Gastric Band Aftercare: The Key to Success

Consequences of Choosing the Wrong Provider

Healthier Weight has built a reputation as the UK’s leading band aftercare clinic. As evidence of this we were recently chosen to train NHS doctors and nurses on band aftercare. We also provide the national gastric band rescue service in order to help patients of other providers, often who have gone overseas for surgery. Our experience shows us that patients suffer from 3 main problems when they make the wrong choice for aftercare.

1. Over tightening (over filling) of the band

This is the most common problem and the consequences can be both painful and expensive. Best practice is to adjust the band slowly over several appointments to achieve the right fill volume based on the patient's individual needs (not too little, not too much).

Some clinics over tighten the band, perhaps due to commercial pressures or sometimes at the patient's request. This can cause short term vomiting and nausea which is uncomfortable but the bigger problem is that over time it can lead to pouch dilatation (a stretched pouch above the band). This usually results in revisional surgery, at the patient’s expense, to remove the band.

At Healthier Weight: Our patients receive band adjustments free of charge for the first 2 years and are advised that 6-8 band adjustments should be expected over 6 months to get their band working perfectly for them.

2.Port leakage

When a band is adjusted, saline is injected into a port below the skin using a syringe. In order to protect the port and prevent leakage the clinician needs to accurately locate the port and inject into the centre at a 90^o angle. To do so correctly requires skill, knowledge and experience.

At Healthier Weight: Our nurses see band patients every day of the week and are highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced. That's why your risk of port leakage with Healthier Weight is below 1%.

3.Tubing perforation

This is an uncommon problem but one that requires revisional surgery if it occurs. It is usually caused by either a device failure (the tubing splits due to a fault in manufacture) or because the clinician missed the port during a band adjustment, injecting the tubing in error.

At Healthier Weight: We ensure that each nurse knows where our surgeons place the port so they are able to locate it quickly and accurately. With Healthier Weight your risk of tubing failure is below 1%.