Feeling full quicker and for longer than usual. The procedure is less invasive and easier to reverse than other surgical techniques designed to aid weight loss.

The band is adjustable, so we can vary the size of the opening between the pouch and the main part of the stomach if necessary. Shorter stay in hospital and shorter recovery time compared to having a gastric bypass operation.

As with any operation, there are risks associated with having a general anaesthetic. Specific to this operation, there is a small risk of wound infection, chest infection, deep vein thrombosis (DVT, or blood clots in the legs), pulmonary emboli (blood clot on the lungs). Most people will not experience any serious complications from their surgery. The risks increase for people who already have other medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure. However, any problems that do arise can be rapidly assessed and appropriate action taken.

There is a 5-10% risk of complications associated with the gastric band that can occur after surgery. These can include the band slipping or moving into the stomach, an increase in the size of the stomach or gullet (oesophagus), rupture of the ring or infection of the port. This may result in the band or port needing to be removed, repositioned or replaced. Upto one in 10 patients will need further surgery for these or other complications.

There is a 1 in 1,000 (0.1%)  risk of death and a 5-10% risk of adverse effects (as listed above) caused by having this treatment.

• Lifestyle management
• Medical treatment
• Gastric bypass surgery
• Sleeve gastrectomy surgery

A few weeks before your operation, we will ask you to attend the Pre-admission Assessment Clinic. This appointment is an opportunity to check that you are fully prepared for your admission, treatment and discharge home. You may also have routine investigations such as blood tests, ECG (recording of your heart) or a chest x-ray done at this time to check your fitness for surgery. An anaesthetist will also see you at this appointment.

Please follow the pre-operative diet sheet for bariatic surgery for two weeks before your operation.

Make sure you go for a 30 minute walk every day, as this is good cardiovascular exercise. This will help reduce the risk of post-operative complications, as well as help you lose some weight prior to surgery.

You should also do your breathing exercises as discussed with you in clinic, whilst you are having your 30 minute walk each day.
Please do not have anything to eat (not even sweets or chewing gum) or drink after midnight on the night before your operation.

• If you regularly take medicines in the morning, you should take them before 7.00 am, with a small sip of water if necessary.
• If you are diabetic, you must not take your insulin or diabetic tablets on the morning of your operation.
• If you take blood-thinning medications (such as warfarin or aspirin) and/or are allergic to any medications, please contact the ward for advice before you come in to hospital.

You will be admitted to the ward on the day of your operation. Your temperature, blood pressure, respiration rate, height, weight and urine will be measured to give the nurses a baseline (normal reading) from which to work. We will measure you for special stockings (sometimes known as ‘TEDS’) to prevent blood clots (known as ‘DVT’ or ‘deep vein thrombosis’) from forming in your legs following surgery. We may also start you on anti-coagulant (blood-thinning) injections to help minimise this risk. The surgeon will explain the procedure to you in detail before asking you to sign a consent form. This is to make sure that you understand the risks and benefits of having the operation.

All make-up, nail varnish, jewellery (except wedding rings, which can be taped into place), body piercings and dentures must be removed. One of the nurses will then come and prepare you for the operating theatre.

You will wake up in the recovery room before you are taken back to the ward.

Please tell us if you are in pain or feel sick. We have tablets/ injections that we can give you as and when required, so that you remain comfortable and pain free.

You may feel light-headed or sleepy after the operation. This is due to the anaesthetic and may continue until the next morning. It is also common to have a sore throat for 2 or 3 days after having a general anaesthetic. This sometimes happens because the anaesthetist (specialist doctor) has to pass a tube down your windpipe to give you the anaesthetic gases that keep you asleep during the operation.

Four hours after your operation we will ask you to stand up and start moving around.

Please make sure that you do your breathing exercises 10 times every two hours (between 8.00 am and 10.00 pm) and walk around for 10 minutes every two hours. You can combine doing your breathing exercise with walking around as you did before your operation.

Your wound will have been closed with clips that will be removed in clinic 7–10 days after surgery.

You will be allowed to start slowly sipping unlimited amounts of water, tea, coffee, milk, squash, ribena or bovril the day after surgery.

• Days 2–6 after surgery, you will be on a liquid diet
• Days 7–13 after surgery, you will be on a puréed diet
• Weeks 2–4 after surgery, you will be on a soft diet
• After 4 weeks, you can return to a regular diet

For further details, please see the diet plan given to you before surgery by the dietician.

Provided you are well enough, you may be able to go home the day after your operation. Your surgeon and/or physician will visit you on the ward to check your recovery from the operation.

If possible, please arrange for someone to come and collect you by car on the day of your discharge home, as you will not be able to drive yourself or travel on public transport.

It is important that you make the necessary plans as you will be expected to make your own arrangements for going home unless your doctor feels that there are special reasons why you need hospital transport.

You should continue to go for a minimum of a 30 minute walk every day, as this is good cardiovascular exercise.

You may feel different sensations in your wound such as tingling, itching or numbness. This is normal and is part of the healing process. However, if you experience a high temperature or fever, swelling, pain, discharge or excessive redness around the wound site, please contact us.

If you are unable to swallow or are having difficulties in swallowing, this may be because your band has slipped. Please contact your doctor or clinical nurse, using the numbers given to you before you go home.

1 week after surgery

You may still have some abdominal discomfort due to your wound, which will ease over the next few weeks. You can take painkillers for this if necessary. You should be able to return to work at this time.

Make sure that you do your walking exercises for 10 minutes every two hours. Continue following a predominantly liquid diet as instructed by your dietician. See your diet sheet for ideas and meal plans.

2 weeks after surgery

You should now be able to start on a diet of puréed foods. See your diet for ideas and meal plans.

You may experience symptoms of restriction (difficulty in swallowing), but most people are able to tolerate a puréed diet without any problems. Make sure that you continue to walk for 30 minutes each day.

3 weeks after surgery

You can now start eating a diet of predominantly soft foods. Make sure that you continue to walk for 30 minutes each day.

4 weeks after surgery

You can start eating ‘normal’ food (solids), but be careful with any food that does not crumble in hand, such as bread or broccoli because they can swell in the stomach causing bloating.

6 weeks after surgery

We will send you an appointment for the outpatient clinic. Your doctor or clinical nurse specialist will make the first adjustment of your band if necessary. This is performed in the outpatient setting an takes approximately 10 minutes. It is not painful as the skin over the port is generally numb.

7–52 weeks after surgery

You will not have scheduled clinic appointments during this time, but instead we will ask you to request an appointment to see the doctor, clinical nurse specialist or dietician as and when you need to for band adjustments.

1 year after surgery

We will now see you in the outpatient clinic once a year. Your doctor will give you a physical examination and check results of your blood tests.