Patients all over the globe who struggle with weight issues sometimes struggle to find the right balance, exercise or nutritional regimen that is both comfortable and effective. Seemingly have tried every diet pill, fasting bouts and other non-medical approved methods can often have an adverse effect on the patient’s body and psyche.
And with every new year, patients seeking a quicker, effective strategy towards weight loss have been turning to surgery. More specifically, the Lap-Band. And not to say that’s the only one, because before the Lap-Band came along, the gastric bypass and gastric sleeve were pioneers in the rapid weight loss surgery field. But, as far as fast-rising popularity is concerned, the LapBand surgery has taken that moniker for a number of reasons…swift procedures being one of them.
Yet, as is the case with almost anything these days, there are a number of myths and false advertisements associated with this particular surgery. Whether it’s because people like old wive’s tales or envision a legend of lies, it’s the nature of the business, I guess. But enough digressing. Let’s take a look at what I feel are three of the biggest myths created around the Lap-Band.
#1: Dumping Syndromes A-Plenty
Unless properly notified, some patients could be under the impression that the Lap-Band would sprout a number of side effects, especially the annoying “dumping syndrome”. The “dumping syndrome” is when the body, for a short period of time, can develop an intolerance to influxes of sugars and select carbohydrates. When that happens, a patient may experience bouts of vomitting, nausea, dizziness and other minor inconveniences.
The “dumping syndrome” is more common with the gastric bypass and has no room whatsoever in the sphere of the Lap-Band.
#2: Once It’s In, You Can’t Adjust Anything
False. False. And more false. This myth may have been started to unsettle patients who associate a permanence to everything. And with a permanent mentality, they feel nothing can be adjusted, should any regrets pop up.
The Lap-Band doesn’t fall into this category for a number of reasons. First, since patients will have that tiny, plastic tubing inside to secure their new stomach, it’s made to adjust according to each patient’s demand. If one patient just wants to slightly alter their old eating habits, the band can be positioned accordingly, and so on. Secondly, a patient may want to become pregnant or has become pregnant, and when that arises, the Lap-Band can be adjusted or removed to accommodate the fact that nutrition levels will be needed for two, not just one. Frankly, the Lap-Band is a surgery that is made to be versatile, and it’s versatility is one giant reason for its surging popularity among weight loss patients.
#3: Weight Loss Comes Fast And Dramatic
Although the gastric bypass – and to some extent, the gastric sleeve – procedures will shed off the pounds greatly in the beginning months, the same fate is not shared with the Lap-Band. Rather, the Lap-Band is more a progressive approach that sheds in set and not necessarily right off the bat.
For certain patients, this is a great sticking point. It gives them more peace of mind knowing they have a certain target weight loss for each month that lets them adjust to new eating habits and lifestyle on their own terms. This point could essentially be lumped into the previous point, but I feel it stands on its own just fine.
When it comes down to it, the Lap-Band has proved its stay in the weight loss realm. Sure, there could be a handful of other myths out there with the Lap-Band, but I feel that these three are the most relevant. They cover almost every boundary with patients’ concerns about weight loss surgery, (hopefully) alleviate any worries, and prove that as we approach another year we’ll be seeing even more triumphs with theses advanced bariatric surgeries.