Archive for January 22nd, 2008

4 essential WLS facts

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

Here are 4 important facts you MUST know which industry experts would rather you did not find out about.

I’m going out on a limb here!

FACT 1 (This one is shocking!)- “Most Surgeons Are Completely Biased When It Comes to Recommending What Surgery Is Best for You! Here’s Why..”

You have several surgery types available to you. However, most surgeons can only perform one of them because it takes a lot of skill and experience to be able to perform more than one.

And don’t forget, research proves that surgeons who have done 100 or more of one procedure are far less likely to have patients with complications. No surgeon wants to be known as having lots of complications - it’s bad for business.

So when you visit a surgeon, if you are a candidate for surgery, it is almost a certainty that he/she will recommend you receive the only type of surgery they are able to perform.

WHY IS THAT? Because performing surgery is their business and you, when it comes down to it, are a customer. It may not be the best for you, but it IS the best for the surgeon because they make a lot of money!

Surprised? It’s shocking isn’t it!

You must get an UNBIASED anaylsis of each surgery type before you make any decision if you want to make the best decision for you and your family.

FACT 2 (Ready to be stunned?) - “Weight Loss Surgery doesn’t take off ANY weight….. no kidding!”

The truth is, you will never lose a pound from any type of weight loss surgery…. you lose weight BECAUSE the effect of the surgery is to force you to change your behavior and change it big time.

After WLS, “over eating” can be 5 tablespoons of food instead of 4.

As one Doctor so eloquently put it, WLS is

 

“behavior modification with a hammer. You eat, you feel full. You feel bad if you over-eat and therefore you don’t over-eat.”

It’s seems obvious but the point is, the hard work IS NOT the surgery, the real hard work begins AFTER the surgery.

FACT 3 (Get your mind around this one) - Your stomach will go from the size of a melon to the size of your thumb!

All procedures limit the amount of food you can eat by reducing the size of your stomach. And boy do they reduce it - from the size of a melon to the size of your thumb!

Let me repeat that - your stomach will shrink from the size of a melon to the size of your thumb. Take a look at your thumb now to get the idea.

And if your stomach can only handle a portion of food the size of your thumb - that is all you will be able eat until your stomach empties. Either that or you will vomit the food back up!

If you are a hard-core food lover you have to ask yourself if are you prepared for the psychological consequences of this sacrifice? Your relationship with food will never be the same again!

And once you are in hospital you have no time to adjust because this massive change happens overnight …..literally.

FACT 4 (Gastric bypass surgeons will hate me for this one) - “Gastric bypass causes greater weight loss but the risks are greater, MUCH greater!”

Quite simply, patients who have gastric bypass will generally lose about 70% of their excess weight - some lose up to 50% of their body weight. Usually the weight loss is over 18 months and then it plateaus with a regain of about one third of the lost weight over the next 10 years.

Imagine that - 50% less of you! But here’s the rub that some experts may be avoiding to give the attention it deserves - the risks are MUCH greater……

Dr David Flum, an Associate Professor and gastric bypass specialist from the University of Washington, Seattle, carried out research on procedures up until 2002. The research established that 1 out of 50 people in the State of Washington died within only the first 30 days post surgery - a death rate of 2%.

And the complication rate is reported to be at least double that associated with an adjustable gastric band.

I know I said only 4 facts but here’s one more because I like to give more than I promised, and this one is important…

FACT 5 (Only the brave dare to tread and succeed) - “After WLS, your life will NEVER be the same again, EVER!”

Having the surgery is the easy bit - it’s just the beginning.

If you are not ready for a lifetime of monitoring and a drastic change of lifestyle, WLS is probably not for you.

Let me explain.. here are just a small sample of the things that will be different forever:

  • you may need vitamin supplements forever
  • you will have to see your Doctor regularly, from now on
  • you will have to eat very slowly, and chew your food very well
  • no drinking while you eat
  • you will need to commit to have regular exercise
  • no milkshakes
  • you will have to give up foods that you love, forever
  • ………..

The point is, there is no room for slacking-off or going easy on yourself. WLS is a lifelong commitment that can only succeed if you have the courage and will to see it through for the REST OF YOUR LIFE…
….think about it, is there any other enormous life challenge you have conquered and maintain every day? If not, then WLS will test you.

That’s enough from me for now - I hope this has given you something to think about.

JK