Weight loss surgery
The problem
More and more people are becoming overweight as the calories
they consume are not used up through exercise and everyday life.
These unused calories are stored in our body as fat.
Many overweight people will find it difficult to exercise or
even to move around normally, and their everyday life will be
affected by their weight. In the long term, being overweight can
increase the chances of developing serious conditions such as type
II diabetes, heart conditions and hypertension. It can also affect
people’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
Many people are advised to lose weight by their GP but find this
difficult, even if they diet or try to exercise more. Weight loss
surgery may be an option for some of them.
Who can benefit?
Weight loss surgery - also known as bariatric surgery - can help
many people but it is not recommended for every one. It is a
lifelong - and often life-changing - decision. But there is
increasing evidence that it can lead to health benefits including
improvements or even reversal of some conditions, such as type II
diabetes.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends
patients should be considered for bariatric surgery if their body
mass index is 40kg/m2 or more or if it is over 35kg/m2 with a
significant disease which could be improved by weight loss (body
mass is calculated by looking at weight and height). They must have
tried non-surgical methods to lose weight without much success for
at least six months. Patients must also receive intensive
specialist weight management, be fit for anaesthesia and surgery,
and commit to the need for long-term follow up.
What sort of weight loss procedures are available?
Ramsay Health Care offers:
• Gastric banding
A ring is placed around the stomach which slows the passage of
food and creates a feeling of fullness.
• Gastric Sleeve
Part of the stomach is removed, reducing the amount of food the
patients can eat and affecting how the body feels hunger
• Gastric bypass
Parts of the intestine are bypassed and the size of the stomach
is reduced. This is a radical approach which reduces the amount of
food eaten and means that less is absorbed from it.
• Gastric balloon
This does not involve surgery; instead a balloon is inserted
into the stomach and inflated with saline. This is removed after
six months but patients feel full and want to eat less.
All of these procedures are carried out by experienced
consultants supported by a specialist team.
Our care does not end with the operation. Patients will be
supported by a multidisciplinary team of dieticians, clinical
behaviourists and physiotherapists. We offer a structured year-long
programme to help patients safely lose the maximum amount of weight
and cope with any problems along the way.
Benefits of weight loss
There is increasing evidence that losing excess weight can offer
long-term health benefits to seriously overweight people.
These include
• Many overweight patients with diabetes find this improves
after surgery and weight loss
• Improvements in conditions such as high blood pressure and
sleep problems
• The majority of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease who lost weight after surgery saw an improvement in their
condition - or in some cases the condition disappeared
• A reduction in the chances of getting weight related health
problems such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes
Ramsay Healthcare’s Premium Care
Patients who choose to have weight loss surgery with us receive
the highest quality care in all aspects of their treatment.
• Rapid access to expert opinion and treatment
• Appointment times to suit
• No long wait for treatment
• Single bedded rooms with ensuite bathroom and flat screen
TV
• Everything needed to make their stay as comfortable as
possible such as a daily newspaper and welcome pack
How to access treatment
Contact Rivers Hospital on 01279 602644 to book
an appointment or for more information. Treatment may be covered by
medical insurance and self pay packages are available on
request.