8 Myths About Weight Loss Surgery Exposed

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Are you considering weight loss surgery in Toronto as one of your weight loss options?

With so much information available to you about weight loss and bariatric surgery, it can be difficult to decipher fact from fiction. That’s why we have collected eight of the most common myths about weight loss surgery, such as the gastric sleeve,  mini gastric bypass surgery, and gastric band or Lap-Band and debunked them for you.

 

Myth #1

Diet and exercise are all that you need to lose weight and keep it off.

Diet and exercise aren’t the only factors contributing to weight gain and weight loss. Obesity is a complex disease that can also result from factors that are genetic, biological, metabolic, behavioural, social, economic, and even cultural. Simply eating healthier and incorporating more exercise into your life may not be enough to lose weight and keep it off. Everyone is different, and if you aren’t getting the results that you want from regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle, weight loss surgery in Canada may be the missing puzzle piece.

 

Read More: Is Bariatric Surgery Right for Me?

 

Myth #2

Weight loss surgery can be risky.

Any surgery can pose certain risks, even bariatric surgery, but with an experienced surgeon performing the procedure at a proper facility, these risks are lessened considerably. Obesity and being overweight, on the other hand, can pose bigger dangers to your health.

A study conducted by The New England Journal of Medicine showed that patients who had weight loss surgery had an 89% decrease in risk of mortality, and decreased mortality rates connected to obesity-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. (1)

Weight loss surgery may be able to help patients decrease or discontinue the use of certain medications for these chronic conditions, resolve the condition completely, or reduce the risk of developing a condition or disease in general.

 

Read More: How Can Weight Loss Surgery Help with Type 2 Diabetes?

 

Myth #3

Bariatric surgery will make you thin.

Weight loss surgery will help you lose a significant amount of weight, but no two weight loss journeys are the same. Your result may look different from someone else’s result. The results that you achieve following weight loss surgery can depend on various factors, including:

  • The type of weight loss surgery performed
  • Your weight prior to surgery
  • Your lifestyle before and after surgery
  • Your diet and exercise after surgery

While weight loss surgery is not guaranteed to “make you thin”, it is a tool to help you lose excess weight and maintain a long-term healthy lifestyle.

 

Myth #4

It keeps you from overeating.

As mentioned above, no one’s weight loss journey is the same. While some weight loss surgery options can temporarily create a change in the biochemistry of your brain to help reduce cravings, it does not happen for everyone.

In order to get the best results from your weight loss surgery at our Ontario facility, we recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercising regularly and eating healthy, balanced meals.

 

Read More: How Should I Change My Eating Habits After Weight Loss Surgery?

 

Myth #5

Having weight loss surgery is the easy way out.

Weight loss surgery will not do all of the work for you and it is not a quick fix The weight loss surgery options available at SmartShape can be used as a tool, in combination with a healthy lifestyle and exercise, to help you lose excess weight and maintain a healthy weight. Through hard work and determination, patients have a higher chance of losing weight, keeping it off and improving their overall health. But don’t worry, you don’t have to navigate these lifestyle changes alone! SmartShape’s AfterCare Success Program will work with you for five years after your surgery to ensure you have all the support you need to reach your goals.

 

Myth #6

It’s a waste of money because you will gain all the weight back.

With the right lifestyle changes, hard work, and dedication, weight loss surgery can help you keep the excess weight off and maintain your healthy weight.

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), some patients may regain around 5% of their weight two years after their surgery. The majority of patients are successful in keeping 50% or more of their weight off long-term after bariatric surgery. (2)

Weight loss surgery is a long-term investment and in most cases, it’s worth it!

 

Myth #7

You can’t have kids after bariatric surgery.

Patients’ chances of being able to have children actually increase following bariatric surgery. While every weight loss surgery is different, most patients are advised to wait about two years before trying to conceive a child. If you are concerned with your ability to conceive following weight loss surgery, speak with your surgeon during the initial consultation.

 

Read More: Will Weight Loss Surgery Affect My Pregnancy?

 

Myth #8

Bariatric surgery leaves large scars.

Most modern weight loss surgeries are performed laparoscopically, meaning they result in minimal scarring. During a laparoscopic surgery, only a few small incisions will be made in the abdomen area, resulting in fewer scars and a generally faster recovery process.

 

Reach Your Goals with Weight Loss Surgery in Toronto, Ontario

If you’ve been stuck in an endless cycle of dieting, restricting, exercising that’s affecting your health and self-esteem, it’s still possible to reach your weight loss goals and feel more confident. You can achieve sustainable and long-term weight loss with weight loss surgery in Ontario, Canada at SmartShape.

If your BMI is 30 or above and you struggle with weight-related health conditions, reach out to SmartShape to inquire about weight loss surgery. Our weight loss surgery options include the gastric sleeve,  mini gastric bypass surgery, and gastric band or Lap-Band. SmartShape has helped men and women across Canada lose weight, improve their health, and feel confident. You also don’t need to do it alone! Our weight loss centre in Toronto enrolls all our patients in our comprehensive 5-Year AfterCare Success Program. Our AfterCare Success Program offers all patients customized support and advice from our team of registered nurses, registered dietitians, and weight loss surgeons for 5 years after your surgery.

Want to learn more? Explore our weight loss surgery procedures and read about our patient success stories.

If you’re ready to get started, book a free virtual consultation with one of our weight loss surgeons to learn which weight loss surgery is right for your needs.

 

Further Reading:

  1. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa066603
  2. https://asmbs.org/patients/faqs-of-bariatric-surgery

 

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