With about 6 out of 10 Brits classified as overweight or obese, and the majority of them at subsequent risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or osteoarthritis, it’s no wonder that people are opting to go under the knife in favour of obesity surgery. Just a lot of hot air? Not according to Ms Leanne Williams of East Dulwich who recently underwent the latest procedure to hit the UK, the gastric balloon. This procedure is good for overeaters who do not want to have a general anaesthetic. A silicone sack is inserted into the stomach orally and filled with sterile saline, after 6 months the sack is removed and pending the new healthier gastric balloon diet is maintained, the weight stays off. This non-surgical outpatient procedure is the least invasive and safest form of obesity surgery available, and is ideal for those classified as overweight or mildly obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-35. Up to 30% of the UK population would qualify for the gastric balloon, with the average weight loss being approximately 5 stone over 6 months.
Of course the challenge is maintaining your nouveau svelte physique once the balloon is out, but you do have 6 months to retrain those taste buds and recondition your pallet while you learn your gastric balloon diet.
With overall obesity surgery costs rising, the gastric balloon is a welcome addition to the market for those searching for cheap obesity surgery in the UK, with the cheapest gastric balloon starting at £3,950.
High on BMI
For more severe cases, the traditional gastric bypass may be the answer, a more invasive yet highly effective technique. Here part of the stomach is stapled and a section of the small intestine is rerouted to allow food to bypass the duodenum as well as part of the jejunum in order to reduce intake. Although complications are uncommon, they can include; abdominal hernias, gallstones, ulcers and infections. To qualify for this procedure, patients would have a BMI of 40-60+. Patients can expect a 75-80% reduction in excess body weight, as well as a significant reduction in their risk of developing heart disease and cancer in addition to decreased levels of hypertension and cholesterol.
Band it
And last but not least, the gastric band, made famous by the likes of former This Morning host, Fern Britton and rock and roll royalty Sharon Osbourne, seems to be the happy medium between the two. Placed around the top of the stomach, it makes you feel full faster so that you are able to eat less and therefore lose weight. Patients can expect to loose between 40-50% of their excess weight under this procedure, and it is recommended for those with a BMI of over 35. The band can be adjusted as the weight is lost and there is no rerouting or reconnecting, making it safer and less invasive than the gastric bypass. Gastric band prices start at £6,950.
Enough to put you off your lunch?! That’s what most patients hope for in their final attempt to shift those pounds when diet and exercise has failed them.
Why Go Abroad has noticed a marked increase in overweight patients: “due to stressful jobs and overindulgent lifestyles, spending too much time at their desks coupled by excesses of alcohol and rich foods”.
The gastric band and bypass procedures are available under the NHS, but waiting lists are long and criteria very specifi. So if you’d like to bypass the queue, details of the best surgeons can be found at www.bospa.org. Your surgeon should be registered with the GMC as well as be a fellow member of the Royal College of Surgeons.
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
Certainly, we’d be more than happy for you to quote us.