Gastric band surgery for weight loss is something that most people have heard of, but many know very little about what it entails and also the term ‘gastric band ’is often used to group together many different types of weight loss treatments.  

While exercise and diet can help you with some weight loss, often the results are mild and temporary and may prove ineffective and disappointing for you. This is especially true if your movement is restricted by injury or underlying health conditions or you suffer from morbid obesity where a permanent change in metabolism forbids weight loss. 

In these cases, a number of different weight loss interventions are available.  Almost overnight, you’ll have the self-control to maintain your weight to a healthy level and more easily carry out your day-to-day tasks.  

Below, we’ve broken down what the different weight loss interventions currently available and you can select whether one is right for you. 

Gastric balloons 

These are the simplest of procedures as they do not require any surgery at all.   Balloons are synthetic, sterile fluid filled and sit in the stomach, partially filling the space inside. This has the effect of making you feel less hungry and feel fuller quicker and for longer when you do eat.  Balloons generally result in 10-15% total body weight loss. 

Two types of gastric balloons are currently available on the market.   

1. The newer Elipse balloon pill is an office procedure which does not involve any sedation. anaesthesia or endoscopy. Following assessment, patients will be invited to attend the hospital where they will be asked to swallow a capsule.  Once the capsule reaches the stomach it will be filled with water converting the capsule into a balloon which will occupy space within the stomach.  The procedure takes about 20 minutes and you can go home straight afterwards. 

2.The Orbera balloon (available in 6 month and 12-month varieties thus offering potentially longer-term weight loss) requires deep sedation/anaesthesia and is inserted under endoscopic guidance as a day-case procedure. Six or 12 months later a further endoscopy is performed to remove the balloon, after which time dietary support will help you maintain a more controlled diet and therefore maintain the weight loss 

Gastric Surgery 

This can be further sub-divided into three commonly performed keyhole operations: sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and gastric band surgery. 

1.Sleeve gastrectomy 

Currently, this is the most popular weight loss intervention worldwide.  This procedure makes the stomach into a designed long, slim tube. By ensuring the size and the angles of this tube are calibrated accurately our clients get very quick fullness and satisfaction from eating. The result is you want to eat less and lose weight very soon after surgery. 

You can expect to lose 25 – 30% of your total body weight during treatment. Like a Gastric Bypass we usually see an almost immediate cure of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

2.Gastric bypass 

The most complex and effective of our bariatric procedures, the gastric bypass cuts away (but does not remove) about 80% of the existing stomach leaving behind a small stomach pouch and bypasses a portion of the small intestine. This combination allows patients to lose up to 25-35% of their body weight. Gastric bypass is particularly beneficial for those suffering from moderate to severe type-2 diabetes and GORD (acid reflux / heartburn). 

3.Gastric band 

A gastric band is an adjustable silicone band that’s placed around the upper part of your stomach. As a result, your stomach feels full sooner, preventing you from wanting to eat more than you should. You’ll lose weight, improve your diet, and enjoy a new lease of life. 

Once the gastric banding surgery has been carried out, there’ll be a small pouch at the top of your stomach acting as a gateway. When you eat, this part of the stomach fills up, recreating the impression of being full and preventing you from wanting to eat. 

Of course, you dictate the outcome of any operation or balloon. There’s nothing preventing you from continuing to live unhealthily, and you’ll still need to be conscious of poor diet and a lack of exercise. This is why it benefits greatly to have your procedure performed somewhere that also plays host to one of the world’s leading team of experts for weight loss 

Is weight loss intervention right for me? 

While it is true that only you can decide whether you need to reduce your weight, our doctors can inform your decision-making process. Experienced in all aspects of weight loss, they can provide evidence-backed consultations that will highlight the benefits of non-surgical and surgical interventions while being transparent about any potential drawbacks. 

Considering weight loss surgery? Where Bupa Cromwell can help 

We believe that too many people allow their weight to limit their quality of life because of an apprehension about (and misunderstanding around) weight loss interventions 

That’s why we provide the understanding and facilities necessary to support weight loss success. It isn’t enough to perform the procedure – at Bupa Cromwell, our multi-disciplinary team of experts willl help create the correct environment for a successful weight loss journey. 

Experience it yourself and take back control of your weight by calling Bupa Cromwell today on +44 (0)20 7460 5700.