Obesity is a real medical condition that affects about a third of the population of U.S. adults. Obesity is very serious; a chronic disease that may increase your risk of developing other serious conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and even some cancers.

Another impact obesity has on your life –an impact that is often overlooked– is a psychological impact. People suffering from obesity often deal with social anxiety, feelings of helplessness, and even depression. For this reason many people are turning to weight loss surgery, or lap band surgery, for a solution. Lap band surgery helps obese persons to lose weight and regain their health quickly and with less physical effort than regular dieting.

While lap band surgery has a direct and dramatic effect on the body, the psychological effects of the surgery almost outnumber the physical ones. And while most of these effects are positive, some are not. So if you’re planning to get lap band surgery, you should be prepared to make more changes than you ever thought possible – both good and bad.

Positive Psychological Effects

The positive psychological effects of lap band surgery are pretty well defined. Getting the surgery is a great way to make you feel better about yourself and your weight. Even making the choice to have the surgery has a positive effect on your psyche– those feelings of helplessness will be gone. Finally, there is something you can do to truly combat obesity.

In addition, you will also notice many positive changes in the way you look at yourself, your life, and those around you. When the surgery takes effect and the weight starts to come off, people will treat you differently. You’ll also have more energy as the weight comes off, and will need to find positive, productive outlets for that energy.

Negative Psychological Effects

Not all of the effects of lap band surgery are positive. In addition to the many physical changes you’ll have to make after the surgery, you’ll also notice some negative psychological effects as you try to deal with those changes. One major change will be the inability to eat as much as you want. And while this is a positive physical effect of the surgery, it may affect you mentally as well. One recent recipient of lap band surgery said:

“After the surgery it became apparent that food was my ‘drug of choice.’ It was suddenly gone, like going cold turkey. It took me about a month of depression (and complaining) to come to grips with the loss and take charge of my eating habits. Now I follow the doctor’s recommendations for everything I eat, and take the time to enjoy the energy I have. But it was hard.”

Another psychological impact you’ll notice is the effect of your increased energy. And while increased energy is, of course, a positive thing, chances are you won’t be used to it. It may take time to learn to deal positively and productively with increased amounts of energy– at first, it may feel like you’re bouncing off the walls.

Truth is, nobody enjoys changing their habits. Too much change causes stress, anxiety, even depression. Even making positive changes can have a negative impact on the psyche at first. It’s important to push through the hard moments and remember that every change you’re making is for you– and for the positive.



By: Amy Nutt

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There are many surgical procedures that are available to help you lose weight and combat any obesity problems that you might be having. The stomach stapling procedure is definitely one that has been in the news a lot, but it is terribly invasive and can actually be dangerous to perform because of the massive amounts of tunneling in your stomach that is required for it to be effective. Taking stomach stapling out of the way, the other two major candidates for surgery include lap band surgery and gastric bypass surgery. These two surgical methods can be compared on multiple fronts.

Cost

Since everything in the world tends to revolve around money in some way, shape or form, it is important to compare these two surgical procedures in terms of their cost. Gastric bypass surgery is a very complicated procedure that requires specialized knowledge and instruments that are very delicate and perfectly crafted. With all of these things taken into account, the resulting cost for the surgery is very high. Lap band surgery on the other hand does not require knowledge as specialized to perform and the lap band instrumentation is a lot cheaper than the tools used in the gastric bypass surgery. This means that lap band surgery in the end is quite a bit cheaper than gastric bypass surgery.

Permanence

Gastric bypass surgery, for all intents and purposes, is a permanent thing. It is possible to change back whatever was done to you during such a surgery, but at the same time it is also important to realize that gastric bypass surgery is something that corrects a problem permanently. It is a permanent fix to a current problem. Lap band surgery on the other hand is really more of a treatment than it is a cure. Rather than changing things to make you feel better, its goal is to work with you to get better, at which point it can be removed. Gastric bypass surgery is therefore a lot more potentially life-changing in a negative way than lap band surgery would be.

Maintenance

For gastric bypass surgery, you have essentially signed your surrender against the current condition you are in. This means that in addition to this permanent change of surgery, you are also going to have to commit to a strict diet and a lot of exercise, as well as regular visits to the doctor to have your surgery monitored. With lap band surgery on the other hand, you can make any needed adjustments yourself and therefore allow yourself to go from an inactive and unhealthy lifestyle to one that is healthy and active at your own pace. Changes can be gradual and trips to the doctor are greatly reduced.

Conclusion

On the three major issues of cost, permanence and maintenance, it is quite clear that lap band surgery knocks the pants off its gastric bypass counterpart. It is simply a better procedure in so many ways that the only logical conclusion that can be reached is that a lap band procedure is much better.



By: Amy Nutt

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As LAP-BAND surgery represents a relatively new procedure in comparison to gastric bypass which has been performed for more than 30 years, there are some misconceptions about the safety and success rates of this surgery. While the LAP-BAND procedure will not be right for all patients, the surgery can provide its patients a remarkable number of benefits. If you don’t know what to believe about the procedure or are unsure how the LAP-BAND compares to gastric bypass, here you will find candid responses to many of the most common myths regarding LAP-BAND surgery.

Myth #1 – LAP-BAND surgery is a dangerous procedure

While there are risks associated with any surgical procedure, LAP-BAND surgery has been shown to be a remarkably safe procedure with a very low rate of complications. In fact, patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery typically experience a higher rate of complications because the procedure is far more complicated and invasive. As gastric bypass requires the cutting and stapling of the intestines and stomach, treatment of such post-operative complications is also more difficult. Whereas the most common complications associated with LAP-BAND surgery can be treated quite simply, some of the gastric bypass procedure’s complications can result in lengthy hospital stays and even death. Not surprisingly, gastric bypass surgery has been proven to carry a mortality rate approximately 10 times greater than the LAP-BAND procedure

It should also be noted that because obesity and its associated health conditions pose such serious threats to the health of many Americans, the mortality risk of remaining obese is actually greater than any risk or complication attributed to LAP-BAND surgery. Of course, before LAP-BAND surgery, you will have a chance to meet with a weight-loss surgeon to determine if you are a good candidate for the surgery, what effect your health might have on the success of the procedure and what types of risks would be involved.

Myth #2 – Women cannot get pregnant after LAP-BAND surgery

For women, one of the biggest concerns about weight-loss surgery rests in the ability to get pregnant after surgery. While it is safe for LAP-BAND patients to get pregnant, many weight-loss surgeons advise their patients to wait at least 1-2 years after surgery to have children. As patients experience the majority of their weight loss during this period, waiting to get pregnant until body weight has stabilized is believed to be a healthier choice for prospective mothers. Likewise, because the LAP-BAND is not a malabsorptive procedure, mothers do not need to worry about the comprised nutritional intake that accompanies other weight-loss surgeries. It should also be noted that while the LAP-BAND does not adversely affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant, only the LAP-BAND can be adjusted throughout pregnancy or deflated to assist expectant mothers. After pregnancy, the LAP-BAND can be re-inflated to help women with postpartum weight loss. Most importantly, the LAP-BAND does not need to be removed before getting pregnant or giving birth.

Myth #3 – LAP-BAND patients experience a lower quality of life than gastric bypass patients

Numerous studies have already demonstrated that LAP-BAND patients can enjoy the same quality of life as gastric bypass patients and may even experience fewer side effects during periods of considerable weight loss. Much like gastric bypass, the goal of LAP-BAND surgery is to improve each patient’s quality of life by reducing overall body weight, treating associated health conditions and improving body image. However, by allowing for more balanced weight loss, LAP-BAND patients often have an easier time transitioning into post-surgery life and making long-term lifestyle changes. Such long-term success is a guided by LAP-BAND’s adjustability, as patients are more likely to feel content and satiated in comparison to gastric bypass recipients. Additionally, LAP-BAND prevents the incredibly uncomfortable condition known as dumping syndrome, a common side effect of gastric bypass surgery.

Myth #4 – LAP-BAND surgery cannot effectively resolve obesity-related health conditions

Both gastric bypass and LAP-BAND are effective tools in treating obesity-related health conditions. As the improvement or resolution of conditions such asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea is contingent on successful weight loss, patients of both surgeries have experienced positive results. However, a number of recent studies show that the LAP-BAND procedure can be very effective in resolving obesity-related health conditions. For instance, LAP-BAND has been shown to improve asthma conditions in 60% of patients, while 35% of patients experienced complete resolution of the illness. Likewise, 65% of patients with diabetes have seen resolution of their condition after LAP-BAND surgery, while 95% of patients successfully resolved their sleep apnea.

Myth #5 – LAP-BAND surgery cannot be performed on the super obese

Though many believe that the super obese (BMI over 50) require the rapid weight loss provided by gastric bypass, LAP-BAND has been shown to be incredibly effective in treating such patients with a lower rate of complications. While super obese patients might lose weight at a slower rate during the first year after LAP-BAND surgery, long-term weight-loss results are remarkably similar to patients with lower initial BMIs. In addition to long-term weight loss, such patients can also expect to experience an improved quality of life and reduction or resolution of obesity-related health concerns. Lastly, as such patients are often at increased risk when undergoing invasive surgery, LAP-BAND represents a safer method than gastric bypass for individuals beginning the journey towards a healthy lifestyle and long-term weight loss.

Myth #6 – LAP-BAND surgery is not an option for sweet-eaters

Contrary to popular belief, LAP-BAND surgery is an excellent long-term weight loss treatment for sweet-eaters. In fact, numerous studies have shown that sweet-eaters are able to achieve long-term weight loss with LAP-BAND as well as any other patients. Therefore, by following a routine of diet and exercise after surgery, any LAP-BAND patient – even a longtime sweet-eater – can achieve long-term weight loss and an improved quality of life.

If you are still unsure if the LAP-BAND procedure is a good option for you, simply make an appointment for a consultation with a weight-loss surgeon. An experienced bariatric surgeon will be able to determine if you are a good candidate for weight-loss surgery and help guide you toward the right procedure and a healthier way of life.



By: Carole S. Guinane

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