Gastric Band Surgery

Gastric Band Surgery is one of the most popular forms of Bariatric Surgery performed throughout the world. The surgery involvesthe size of the stomach being reduced so that the individual feels satisfied on a smaller portion of food. Reducing the amount offood the body intakes means that weight loss begins to occur.

What are the benefits of Gastric Band Surgery?

The benefits from undergoing Gastric Band Surgery can be life changing. Many patients have benefited from huge weight loss asa result of having the procedure which has an extremely positive impact on their lives.

Achieving life changing weight loss can lead to increased life expectancy levels as well as a reduction in the chances of heartdisease and cancer. The chance or severity of other common weight related problems such as asthma, hypertension, and fatiguecan also be substantially reduced following Gastric Band Surgery.

Gastric Band Surgery is considered to be less invasive when compared to other forms of Bariatric Surgery such as Gastric BypassSurgery and it also has a quicker recovery time. Gastric Band Surgery involves a band being fitted to the stomach which isadjustable so this in turn means you are in control of your weight loss and you can adjust the restriction placed upon your stomachto suit you.

What does Gastric Band Surgery involve?

Gastric Band Surgery is performed using keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery which minimises scarring and reduces recovery time. Alaparoscope is a long thin telescope with a camera lens at the tip; this is used to perform the Gastric Band Surgery.

Surgery commences with small incisions being made into the abdomen (tummy). The surgeon will then use small instruments toplace the band around the top part of the stomach. A small access port is then placed just under the skin and connected to theGastric Band.

The band is then locked in place so that it can’t come undone and the small incisions are stitched. The Gastric Band contains asmall balloon which can be filled with saline solution so that the desired opening size into the stomach is achieved. The size of theballoon can be increased or reduced accordingly via the access port as explained below.

It is often standard procedure to wait a few weeks following Gastric Band Surgery to inflate the balloon to the desired size in orderto allow any swelling in the stomach to reduce. An X-ray is also often taken to check the success of the procedure and in totalGastric Band surgery generally takes one hour to complete.
The Gastric Band can be adjusted by a specialist nurse. The adjustment involves a small needle being passed through the skininto the access port to increase or decrease the amount of saline in the band. Gastric Band Adjustment Surgery generally takesonly a few minutes and is usually performed under local anaesthetic.

Possible side effects with Gastric Band Surgery include temporary bruising, swelling, and tenderness around the wounds. There isalso a chance that individuals feel sick after eating following Gastric Band Surgery which is usually due to overeating and the bodyadjusting.

What are the costs of Gastric Band Surgery?

The cost of Gastric Band Surgery can vary significantly between clinics and surgeons. Gastric Band Surgery is also a veryindividual form of weight loss surgery which means it’s very hard to fix an exact cost. Generally speaking the cost of Gastric BandSurgery ranges from £5,000 to £10,000.

How can I afford Gastric Band Surgery?

A Gastric Band Surgery consultation is often free or may involve a deposit which is deducted from the cost of the procedure. Don’tworry about the costs of Gastric Band Surgery - most clinics offer interest free credit and flexible payment options.