Gastric Band Surgery

People who choose Gastric Band Surgery can experience slow, sustainable and long-term weight loss (an average rate is losing up to 2 lbs per week). The surgery involves fitting a surgical band around the stomach pouch, dividing it into two sections. Food fills the smaller pouch first and then slowly fills the lower, larger section of the stomach. You will feel fuller much sooner when eating, and due to the slow release of food into the larger section of the stomach, fuller for longer. As a result, food/calorie intake is greatly reduced meaning sustainable weight loss is achieved. The band’s restriction can be adjusted, allowing comfortable and sustainable weight loss over time.

Although each individual is different, on average someone who has Gastric Band surgery can lose up to 50% of excess body weight in the first year after surgery. 

The positive health outcomes from Gastric Band surgery include significant weight loss and the reduction of conditions related to increased weight. This includes but not limited to:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• High Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure 
• Heart Disease 
• Stroke
• Mobility issue
• Joint pains
• Cancer
• Sleep Apnoea
• Infertility

Weight loss and better health can also improve the quality of your life and mental health, boosting self confidence and opening up new doors for how you want to live your life

Professor Puraksyastha will walk you through the preparation steps in the weeks leading up to your Gastric Band surgery. The support you are given is tailored to you, following full metabolic, dietetic and psychological assessments. This is to ensure the best preparation and outcomes possible.

Our specialist dietitian will help you to prepare for your Gastric Band surgery by undergoing a pre-operative liver-reduction diet lasting two weeks. The diet is low in fat and moderate in protein and low in calories, providing approximately 800-1000 kcal per day. The aim of the pre-operative diet is to shrink your liver meaning it can be moved more easily, making the operation safer. In the 24 hours before your surgery, you will be required to restrict your food and drink intake. 

Our specialist psychotherapists will also help you to be best prepared for your surgery, ensuring you have the psychological support to ensure best outcomes.

Dietary changes

There are three stages of texture modification diet following surgery, starting with a liquid diet and gradually building this back up to a long term, solid textured food.

Your specialist dietitian will help explain and guide your through the post-operative diet which follows the below stages:

• liquid diet (10 days)
• puree diet (3-4 weeks)
• soft diet (for around 6 weeks)

This is followed by a lifelong healthy, high protein diet of a normal solid texture from 12 weeks onwards.

Fluid intake remains important and you should aim to drink 1.5 litres a day.  Avoid high calorie fluids including hot drinks made with sugar and fizzy drinks as these can cause bloating and discomfort.

Alcohol should not be taken for three months after surgery and after this time in moderation after food.  

Lifestyle changes

Exercise –  After surgery we advise you to move around as much as possible and ensure that you don’t get dehydrated.  Exercise should be gentle for the two months –  i.e. swimming, walking, cycling. No heavy lifting or weight training for at least eight weeks

In the long-term, increased activity levels are needed alongside a reduced dietary intake for optimal and sustained weight loss after bariatric surgery.

Driving – You should not drive for the first two weeks following surgery and contact your insurance to find out what their guidelines are.  

We suggest that when you are ready to drive that you ask a family member or a friend to drive you to a quiet street where you can attempt an emergency stop. If it feels comfortable then it is fine for you to drive.

Travel – We advise that you do not take a long haul flights for 8 weeks following your surgery

You can take flights of no more than 2 hours duration from two weeks after your surgery

Pregnancy – We advise you to avoid pregnancy for 2 years after surgery. Oral contraception can be restarted 1 month after surgery

Smoking – It is strongly advised to quit smoking in the long-term as this can undo the positive health outcomes from surgery, and increases risk of ulceration in the gastric pouch, chest infections, cancers and heart disease.

After your recovery period has ended, you can start to enjoy the lifestyle changes that come about from better health and increased mobility associated with Gastric Band surgery.

Your aftercare package includes prolonged support from Mr. Purkayastha and your specialist dietitian, as well as the wider Surgical WeightMatters team. 

You will have in-person follow-up appointments with Mr. Purkayastha arranged 7-10 days, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery with the option of additional follow-up appointments to check in with your progress. 

You will have several post-operative appointments with your specialist dietitian as well, which are spread over 2 years after your surgery and tailored to suit your needs.

There is no limit to how many sessions you can have with the Surgical WeightMatters team. We are with you every step of the way to ensure the best support and outcomes possible.

My Purkayastrha will take time to talk you through the risks involved and ensure you are fully informed before consenting to Gastric Band surgery. 

Every effort ensures these risks are avoided, and Mr Purkayastha is an extremely experienced bariatric surgeon. However, there are short and long-term risks to the Gastric Band surgery which include:

Short-term risks:

• Pain 
• Vomiting
• Bleeding
• Infection of the wound or band
• Band slippage
• Adverse reactions to anaesthesia
• Blood clots
• Breathing or swallowing problems
• Potential complications from nutritional deficiencies
• Band intolerance

Long-term risks:

• Gastrointestinal obstruction
• Hernias
• Nerve damage
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Vomiting
• Blood clotting
• Stomach ulcers
• Barrett’s oesophagus

Weight regain, if diet and lifestyle changes are adhered to lifelong habits

Complications during surgery can result in elective or emergency medical or surgical (reoperation) treatment.

You will have regular follow-up appointments with Mr Purkastha to review how your band is performing, and how well your weight loss is going. 

Your band can be adjusted, tightened or loosened, to optimise the performance of the band. Band adjustments are relatively simple and pain-free procedures, the need for which will be assessed in your follow-up appointments with Mr Purakaystha.

Sometimes the gastric band can slip down, creating a larger top stomach pouch. This can be rectified through a simple procedure to reposition the band or adjust its tightness. 

Sometimes a band may need to be removed entirely. This can be the result of ineffective weight loss, weight regain or intolerance to the band. If this occurs, it is common to then explore other more effective bariatric surgery options such as the Sleeve or Bypass. 

Symptoms of band intolerance include prolonged periods of pain after eating, excessive nausea, difficulty with swallowing food.

If your band is not performing and aiding you in desired weight loss, the option of revisional surgery may be explored. My Purkayastha will talk you through your options and whether this would be beneficial to you.