Now that 2020 is behind us, we can begin to look ahead to a promising 2021. The coronavirus vaccine is being rolled out, we’ll soon be able to book our holidays and the whole country is hopeful that we can overcome the virus before summertime. If you’ve been struggling with your weight for a long time, there really has never been a better time to consider having weight loss surgery and rediscover your life!
For the first couple of months of 2021, the picture will be largely the same. While we combat the virus with lockdown 3.0, perhaps it’s time to plan for the future. Rules and restrictions have been put in place across the country, but private surgery, at the time of writing, can still go ahead. It’s a great time to be able to focus on losing weight, we’ve already seen what can be achieved during a global pandemic, if you’re on the fence about weight loss surgery, read the inspiring stories of Nikita, Nichola and Kristen below.
2021: what’s your new years resolution?
A 2019 study revealed that one-quarter of people in the UK made a new years resolution, and 44% of those people said theirs was to lose weight. The study also found that only 24% of people realised their resolution. So many of us say that we are committing to losing weight, and while we’re still locked down for the beginning of 2021, this year is a great opportunity to start on the right track and stick to it.
We all hope that soon enough the pandemic will be a thing of the past, so it’s time to plan for a happier and healthier life for when things get back to normal. Weight loss surgery remains the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off in the long term, reverse weight-related health conditions, and re-discover the life that your weight no longer allows you to live. Below, we give a breakdown of each weight loss procedure to help you decide which is the right one for you.
Rediscover your life with Healthier Weight
Reasons for choosing weight loss surgery vary; some want to start a family and be there for their children when they grow up, others have their procedure to help with health problems such as hypertension (high blood pressure), sleep apnoea or type 2 diabetes. Most people, however, just want to be healthier and happier in their own body.
In 2020, Healthier Weight patients who had their procedure from January to June have lost on average 44% of their excess BMI already. Gastric band patients lost an average of 31%, gastric sleeve patients lost 57% and gastric bypass patients said goodbye to 64% of theirs. This goes to show that while we’re locked down (again), it doesn’t have to stop us achieving our goals.
There are several factors to consider when deciding which weight loss surgery procedure is right for you, the first is your body mass index (BMI). If your BMI is over 30 you are eligible for the gastric band or ESG (non-surgical sleeve), if it’s over 35, you are eligible for either a gastric band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass or ESG with Healthier Weight.
The gastric band
The gastric band, otherwise known as the lap-band, is the most well known and historically popular weight loss procedure in the UK. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a less invasive procedure that is reversible. The band works by encouraging a feeling of fullness from much smaller portions when you slowly eat foods of the right texture.
It’s a day case procedure and our studies have shown that it is also the safest of all the weight loss procedures in terms of complication and re-operation rates. A silicone band is placed around the top of the stomach which creates a small ‘pouch’ above it. As the food squeezes through the band into the larger part of the stomach below, this is what encourages the feeling of fullness earlier on in your meals. For this reason, it’s important to eat meals slowly and ensure you’re getting the right nutrients into your smaller meals.
Despite being the least invasive procedure, the gastric band is still very effective. We expect patients to lose on average 50% of their excess weight over 2 years, most of this in the first year. We also expect most of this weight loss to be sustained in the long term.
Read some gastric band success stories here.
The gastric sleeve
Although the gastric band is the most well-known procedure, the gastric sleeve is now the most common form of weight loss surgery across the world. Around 80% of the stomach is removed leaving a much smaller and narrower stomach that resembles a ‘sleeve’.
This much smaller stomach helps you lose weight by restricting the amount that you can eat and also by changing gut hormones. Levels of the hormone Ghrelin fall after having a sleeve, which helps reduce the appetite and encourages a much healthier diet. A healthier diet and much smaller appetite are what makes the sleeve an incredibly effective procedure.
Gastric sleeve patients are expected to lose around 70% of their excess BMI over a two year period, some can achieve this weight loss in under 6 months.
The gastric bypass
The gastric bypass is generally regarded as the king of weight loss procedures. It is long-established and has proven to be both safe and effective. With a bypass, none of the stomach is removed but food is diverted more quickly through a smaller stomach into the bowel.
Patients can expect to lose about 70% of their excess weight over 2 years and most of this weight loss is maintained in the long term. Not only does the bypass deliver excellent weight loss results but it is also the most effective procedure for reversing weight-related health problems.
You can read everything you need to know about the gastric bypass here.
The ESG (non-surgical sleeve)
The Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is an exciting development in obesity treatment that offers people a safe and effective alternative to the established weight loss options. Its main attraction is that it is non-surgical so people benefit from a lower risk profile and faster recovery time.
The technique we use for ESG was developed by specialist bariatric surgeon, Mr Jamie Kelly, at our centre of excellence in Southampton. Mr Kelly is a world leader in ESG and sits on the manufacturer’s European Advisory Board.
Mr Kelly has developed an ESG technique known as Longitudinal Compression and it’s with this technique that ESG patients can benefit from more sutures than with the traditional technique. Therefore, Mr Kelly’s approach is now shown to deliver better weight loss outcomes with very low complication rates.
The ESG involves suturing the stomach from the inside to significantly reduce its capacity by up to 80%. After the procedure, the stomach remains intact but has been sutured from top to bottom to leave a smaller banana shaped stomach through which the food you eat passes.
Book a free, no-obligation, consultation
If you’re looking to rediscover your life in 2021, we’re here for you. The end of the pandemic isn’t too far away, but while we’re still locked down, there has never been a better time to focus on losing weight so that you’re ready to re-discover your life when all of this is over.
We’re offering free, no-obligation, consultations with a specialist surgeon that can be done from the comfort of your own home. Why not call the Healthier Weight team on 0800 313 4618 to get some information on the surgical and non-surgical treatment options available to you? Or click the button below to get a quote.