Gastric Band
Weight Loss Procedures
HELPING PATIENTS TO ACHIEVE A HEALTHIER BODY WEIGHT AND LIFESTYLE
In the UK alone it is estimated that over 10million adults are classified as obese, which is based on a body mass index – BMI – of above 30kg/m2. However, maintaining a healthy weight, and lifestyle, in today’s world is an ever increasing challenge. As a result a lot of people are turning to weight loss procedures for a solution. There are many motivations for this, including:
- Weight loss procedures can improve confidence and self-esteem, and lead to better mobility and higher energy levels
- Health and quality of life are two of the most common reasons why people look to lose weight
- Obesity can lead to serious health problems including type 2 diabetes
At The Harley Medical Group, we are specialists in cosmetic procedures. Often patients will contact us about liposuction or a tummy tuck to remove fat, but these are about body contouring after weight loss, whether that is done naturally or with a procedure.
It is important to reduce your weight to a healthy level before contemplating any of our procedures, and a weight loss procedure provides a safe and effective way to do so*. Weight loss surgery is a different discipline and requires a different set of skills and for that reason we refer our weight loss clients who have a BMI over 32kg/m2 to our partner provider, Healthier Weight.
Who are Healthier Weight?
Healthier Weight has established itself as a leader in weight loss surgery with an international reputation and we share the same high clinical standards and commitment to our clients. Their knowledge and expertise in the field of weight loss surgery shows that aftercare and support are key to patient success, and these are the strengths that are evident at Healthier Weight.
After speaking to their team, if you want to organise a free face to face consultation with a weight loss expert, you can make arrangements to meet one of Healthier Weight’s consultants to discuss the options available to you.
What procedures are available?
There are three main procedures, and these are:
Gastric balloon and gastric bypass procedures are also available but these are targeted at people with specific needs. If they are relevant to you we will discuss them when we speak to you.
*Weight loss results and benefits vary and are different for every individual. Specific weight loss goals cannot be guaranteed.
The benefits of weight loss procedures
The benefits of weight loss procedures*
- Improved confidence and self esteem
- Better mobility
- Higher energy levels
- Resolution of weight related health problems, for example type 2 diabetes and hypertension
Eligibility
Whether or not you are eligible for a weight loss procedure depends on 3 main factors:
- Your body mass index. This needs to be above 32kg/m2 for one of our procedures, such as a gastric band – check your body mass index here
- You need to have attempted dietary and behavioural solutions in the past
- Your weight needs to be impacting on your day to day life
*Weight loss results and benefits vary and are different for every individual. Specific weight loss goals cannot be guaranteed.
Gastric Band
Gastric Band
The most popular private weight loss procedure in the UK. Suitable for those with a body mass index between 32-45kg/m2. We have lots of long term data to prove that gastric band surgery is both a safe and effective weight loss procedure*.
Gastric band surgery is a relatively quick procedure with patients in theatre for little more than 30 minutes. It’s done under general anaesthetic with over 90% of patients treated as day cases and going home on the day of their surgery.
The surgery involves placing an adjustable silicone band around the top of the stomach that ‘separates’ it into a small golf ball sized stomach above the band, and the larger stomach below. It works by restricting the stomach and enables people to feel full on a smaller portion when they eat foods of the right texture, slowly.
The stomach is not cut in any way. When you eat food it goes into the small stomach pouch before being squeezed through the stoma (stomach within the band) into the bigger stomach below. There is tubing that comes off the band which connects to an access port under the skin close to the belly button. The port is not visible and is stitched to the abdominal wall about an inch below the surface of the skin.
Things to consider
- You need to make a commitment to the diet and eating behaviours demanded for success. The band does not reduce appetite but it gives a feeling of fullness on a smaller portion when the right food textures are eaten.
- You will need to visit the clinic for gastric band adjustments.
- There is a post procedure diet of 2 weeks soups and shakes and 2 weeks soft foods before returning to normal foods.
- You need to allow yourself a few days to get over the surgery before resuming your normal activities. One of the attractions of the band however is the faster recovery time compared to the other surgical procedures.
- The procedure is fully reversible if necessary.
Lisa's Gastric Band Story
- Baseline BMI 33kg/m2
- Starting weight 14st 1lb
- Current weight 10st 8lb
- Total weight loss 3st 7lb*
I’d been struggling with my weight since having twins. I spent so much money on diets and I’d lose a couple of stone, but as soon as there was a special occasion like a holiday or a wedding, my weight would go straight back on again.
I used to eat without even thinking about it, especially when I was tired. The crunch came when I realised I’d been in a job for 20 years that I didn’t enjoy. My passion in life is clothes and looking good, so I decided I wanted to be a style coach. But who’s going to take you seriously when you’re wearing frumpy clothes that you want to hide away in?
Since my gastric band procedure I have lost over 3 stones and I’m back in size 10 clothes*. It’s given me the confidence that I never had before to set up my own business helping people to make the most of how they look*.
The most important thing I’ve learnt is to eat slowly. I really enjoy eating out now as I take my time – and savour every mouthful.
*Weight loss results and benefits vary and are different for every individual. Specific weight loss goals cannot be guaranteed.
ESG (Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty)
ESG (Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty)*
A new non-surgical weight loss procedure that involves stitching the stomach together from the inside to reduce its capacity. When the procedure is completed the stomach is the shape of a banana, and it works by reducing stomach capacity and by slowing the speed with which the stomach empties.
A stitching instrument is placed into the stomach trans-orally (through the mouth) and a series of stitches are placed along the length of the stomach to narrow it. It is done under general anaesthetic and the procedure takes about 75 minutes to complete.
The aim is to achieve the same weight loss benefits* as the surgical gastric sleeve but with a less invasive procedure that does not involve removing part of the stomach. It is a good option if you would like the gastric sleeve procedure but are not willing to consider having over 80% of your stomach removed or ou do not want a higher maintenance procedure such as the gastric band.
ESG could be for you if you have a BMI of 32-45kg/m2 , have exhausted diet options and would prefer a non-surgical procedure with a lower risk profile and faster recovery.
As with all procedures, it is necessary to commit to changes in diet and eating behaviours in order to maintain weight loss.
Things to consider
- It is a new procedure and as such there are only short term studies in the published data.
- It is non-surgical so offers a faster recovery and the procedure can be revised or ‘re-done’ if necessary.
- There is a post procedure diet consisting of two weeks of soups and shakes, followed by another 2 weeks of soft foods before returning to normal foods.
*Weight loss results and benefits vary and are different for every individual. Specific weight loss goals cannot be guaranteed.
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Sleeve
This is a surgical procedure that involves removing over 80% of the stomach to leave a narrow banana shaped stomach. It is a relatively new procedure but has grown in popularity, especially in the NHS, partly because it offers rapid weight loss and relatively low maintenance.
It works by both reducing stomach capacity and by making a change to the gut hormones, specifically it reduces production of a gut hormone called ghrelin which is closely associated with appetite.
The procedure is performed using keyhole surgery under a general anaesthetic and will usually take an experienced sleeve surgeon just over an hour to complete. A small tube (called a bougie) is placed through the mouth into the stomach and the surgeon will cut along this using it as a guide to ‘size’ the new smaller stomach. Patients will usually stay in hospital for one night after surgery.
A gastric sleeve could be for you if you* have a BMI above 40kg/m2, and you have struggled with your weight for a long time or you don’t think you could work with a gastric band.
Things to consider
- There is a post-procedure diet of two weeks’ worth of soups and shakes and two weeks of soft foods before returning to normal foods.
- You need to allow yourself at least one week to get over the surgery before resuming your normal activities.
- You will stay in hospital for one, maybe two nights after your surgery.
- A more invasive procedure compared to the Gastric Band. Complications can be harder to manage and may require a longer stay in hospital. Risk of complication is higher if you are a smoker.
- This procedure has a risk of staple line leakage. In the event you experience this complication it is impossible to predict how long it will take to heal. Sleeve patients need to be aware that an extended stay in hospital is a possibility, albeit remote.
Carol's Gastric Sleeve Story
- Baseline BMI 50kg/m2
- Starting weight 22st 7lb
- Current weight 12st 7lb
- Total weight loss 10st 0lb*
I feel incredibly sad when I think of how I was. As a result of steroids my weight had ballooned to 23 stones and I was borderline type 2 diabetic. It had been a gradual process, but here I was aged 56, retired on the grounds of ill health, with inherited genes that predisposed me to diabetes and a serious weight problem which I had to do something about.
I searched the Internet and booked a consultation with Healthier Weight. I went on to have a gastric sleeve and lost 10 stones in just ten months*. Within 2 weeks of the operation my blood sugar and blood pressure returned to normal. Now I have confidence and self-esteem, I can walk without perspiring and even run for a bus – I have my life back, it’s magic!
*Weight loss results and benefits vary and are different for every individual. Specific weight loss goals cannot be guaranteed.
Is a weight loss procedure right for me?
Is a weight loss procedure right for me?
It is right for you if you have reached the point at which you believe you have exhausted dietary changes alone as a way to manage your weight. When assessing your eligibility for surgery we consider the following:
- What is your weight and body mass index?
- What is your weight history?
- What are your eating habits?
- How is your weight impacting on your health and quality of life?
When having a weight loss procedure it is important to remember that it is only a means by which to help you change your diet and eating habits. It does this very effectively but all successful patients will say that sustained success also requires a commitment to make behavioural changes.
If you meet these criteria then a weight loss procedure is a good option for you*. We will discuss everything in detail with you at your free of charge face to face consultation.
*Weight loss results and benefits vary and are different for every individual. Specific weight loss goals cannot be guaranteed.
What happens before and after my procedure?
What happens before and after my procedure?
Before your procedure we will collect background information from you about your general health along with your surgical, weight and diet history. We will then meet you for a face to face consultation at which you will discuss your options with a surgeon.
Should you decide to go ahead with a weight loss procedure you will receive a call from our nursing team in the week beforehand to complete a pre-operative assessment to ensure that you are ready for your procedure.
You will be called by our team the day after your surgery to see how you are, and you will then be invited to attend a review appointment two weeks later. You will also be given our emergency contact telephone number.
Good long term weight loss outcomes require good aftercare from a specialist team. The Healthier Weight team is specialist in this area, and patients can expect expert support in clinic in the months and years after their procedure.
*Weight loss results and benefits vary and are different for every individual. Specific weight loss goals cannot be guaranteed.
Things to consider
Things to consider before weight loss surgery
The main thing to consider before having any weight loss procedure is whether you have genuinely reached the point at which you have exhausted the dietary options available to you. Most weight loss surgery patients have tried various diets over a long period of time, and will be at the point when they are no longer making progress or they can’t face another bout of so called ‘yo-yo’ dieting.
To be successful with any procedure you need to be ready to make a commitment to permanent changes to your lifestyle, diet and eating habits. We will discuss these changes in detail before and during your consultation prior to undergoing the surgery.
The procedure will help you make those changes but there is still a requirement for the patient to work with the procedure in order to achieve good results for the long term as well as the short.
*Weight loss results and benefits vary and are different for every individual. Specific weight loss goals cannot be guaranteed.