Gastric bands and gastric bypass – what’s new and is it right for you?

The Harley Street Health Centre has for many years been at the forefront of bariatric surgery.  We know what works and for whom, when it’s right and when it’s not.   When considering any kind of bariatric surgery, here is what you need to know.  Recently, bariatric surgery has moved forward in complexity and reduction of risk.  We are working with the foremost surgeons in the field who are experts in keyhole bariatric surgery.

Surgery is no guarantee of weight loss.  Although you will almost certainly experience rapid weight loss in the first few months, you can regain this and your weight will not continue to drop if your eating habits are not improved.  Before considering surgery, we always recommend taking a few important steps to improve the outcome and your chances of reaching your healthy weight:

1. We will need to rule out any physiological or medical reason for your weight gain including thyroid function problems, hormonal imbalances, metabolic syndrome and so on.
2. Together we need to work through the emotional elements of your eating – do you eat when you are stressed, tired, bored or upset?  This won’t change if you have surgery so we do need to replace these habits with healthier ones.  We also need to work together to boost your confidence and self-esteem and work through any negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to over-eating.
3. Both before and after surgery, you need support to understand your body, its needs and what to expect.  Many providers of bariatric surgery do not provide this and it can be scary and difficult not knowing.  We will educate you and ensure you know everything you need to.

We will soon be launching a new website dedicated to bariatric surgery and you can meet the people who have already gone through this life-changing experience.  In the meantime, feel free to call the clinic and ask for Alya to organise a free initial consultation.