Gastric Band Surgery in London
Gastric band surgery is one of the bariatric procedures that can help with weight loss. An adjustable band is fitted around your stomach during the operation. It reduces the size of your stomach in order to reduce the amount you can eat at each meal. The procedure is performed laparoscopically. It is usually completed in 30 minutes to one hour, and you will be given general anaesthetic during the procedure.
After gastric band surgery, most patients will be able to lose about half of their unwanted weight. The gastric band should help by restricting the amount you can eat at each meal, but in order to lose weight you will have to eat a carefully designed diet.
You need to know:
- What risks are there for gastric band surgery?
- What alternative options are available?
- What advantages are there for a gastric band?
- Comparisons
- Is gastric band surgery the best procedure for you?
- How long will recovery take?
- Is gastric band surgery reversible
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What risks are there for gastric band surgery?
Gastric band surgery is a relatively common and safe procedure. However, there are some potential side-effects and other risks that you should think about before deciding to have the operation. Your doctor will go through these with you in detail.
Side-effects:
Some side effects are common after gastric band surgery. Many patients will feel some pain around the surgical incision, and you may experience a bit of bruising or swelling. Side-effects like this are usually quite mild and they don't last long.
Complications:
Problems can sometimes arise during the surgery or during your recovery. Although serious complications are rare, it is important to be aware of what can go wrong before you go ahead with the gastric band surgery.
The gastric band procedure is a serious operation that requires general anaesthesia. There is a risk of surgical complications such as an allergic reaction caused by the anaesthetic, heavy bleeding, or problems caused by blood clots that could block veins in your leg or lungs.
Complications specific to a gastric band operation are as follows:
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Infection – you could develop an infection after the surgery even though you will be given antibiotics to try to prevent this. If an infection doesn't respond to antibiotics your band may need to be removed.
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Damage to other parts of your abdomen – if any organs are damaged during the procedure, you might need more surgery to fix them.
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Band problems - your band may slip out of place, leak, or work its way through the stomach wall. If this happens, your band may need to be repositioned, removed or replaced.
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Gallstones – losing weight quickly can put you at risk of gallstones. Very large or painful gallstones might need to be treated surgically.
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Failing to lose enough weight – some people still struggle to lose weight after getting a gastric band. There is also a risk of regaining the weight if you aren't careful about your diet and lifestyle.
Although a gastric band can usually be fitted laparoscopically, there is small risk that your doctor will need to change approach during the procedure. Sometimes a larger incision needs to be made in order to deal with complications or to finish the procedure safely.
The risks of gastric band surgery are different for different people. Your doctor will help you to understand your personal risks. In general, you have a chance of about 5-10% of experiencing some kind of side effect after the procedure. About 10% of patients require further surgery or treatment after having a gastric band fitted. There is also a very small risk of serious complications, which can be fatal for about 1 in 2000 patients.
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