type II Diabetes, high cholesterol and even sleep apnea.

Weight Loss Surgery Misconception #2: Qualifications for Candidates

While every candidate for bariatric surgery will undergo an evaluation, not everyone has to be suffering from a potential life-threatening condition. Another common weight loss surgery misconception is that you have to be suffering from a life-threatening condition. This is utterly false. The focus for initial consultation regards your Body Mass Index, or BMI. This is a primary factor in determining whether or not you qualify for a medical procedure. Whether or not you may have significant health problems, a BMI of over 40 typically qualifies you for treatment.

Weight Loss Misconception #3: Long Recovery Time

Most people recover from weight loss surgery within one to two weeks. Recovery time depends on the type of bariatric procedure you have. Another weight loss surgery misconception leads one to believe that they’ll be bedridden for weeks. However, minimally invasive surgeries will have you back to normal life in just days.

If you undergo a gastric bypass, or any other more invasive procedure, then the recovery time will be slightly longer.

Weight Loss Misconception #4: Weight loss surgery requires an inpatient hospital stay.

Most weight loss surgeries do not require an inpatient hospital stay. Patients undergoing a minimally invasive procedure are able to return home the same day of the surgery, and get back to work and normal life just days after.

With more intensive procedures, patients are usually able to go home the day after surgery and are back to work in about two weeks.

Weight Loss Misconception #5: The risks of weight loss surgery outweigh the risks of obesity.

This is completely and utterly false. Obesity one of the leading causes of heart disease. Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity is a disease that can be fully diagnosed, an is linked with a number of serious health conditions including stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and others. In fact, the National Institutes of Health list obesity as the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

Weight loss surgery on the other hand is an incredibly safe procedure. Studies have shown that bariatric surgery patients are able to reduce their mortality rate by up to 89 percent compared with severely obese people who avoid treatment.

To learn more about the common misconceptions of weight loss surgery, or if you may be looking for bariatric surgery, contact The Bariatric Experts today!