Not everything you hear about bariatric surgery–good and bad–is true. Here are seven shocking myths about weight loss surgery.
It's easy
Yes, the actual surgery has become increasingly easy for doctors to perform, but it still takes a lot of hard work and dedication by patients to make it work in the long haul.
You're going to be laid up for a long time
In the past, people who underwent bariatric surgery had an incredibly rough road to recovery. They spent up to a week in the hospital and a month or more convalescing at home. Today, however, many people are out of the hospital in a day or two and fully recovered in a week.
The scar is hideous
Nobody likes scars, and bariatric surgery is infamous for leaving people with large scars across their bellies. But thanks to advances in technology, most people who have weight surgery today only wind up with small incisions and even smaller scars.
You have to tip the scales at 300 or more pounds
People think there's a magic number you have to hit in order to qualify for bariatric surgery. There's not. It's based on your body mass index, your overall health and your ability to commit to making it a success.
You'll never get to eat good food again
Pizza, doughnuts, potato chips and pasta are all good things people who've had bariatric surgery eat–they just eat them in moderation and as part of a smart, balanced diet.
The cravings will drive you nuts
Yes, it's true that many people who undergo weight loss surgery suffer from intense cravings for certain types of food–especially fast food. But the truth is, the cravings eventually go away. It just takes a few months. And remember, just because you've had the procedure doesn't mean you can never eat good (but not necessarily good for you) food again. You just need to be smart about it.
It's guaranteed to work
No surgical procedure is every guaranteed to work. But the good news is that bariatric surgery has a very, very high success rate because the people who undergo weight loss surgery are committed to making it work. Each year, nearly 100,000 people undergo the procedure and the vast majority of them regain control of their weight–because they eat right, exercise and maintain a positive attitude.
