Gastric Band Surgery UK
Reduce your appetite and lose weight more easily
The adjustable gastric band (known as lap banding) acts as a restrictive weight loss procedure.
The gastric band is designed for slow, continuous weight loss (one to two pounds per week). Patients typically lose 20% of their total body weight over a 12 to 18 month period.
The Benefits of Gastric Band Surgery
Having gastric band surgery helps many people who previously struggled with weight loss to take back control and live a happier, healthier life.
It controls the rate at which food is emptied into the stomach. This is at a slower rate than normal, and therefore you should feel satisfied with a smaller amount of food and feel fuller for longer.
Benefits of gastric band surgery include:
5 Steps to Change Your Life
Speak to our specialists
The first step is the biggest one – get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any questions you have and book your free consultation with a bariatric surgeon.
Tailored to you
At your consultation, you will meet directly with one of our leading specialist bariatric surgeons to discuss the best solution for you and book a date for your surgery.
In our safe hands
On the day of your surgery, you will arrive at the hospital and into the safe hands of our specialist bariatric nurses and surgery team.
Here for you
After your procedure and hospital discharge, you will return home. Our dedicated aftercare team are here for you 24/7 should you have any questions or concerns.
Take back your life
Your premium aftercare starts right away! We are there with you every step of the way to help you achieve your goals and to give you your life back! #GivingBackLives.
Disclaimer
As with any surgical procedure, there are possible risks and complications, including bruising, pain & swelling, reaction to anaesthetic, excessive bleeding, infection, gallstones, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (clot to the lung), internal small bowel hernia, intolerance to certain foods, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), nutritional deficiencies, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and death. These are uncommon and we will do everything possible to prevent them from happening.
Occasionally, patients may require an additional corrective procedure after the initial surgery and some patients might fail to lose a significant amount of weight. 10% of patients regain weight within five to ten years as the pouch dilates, hunger returns and malabsorption fades. 40% of patients may require plastic surgery procedures after weight loss has levelled off, to treat loose skin.
Approximately one in six patients may develop symptomatic gallstones after weight loss, which would require a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Please speak to your Tonic surgeon to discuss the risks in more detail and any concerns you may have.
Read more >Paul's Tonic Gastric Band Journey
“I have lost over 10 stone and it’s been life changing. Tonic has given me a chance to give my kids a dad and me a life and I will be forever grateful.”
Is a Gastric Band Right For Me?
If you have already tried adjusting your diet and exercise routine to lose weight and these measures have not been effective, you may qualify for a gastric band procedure.
Gastric band surgery is generally not appropriate for those with conditions such as acid reflux, Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal dysmotility.
Your Tonic surgeon will discuss whether a gastric band is right for you and explain all the benefits and risks in detail during your initial consultation.
Here's what a gastric band can do for you
The adjustable gastric band (known as lap banding) acts as a restrictive weight loss procedure. Gastric band surgery involves placing a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. The procedure, which takes approximately 40 minutes to complete, is undertaken laparoscopically (using small keyhole incisions) under a general anaesthetic. There is a small potential for conversion to open surgery (less than 0.1%).
The surgeon will create a small pouch above the band (about the size of a golf ball) and a large pouch below the band. This creates an hourglass appearance, and it functions by limiting the amount of food you need to eat in order to feel full. It also controls the rate at which food is emptied out of the pouch into the rest of the stomach. This is at a slower rate than normal, and therefore you should feel satisfied with a smaller amount of food and feel fuller for longer.
The band can be adjusted to increase or decrease restriction.
The gastric band procedure usually takes around 40 minutes and is performed under general anaesthetic.
Surgical process
Incision and access
The procedure is usually done laparoscopically through small incisions. The surgeon makes about 4-5 small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a laparoscope (a small camera) and surgical instruments.
Placement of the band
The surgeon places an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small stomach pouch above the band, with the larger part of the stomach below.
This pouch holds only a small amount of food, which means the patient will feel full sooner and eat less. The food then passes through the band and into the larger portion of the stomach more slowly, which further prolongs the feeling of fullness.
Adjustment port
A thin tube connects the band to a small device called a port, which is placed under the skin, usually in the abdominal area. The port allows the surgeon to adjust the tightness of the band by adding or removing saline (salt water) to/from the band.
Over time, the band’s tightness can be adjusted to control how much food the stomach can hold. This adjustment is done using a needle to inject saline into the port, inflating or deflating the band.
Closure and monitoring
Closure of incisions
After the band is securely placed and the port is installed, the small incisions are closed using sutures or surgical glue.
Monitoring
The patient is closely monitored in the recovery area to ensure there are no complications such as excessive bleeding or reaction to anaesthesia.
After your surgery, you may require an overnight stay
Postoperative recovery
Hospital stay
Gastric band surgery is usually an outpatient procedure or may require an overnight stay, depending on the patient’s condition.
Initial liquid diet
After surgery, the patient will start on a liquid diet for a few days to allow the stomach to heal. This is gradually advanced to soft foods, and then solid foods, over several weeks.
Pain management
Pain after the surgery is generally mild to moderate and is managed with pain medication. Because the procedure is laparoscopic, recovery time is typically shorter, and discomfort is less compared to open surgeries.
Activity
Patients are encouraged to start walking shortly after surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots and improve healing. More intense physical activities are restricted for a few weeks.
Band adjustments
First adjustment
The first adjustment is typically made 4-6 weeks after surgery, once the body has had time to heal. The surgeon will inject saline into the port to inflate the band, tightening it and reducing the size of the stomach opening.
Subsequent adjustments
Over time, the band can be tightened or loosened based on the patient’s weight loss progress, hunger levels and overall health. Adjustments are relatively simple and performed in an outpatient setting without the need for additional surgery.
Optimal restriction
The goal is to find the “sweet spot” where the band is tight enough to limit food intake but not so tight that it causes discomfort, vomiting or difficulty swallowing.
The gastric band is designed for slow, continuous weight loss (one to two pounds per week).
Patients typically lose 20% of their total body weight over a 12 to 18 month period.
At 12 months, the weight loss achieved by gastric banding is slightly less than the sleeve gastrectomy and the gastric bypass – approximately 50% of their excess weight (a term used to describe weight above a BMI of 25).
In many cases, gastric band surgery can be undertaken as a day-case procedure.
In many cases, gastric band surgery can be undertaken as a day-case procedure. Some patients may require an overnight stay in the hospital and can expect to return to work after 7 to 10 days and to full activity within 10 to 14 days of surgery.
After the procedure, patients will be asked to go on a particular diet to help the healing. Typically, this is a liquid-only diet for two weeks, a puréed diet for two weeks and then a soft diet for two weeks. From then on, patients will need to continue to eat in the right way, adopting an active and healthy lifestyle.
You won’t be able to drive immediately after surgery
What you need to do before getting started.
To prepare for gastric band surgery, patients will have a consultation with their surgeon and will be assessed by the Tonic team, including the dietitian, psychotherapist and bariatric nurse specialists.
You’ll undergo a comprehensive evaluation, which will include blood tests and imaging studies.
Patients will be asked to go on a liver-shrinking diet (800 calories a day), for around two weeks before surgery. This makes the surgery much safer.
Here's what a gastric band can do for you
The adjustable gastric band (known as lap banding) acts as a restrictive weight loss procedure. Gastric band surgery involves placing a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. The procedure, which takes approximately 40 minutes to complete, is undertaken laparoscopically (using small keyhole incisions) under a general anaesthetic. There is a small potential for conversion to open surgery (less than 0.1%).
The surgeon will create a small pouch above the band (about the size of a golf ball) and a large pouch below the band. This creates an hourglass appearance, and it functions by limiting the amount of food you need to eat in order to feel full. It also controls the rate at which food is emptied out of the pouch into the rest of the stomach. This is at a slower rate than normal, and therefore you should feel satisfied with a smaller amount of food and feel fuller for longer.
The band can be adjusted to increase or decrease restriction.
The gastric band procedure usually takes around 40 minutes and is performed under general anaesthetic.
Surgical process
Incision and access
The procedure is usually done laparoscopically through small incisions. The surgeon makes about 4-5 small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a laparoscope (a small camera) and surgical instruments.
Placement of the band
The surgeon places an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small stomach pouch above the band, with the larger part of the stomach below.
This pouch holds only a small amount of food, which means the patient will feel full sooner and eat less. The food then passes through the band and into the larger portion of the stomach more slowly, which further prolongs the feeling of fullness.
Adjustment port
A thin tube connects the band to a small device called a port, which is placed under the skin, usually in the abdominal area. The port allows the surgeon to adjust the tightness of the band by adding or removing saline (salt water) to/from the band.
Over time, the band’s tightness can be adjusted to control how much food the stomach can hold. This adjustment is done using a needle to inject saline into the port, inflating or deflating the band.
Closure and monitoring
Closure of incisions
After the band is securely placed and the port is installed, the small incisions are closed using sutures or surgical glue.
Monitoring
The patient is closely monitored in the recovery area to ensure there are no complications such as excessive bleeding or reaction to anaesthesia.
After your surgery, you may require an overnight stay
Postoperative recovery
Hospital stay
Gastric band surgery is usually an outpatient procedure or may require an overnight stay, depending on the patient’s condition.
Initial liquid diet
After surgery, the patient will start on a liquid diet for a few days to allow the stomach to heal. This is gradually advanced to soft foods, and then solid foods, over several weeks.
Pain management
Pain after the surgery is generally mild to moderate and is managed with pain medication. Because the procedure is laparoscopic, recovery time is typically shorter, and discomfort is less compared to open surgeries.
Activity
Patients are encouraged to start walking shortly after surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots and improve healing. More intense physical activities are restricted for a few weeks.
Band adjustments
First adjustment
The first adjustment is typically made 4-6 weeks after surgery, once the body has had time to heal. The surgeon will inject saline into the port to inflate the band, tightening it and reducing the size of the stomach opening.
Subsequent adjustments
Over time, the band can be tightened or loosened based on the patient’s weight loss progress, hunger levels and overall health. Adjustments are relatively simple and performed in an outpatient setting without the need for additional surgery.
Optimal restriction
The goal is to find the “sweet spot” where the band is tight enough to limit food intake but not so tight that it causes discomfort, vomiting or difficulty swallowing.
The gastric band is designed for slow, continuous weight loss (one to two pounds per week).
Patients typically lose 20% of their total body weight over a 12 to 18 month period.
At 12 months, the weight loss achieved by gastric banding is slightly less than the sleeve gastrectomy and the gastric bypass – approximately 50% of their excess weight (a term used to describe weight above a BMI of 25).
In many cases, gastric band surgery can be undertaken as a day-case procedure.
In many cases, gastric band surgery can be undertaken as a day-case procedure. Some patients may require an overnight stay in the hospital and can expect to return to work after 7 to 10 days and to full activity within 10 to 14 days of surgery.
After the procedure, patients will be asked to go on a particular diet to help the healing. Typically, this is a liquid-only diet for two weeks, a puréed diet for two weeks and then a soft diet for two weeks. From then on, patients will need to continue to eat in the right way, adopting an active and healthy lifestyle.
You won’t be able to drive immediately after surgery
What you need to do before getting started.
To prepare for gastric band surgery, patients will have a consultation with their surgeon and will be assessed by the Tonic team, including the dietitian, psychotherapist and bariatric nurse specialists.
You’ll undergo a comprehensive evaluation, which will include blood tests and imaging studies.
Patients will be asked to go on a liver-shrinking diet (800 calories a day), for around two weeks before surgery. This makes the surgery much safer.
Hi I'm Sarah Ash
I’m a Tonic Patient Coordinator; I’m here to help you start your weight loss journey.
It’s my job to support you through your journey with Tonic, from initial consultation where we’ll learn all about you and your weight loss journey to date, through to your 5 years of aftercare with our specialist team.
We’re here for you at every stage.
Gastric Band Surgery FAQs With Bariatric Surgeon, Sherif Awad
Learn more about gastric band surgery, directly from leading bariatric surgeon, Sherif Awad.
Want to ask questions directly to our specialists?
Our Premium Aftercare Promise
No Other Provider Offers Aftercare Like Tonic
We pride ourselves in providing the most comprehensive support package around you after your procedure.
Weight loss surgery is a tool to help you lose weight. Our aftercare team is composed of nurses, psychotherapists, personal trainers, bariatric surgeons and other weight loss specialists. It’s our job to ensure your weight loss journey goes as smoothly as possible.
You will not get 5 years of aftercare included with your surgery anywhere else.
Full aftercare breakdown
Unlimited Dietician Support for 2 years
Unlimited Psychotherapist Support for 2 years
Unlimited Support with Virtual Fitness Coach for 2 Years
Unlimited Bariatric Nurse Support for 2 years
5 Years Surgeon Follow Up
The Gym Group 30-day Membership
The Tonic Tool Kit
Tonics Private Social Media community support
Out Of Hours Support Line
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