Gastric Band
The Gastric Band is the most well-known form of weight loss surgery in the UK. The procedure is carried out laparoscopically via key-hole incisions in the abdomen.
The Procedure
The gastric band surgery is the safest weight loss procedure, and for many it’s also the best. With a track record stretching back 25 years, it’s proven to be safe and effective. A small, hollow silicone band is placed around part of the stomach which can be tightened or loosened as required to maximise weight loss. Our team has done over 20,000 band procedures and it’s an option everyone contemplating bariatric surgery should consider. Above all others, there are two key requirements for success with the band:
80% of individuals aren't successful at long-term weight loss when losing 10% of initial body weight and maintaining the loss for at least 1 year3
What we offer
With over 20 years of expertise, we’re dedicated to guiding you through every stage of your weight loss journey.
Gastric Band Procedure
Your package includes everything you need to get the best outcome from your gastric balloon journey
- 45min - 1hr operation
- 1-2 night hospital stay
- 90 day return to theatre cover
- Blood test at 6 months post-op
personalised Support
Our registered Dietitians, Health Coaches and support team are here to help you achieve your weight loss goals
- 5 year comprehensive aftercare
- Emergency help line
- Lifelong support and advice
- Private Facebook support group
Weight Loss Tools
Change your habits and relationship with food with on-demand classes on diet, fitness, mindfulness and habit change
- Personalised App
- WI-FI Scales
- Healthier Weight Starter Kit
- Food diary and trackers
Gastric Band Reviews
Don’t just take our word for it, we’re proud to share the stories of our real patients, who achieved their goals with us
Liberty
Lost 5 Stone
‘All the after care and the nurses has been amazing from start to finish”
Anita
Lost 6 Stone
“It’s more than just weight loss surgery, it’s the biggest confidence boost I’ve ever had.”
Chloe
Lost 8 Stone
“If you just follow the guidance, read your packs and take in all the advice available to you, you will succeed.”
Carey
Lost 6.5 Stone
” I needed help with my addiction to food”
Frequently asked questions
It is impossible to be precise because criteria vary between Trust areas. What we can say is that very few Trusts offer gastric band surgery. There are a number of reasons for this, the main one being that the patients they treat tend to be both heavier and higher risk than those we see in private practice, meaning that the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass is the better option. The other challenge that gastric bands pose for the NHS is that patients require long term follow up in specialist clinics and this can be a burden to maintain. The sleeve and bypass procedures certainly require less follow up.
If you are in a part of the country where your local NHS Trust does gastric band surgery, and your GP refers you, you are likely to have a BMI of 45kg/m2 or over and have one or more weight related co-morbidities, e.g. type 2 diabetes. It’s important to remember that patients only become eligible for weight loss surgery on the NHS when they have followed a long term non surgical weight loss programme. This can pose a very practical barrier for most patients. These obstacles are not present for private practice patients.
Your long-term success with your procedure is dependent on high-quality aftercare. Anyone who has had weight loss surgery will tell you this is crucial. All too frequently, overseas surgery packages have no aftercare.
In the UK surgeon outcomes are monitored closely. There is a duty of candour and transparency. In many overseas countries the same standards do not apply.
We have seen many botched procedures from overseas that come with limited aftercare and warranties. You won’t receive any support from any serious problems that arise post-op, and you will ultimately go onto the NHS waiting list for your procedure to be put right.
Based on our patient data, the risk of gastric band slippage with Healthier Weight is 1% (1 in 100) although the national average is 4-5% (4-5 in 100). By following our post-op diet recommendations both immediately after surgery and then in the long term (eating small portions, slowly), you can reduce your risk of slippage.
With a gastric band, you may eat most foods that don’t cause you discomfort. However, because you can only eat small amounts, it is important to include foods which are rich in protein but low in fat and sugar. We encourage you to eat vegetables, fruit, whole grains, lean meat and fish. You will receive detailed nutritional information following your band surgery.
There are not really any foods that you should avoid, and that is one of the benefits of the gastric band. In order to maximise your weight loss, however, it is important to avoid or reduce the calories you consume through soft foods or liquids. When you are eating soft foods the ‘squeezing’ of food through the stomach doesn’t occur and you will not get the early feeling of fullness that you want. So, a band gives you complete flexibility but you need to be careful about the textures of what you eat. Following the advice that we provide on eating with a band will give you the best possible chance of successful weight loss, and minimise eating discomfort.