For some people, diet and exercise alone will never work and, for many of these, a gastric band is the weight loss solution for them.
This is hardly surprising when you hear that gastric bands reduce extra weight by between half and 60% in just two years.
Moreover, interest has increased since TV personality Fern Britton shed three stone with a gastric band operation, dropping from a size 22 to 16 and publicly flaunting her slimline figure in the process.
A gastric band restricts the size of the stomach so less food can be eaten before you feel full. The simple process means you consume less and lose weight over time, as well as developing improved eating habits.
More to weight loss surgery than gastric bands
However, it’s important that, amid celebrity success stories like Fern Britton’s, patients take the time to consider whether surgery is right for them.
And, as well as the gastric band (or Lap-Band), another popular weight loss procedure is the gastric balloon, which is a non-surgical treatment that similarly reduces the stomach capacity.
A spokesman for cosmetic surgery experts Why Go Abroad said: “People realise that being overweight brings with it a host of possible health problems and, with treatments being better than ever, we are seeing a real increase in those enquiring about gastric band surgery, in particular.”
Prices for gastric band surgery in the UK start at just £5,450, while gastric balloons are even more affordable, at just £3,950.
