Obesity Surgery

Also known as Lap Banding or Bariatric Surgery

What is Severe Obesity?

Severe or clinically significant obesity is the medical term for unhealthy excess weight. Being overweight can significantly increase your chances of developing other diseases or conditions that could be life-threatening, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis and cancer.

Your body mass index (BMI) determines whether you are obese.

To work out your body mass index divide your weight (kg) by height (m) x 2. For example, if you weigh 70kg and are 1.6m tall, your BMI is: 70/2.56 (1.6 x 1.6) = 27.34.

The BMI scale is as follows:

Normal - 18 to 25
Overweight - 25 to 30
Obese - more than 30
Severe obesity - more than 35

Across the globe a large number of patients have had successful weight reduction surgery and there are numerous publications on the benefits. Many patients find that they no longer need treatment for obesity-related diseases and their quality of life improves dramatically.

What is Gastric Banding?

This is a restrictive operation which causes weight loss by reducing the amount of food that can go into the stomach. This makes a patient feel full very quickly, removes hunger and reduces the need to eat.

Some operations can be performed by keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery, which has the advantage of reduced operative risk and allows quicker recovery. Patients will need a GP referral and those suitable for referral include:

Within age range 18 to 60 years
BMI > 40, or > 35 with co-morbidity
Motivated to lose weight
Prior meaningful attempts at weight reduction
Low operative risk
Accept the risks of surgery
Understand the role of surgery
Understand the need for follow up.

How effective is surgery?

Everybody is different, so it is difficult to predict exactly how much weight you would lose following surgery. The amount of weight loss is also dependant on your weight before surgery, your food choices and the amount of exercise that you do following surgery. But you are likely to lose a lot of weight and keep it off.

On average people who undergo a gastric banding operation lose around half of their excess weight within two years of surgery*. The average actual weight loss is around half a stone a month, though this does vary by patient. Most patients can expect to lose a significant amount of weight within 9 to 12 months.

*BMJ Obesity surgery, Gastric banding, Jan 2006

Follow up and aftercare

At the Park Suite you will have a team of people around you to support and motivate you through your weight loss surgery and the following months. They will be there to help you stay healthy and achieve the best weight loss results for you.

Surgery is just a part of the process, and we have an aftercare programme to ensure you receive all the care and support you need. The programme includes the following:

Following surgery your surgeon will usually see you daily to check your condition, discuss your operation and talk through the next stages of your aftercare, up to the point you are discharged.
You will have discussions with your dietician to plan your diet for when you go home. You will be given diet sheets to help you understand what you need to do.

Post Operatively

Your surgeon will see you again a month after surgery then every three months or so for the first year.
Your Dietician will be available to offer advice and support should you require it.
Our team will help you to stay motivated and provide support with any difficulties you may have adjusting to your new lifestyle.
You will need to visit the hospital to have the band adjusted. This usually takes two adjustments to find the right level of restriction, but additional adjustments may be required. The first one is usually six weeks after surgery.

Changing your lIfestyle

Weight loss surgery works by reducing the amount of food you are able to eat. This means you will no longer be able to eat in the same way that you do now. Portion sizes will be much smaller and you should aim to eat each meal slowly, sitting at the table in an upright position. You will need to chew much more thoroughly and restrict your fluid intake during meals.

Long term there may be some foods you are unable to eat: these include white bread, boiled rice, pasta, meat chops, steak, nuts and fibrous fruits and vegetables such as oranges, pineapples, green beans and mushrooms. Eating too much, choosing the wrong type or texture of food, or eating too quickly could cause vomiting.

If you regularly cook meals for other family members, you may not be able to eat the same sort of food or portions as them. Whilst they may eat their meal on a dinner plate, your portion will be small enough to fit on a tea plate. If you go out to dinner, your meal will be equivalent to a starter size rather than a main meal.

You will have the support of your dietician who will l help you through any problems you are having and manage your diet with you.