Gastric Band Service

Informal presentations and advice from the dedicated weight loss team including consultant surgeons Mr Justin Morgan and Miss Sally Norton will be available. Bariatric Nurse practitioner/counsellor Sharon Bates, Specialist dietician Lynn Sawyer and Consultant Physician Dr Andrew Johnson will be on hand to answer any questions that you may have. You will also be able to meet some previous patients.

The evening will include a question and answer session with the team and opportunity to speak with the team and former patients on an individual basis.

Light refreshments will be available from 7.15pm and presentations will begin at 7.30pm. Places are limited so please reserve your place(s) by using our contact us page or by calling 0117 9804023. Please bring your invite with you on the night. This will be sent to you with the confirmation details including details of the event and directions to the venue.

Breaking news! - Sharon on BBC Television

This morning (3 June 2008), on BBC Breakfast television, Sharon Bates took part in a discussion concerning gastric banding (and Fern Britton). See the interview in full here.

Who We Are

Sharon Bates is an Advanced Nurse Specialist [Counsellor] working within the National Health Service in Bristol and the Private sector at the Spire Bristol Hospital, and Cheltenham and Gloucester Nuffield Hospital.

Her roles include:

• Performing and advising on gastric band adjustments
• Involvement in research linked to obesity and weight loss surgery.
• Coordinating and triaging English speaking patients for one of the most experienced bariatric surgeons - Dr Vincent Frering in Lyon, France.

All private sector work is under the umbrella of de Montagnac Consultants Ltd. Reg in England.

Please use our contact us page if you'd like get in touch with Sharon. For information on her work at Spire Bristol Hospital, we recommend visiting the Avon Obesity Service website.

Adjustable Gastric Banding

LAP banding, Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)

Gastric banding is the placement of an adjustable silicone band around the top part of the stomach. This is a commonly practised operation in Europe. It is described as the safest method of weight loss surgery and has proven results. When a gastric band is placed there is no cutting or mutilation of the stomach or intestines.

• Up to 65% reduction of excess body weight loss is expected with gastric banding
• Five year post op studies demonstrate sustained weight loss comparable with other surgical weight loss procedures at this time
• No cutting, removal or stapling of digestive system is required
• This operation is totally reversible with another key hole (laparoscopic) operation

There are many and varied designs of LAGB. The MIDband itself is unique in design and easy and swift to fit by laparoscopic surgery. Most patients are discharged the day after having an adjustable gastric band placed. For some the procedure is performed as day case surgery - being admitted and discharged on the day of surgery.

Further information on banding can be found on our gastric banding page.

Gastric Band Adjustments/Fills

Having had the surgery, you will need to learn to work with your band and understand that you will have to reach a point of ideal adjustment/restriction. Wherever you had gastric banding surgery, we can offer band adjustments at a competitive rate - please ask us for a quote.

In addition to performing fills, we are able to:

• Put you in contact with people in the UK who have a gastric band already in place
• Put you in contact with someone to act as a 'buddy' for you - someone who you can talk to

For an alternative source of information on band adjustments, we recommend the Avon Obesity Service (AOS) website. Note that low rate financing is now available from AOS.

Other Services We Offer

Pre-Operative Support

If you decide to opt for surgery in France, we can:

• Send you the appropriate documentation to complete [SAE to PO Box required for all correspondence]
• Arrange appointment dates and date for surgery
• Advise regarding follow up care - adjustments within the UK, etc

Unfortunately, we are not able to pre-book flights or transport

For useful pre-operative information, go to our Pre-Operative Support page.

Journey Preparation Service

Should you choose to travel abroad for Gastric Band surgery, support and advice can begin before your journey:

• Advice on booking travel and accommodation
• Moral support and advice on living with the band directly from people who already have the gastric band in place

Surgery in the UK and Abroad

Ideally and wherever possible it is recommended that you seek gastric banding in your country of residence. You should expect that access to a professional and comprehensive service is supported by a referral from your own doctor.

As an analogy, if you were considering redecorating your home it is unlikely that you would simply answer a decorator's advertisement. Most would seek more than one recommendation, an example of the professional's work together with a full and detailed financial quote. The option of surgical intervention is not an easy option and involves your life.

All multi disciplinary teams (MDT) who are recognised and experienced in weight loss surgery should request a letter from your GP as part of the professional referral process and assessment. Sadly, in some unusual cases, this is not a feasible option. Even so, please try to discuss your decision with your family doctor.

Some people may choose to consider travelling to Europe for surgery. Unfortunately some base their choice simply on 'cut price' options rather than experience, reputation or outcome. We strongly recommend that you do not base your decision purely on cost alone - this is your life not a shopping trip!

Historically, countries such as France have greater experience of gastric banding and other weight loss surgery. In some cases surgeons place and have placed far in excess of the annual turnover of most UK surgeons and have long term experience in management.

There are few specialist multi disciplinary teams (MDT) in the UK who have extensive experience in gastric banding, the essential long term follow up care and how to deal with any unexpected complications over time. This is changing as surgery for weight loss increases in popularity for all parties involved - not least the commercial organisations. An MDT is a group of experienced health care practitioners involved in pre and post operative care. Those involved with weight loss surgery include, specialist nutritionist/ dietician, surgeon, physician, specialist nurse, radiologist and psychologist.

Should you choose to pay for your surgery in the UK the cost will vary; some services do not include full medical assessment pre-surgery and may or may not include follow up appointments in the cost. It is important to remember that follow-up care with a gastric band is essential to its success, so be prepared for this (possibly additional) cost.

In the UK and Ireland gastric band surgery is not covered by private health insurance - however, some banks or hospitals such as Spire Hospital Bristol do offer personal finance for private medical treatment as well as a comprehensive package which includes some post operative band adjustments.

Should you decide that surgery is for you, it is imperative that you consider the financial aspects in depth prior to committing yourself to private treatment, wherever you choose to have your surgery. It is worth noting that the cost abroad is usually significantly lower than those quoted in the UK however always explore who will provide your essential after care and where will this be undertaken. Please be aware that UK surgeons can refuse to give treatment if you have had surgery overseas.

You also need to be fully aware of system of follow-up care in the UK should you not return to Europe for band adjustments and support. There are now several areas that will perform band adjustments for those who have had surgery overseas (e.g. Avon Obesity Service based at the Spire Hospital Bristol). Very occasionally some areas of the UK will offer NHS band adjustments following surgery either in the UK or overseas; however, this currently seems to vary considerably throughout the country.

We would be happy to answer your questions on any aspects of surgery aboard (quotes, advice on follow-up care, etc). Details of surgeons in France that we facilitate for can be found on our surgeons page.