What we offer for non WLS Group patients:

• Aftercare Packages (6, 12, 24 and 36 month packages available)
• Gastric Band Adjustment Clinics (‘pay as you need’ band adjustments)
• 6 Week Bariatric Surgery Course ( a group based programme of support and advice)
• Bariatric Surgery Support Clinics (one-to-one consultations).
• Gastric Band Rescue Packages (for patients who have problems with their gastric band, which require further surgical treatment

Aftercare packages

You can choose from our 6 month, 12 month, 24 month or 36 month aftercare packages. We offer our unique aftercare packages to WLS Group patients, and also to non WLS Group patients. If you have had surgery elsewhere and have no aftercare or your existing package has come to an end choose from the following:

6 Month Aftercare Package - £345
12 Month Aftercare Package - £695
24 Month Aftercare Package - £995
36 Month Aftercare Package - £1,195

• Welcome Pack and Bariatric Surgery Guide.
• Access to our specialist bariatric nurse to offer expert medical advice and regular medical reviews.
• Access to our bariatric nutritionists to offer expert nutritional advice on making the most of the procedure you have chosen to have.
• Access to our specialist fitness advisors - increase your physical activity to work with the procedure you have chosen to have.
• Unlimited clinical band adjustments included in your package (adjustments under X-ray control will be charged separately). 3 band adjustments in final year of 3 year package.
• Access to our cosmetic surgeons specialising in body contouring after weight loss.
• Monthly Support Group Meetings for patients  (handouts are posted to you if you are unable to attend)
• Monthly 1-1 consultations and telephone and/or email support and three review appointments in your third year.
• 24 hour emergency help line enabling you to have 24 hour access to our Specialist Bariatric Nurse.
• Behaviour modification tools – guiding you on how to get the best out of your surgery.
• A patient forum for you to give us feedback on how we can improve our service and the opportunity to buddy up with other patients.

Gastric band adjustment clinics

Weight loss surgery is the first part of a long process. For gastric band patients, adjustments are a big part of your aftercare and key to your success. Support is ultimately the one part of your journey that truly does make a real difference to your end goal.

Following your surgery you may already have an aftercare programme that includes your gastric band adjustments. However, if you do not have these included we may be able to offer you a gastric band adjustment service only.

You can choose one of our aftercare plus programmes. However, if funds do not allow you to join our programme you can pay for your adjustments as you need them.

When it comes to adjustments we do follow a strict protocol – to protect you and keep you (and your band) safe. A full medical assessment will be required prior to your band being adjusted. Some patients need 2 - 3 adjustments before they feel restriction, others may need 5 or 6, every patient is different.

Initial medical assessment	Clinical adjustments	X-ray adjustments (if requested)
£125*	£95	From £150
*Includes an adjustment if clinically indicated

All adjustments (other than an x-ray) will be carried out clinically by a member of our specialist nursing team in one of our consultation rooms (our protocol must be followed).

6-Week bariatric surgery course

Through your research into bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery), you will have probably realised that surgery is only one step on the road to weight loss success.

Diet, physical activity and behavioural modification are essential if you want to be successful now and in the longer term. Surgery alone is not the cure, instead it should be viewed as a tool to help and support you in complying with a weight reducing diet.

The 6-week Bariatric Course is based around motivational and inspirational behavioural modification modules designed to educate patients about how to get the best outcome from their procedure. Many of the approaches and strategies we teach you incorporate ‘cognitive behaviour therapy’ and techniques derived from behavioural psychology. The programme also covers nutrition and dietary education specifically relevant for people who have had or are thinking about weight loss surgery.

Who is it for?

People thinking about having surgery

You may be thinking about having weight loss surgery and know all about how a gastric band or bypass works technically e.g. the creation of the pouch. However, you may not feel confident or even understand the behavioural and lifestyle changes that need to take place after surgery.

The most difficult part of the bariatric surgery process is not the surgery itself. It is the behavioural and lifestyle change required to be successful with the surgery. That’s why The Weight Loss Surgery Group place so much emphasis on aftercare for patients.

The 6-week Bariatric Surgery Course aims to help you psychologically and practically prepare yourself for the reality of life after weight loss surgery. Research shows that this will increase your chances of weight loss success (Brandenburg & Kotlowski, 2005, Obesity Surgery). It may even help you to make that final decision as to whether the surgery is indeed right for you.

You owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can and take time in choosing whether or not to make what can be a life changing decision!

Patients who have had surgery

Weight loss surgery is the first part of a long process, aftercare is the key to your success. Support is ultimately the one part of your journey that truly does make a real difference to your end goal.  

If you have had surgery and your package does not include aftercare or you have come to the end of your aftercare package contract, or you are just struggling and want a kick start in getting yourself back on track, the 6-week Bariatric Surgery Course can help you.

It will introduce you to or remind you of the important behavioural and lifestyle changes that you have to make, and we will provide you with all the advice and guidance as well as support and encouragement you need to put these changes into practice and achieve your weight loss objectives.


What is involved?

• An initial telephone consultation with the nutritionist and/or nurse
• A private weekly clinical review and weigh in for 6 weeks
• Weekly attendance at one of our seminars for 6 weeks
• Weekly telephone and/or email contact with the nutritionist/nurse for 6 weeks (although we do have an open door policy for help and advice after the 6 weeks)
• A 20% discount on your first band adjustment with our specialist bariatric nurse, Wendy Stubbs, or a 10% discount off our Aftercare Plus Programme
• The opportunity to buddy up with other patients in the group
• The opportunity to speak to or email patients who have had surgery with the Weight Loss Surgery Group

The course costs £169 for 6 weeks.


Bariatric surgery support clincs

Good, professional advice before and after bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) makes all the difference when it comes to being successful with the weight loss procedure you have chosen to have.

People who have had weight loss surgery and who do not receive adequate nutritional and dietary instructions are more at risk of developing post operative problems such as nutritional deficiencies, intolerance of a variety of foods, pain/discomfort after eating or drinking, vomiting, reduced satiety (feeling of fullness) and ultimately, poor weight loss.

The purpose of our Bariatric Surgery Support clinics is:

• To educate patients who have had weight loss surgery on how to get the best outcome from their weight loss procedure
• To holistically assess the eating habits and preferences of people  who have had weight loss surgery
• To make recommendations that aim to minimise/prevent post-operative problems and help patients successfully achieve their weight loss objectives
• To offer support and advice to people who are in the Weight Maintenance Stage following weight loss surgery
  
  

Consultations are carried out by one of our bariatric nutrition specialists, and on a one-to-one basis to ensure that you get personalised advice and support. The first consultation is £40, all subsequent follow up appointments, if required, are £25. Each appointment lasts 45 minutes and includes an assessment of your weight, waist measurement, BMI and Body composition, a lifestyle assessment (e.g. eating behaviours/habits), physical activity advice and nutritional and dietary advice.

Gastric band rescue package

In general, the risks associated with gastric band surgery are very small. Mortality rates during surgery are reported to be 1 in 2000. In a small percentage of people, longer term complications may arise that require medical treatment and/or corrective surgery.

This Gastric Band Rescue Package  is available to patients who have a gastric band in situ for some time and have developed a medical problem that requires further surgical treatment. Examples of such complications include:

• Port Positioning - some patients find that the port is quite prominent, uncomfortable and/or not aesthetically pleasing after weight loss if it is located under the breast bone
• Port Inaccessibility due to it’s position - a flipped port or a port positioned at a poor angle makes gastric band adjustments more technically difficult, possibly requiring all adjustments to be under X-ray control
• Tubing problems - leakages can take place in the tubing or the tubing can become disconnected from the rest of the gastric band device
• Band Slippage (prolapse) -  a part of the stomach slides (slips) up through the band creating a larger pouch. In the majority  of cases this requires removal of the band
• Band erosion - this is a long term complication where the band can gradually erode into the stomach wall. This is a serious problem that requires removal of the band
• Revisional Surgery - band failure is reported to occur in 5% of patients. This surgery is for patients who have failed with their band and wish to convert to a gastric bypass

Some problems can be easily managed, others are more serious. We aim to assess the problem in the most cost effective way and advise you as to what would be the best method to correct the problem. We can then, if clinically indicated, offer you a Surgical Package with aftercare to get you back on that road to weight loss success.

The initial consultation costs £50.

Complete the enquiry form to register your interest and a member of the team will contact you.