We’ve tried to answer some of the most frequently asked here. If there’s anything you’d like to know that isn’t covered, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

How much weight will I lose?
Am I eligible for surgery?
Which surgeons and hospitals do you use?
How much will it cost for the surgery?
Will I have a local or general anaesthetic?
How long will the procedure take?
How long will I be in hospital?
How long shall I not drive for after the operation?
What scarring will I have?
What risks are associated to weight loss surgery?
How long will I be off work?
When will I be able to fly following my procedure?
What aftercare will I need?
Will I ever be able to eat normal food again?
What if I get pregnant?
Can I still take my medication?
Will I need to take vitamin supplements?
Will I need to exercise?
Can I drink alcohol?
Will I need cosmetic surgery after weight loss surgery?
Why is it cheaper to have surgery in Preston and Kent?

How much weight will I lose?

This very much depends on the procedure you have chosen to have and how much you work with it. On average gastric band patients lose 50%-60% of excess weight within 2 year, gastric bypass patients lose 66-80% of excess weight within 2 years and sleeve gastrectomy patients lose 50% of excess weight within 2 years.

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Am I eligible for surgery?

In the UK, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published criteria for those considering weight loss surgery.

In order to be eligible you must:

• Be over the age of 18

• Demonstrate that all appropriate and available non-surgical measures have been adequately tried but  have failed to maintain weight loss

•  Have a genuine desire to overcome your obesity problems and demonstrate full commitment to finally getting your weight under control

•  Fully understand both the benefits and the risks of weight loss surgery

•  Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 to 39 with other obesity related health problems, or have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above.


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Which surgeons and hospitals do you use?

We use several surgeons and hospitals throughout the UK. Our surgeons have each performed hundreds of weight loss operations. We are pleased to be able to offer a ‘choose and book’ service. At the WLS Group we firmly believe every patient should get the surgery you need, not the surgery that's available. We have worked with lots of patients over the years and know that some have had a weight loss procedure that was not necessarily right for them.

However, it was the only procedure available from the provider at the time they had their surgery.

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How much will it cost for the surgery?

Surgery costs depend on the procedure you have. Please call us on 0800 78 79 029 for
further information.

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Will I have a local or general anaesthetic?

All surgery is performed under general anaesthetic.

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How long will the procedure take?

This depends on the procedure you choose to have. A gastric band procedure usually takes approx 45 minutes – 1 hour, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy take approx 2 hours.

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How long will I be in hospital?

This depends on the procedure you choose to have. Gastric band patients will have a 1-night stay and gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients will have a 3-night stay.

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How long should I not drive for after the operation?

You should not drive for 2-3 days after surgery.

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What scarring will I have?

Your procedure will normally be performed laparoscopically (keyhole surgery). Generally five incisions (approx 2-3cms in length) are made during surgery, two under the breastbone and three across the abdomen.

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What risks are associated to weight loss surgery?

It is important you understand the risks associated with weight loss surgery. Your surgeon will make sure you are fully informed and committed to make changes before you sign WLS Group terms and conditions.

Obesity is a disease, being seriously overweight is a great risk to your health. Whilst surgery does carry risks, these are far outweighed by the risk of you doing nothing.

Laparoscopic weight loss surgery carries some risks and complications. But on the whole is regarded as a much safer procedure with a quicker recovery rate and reduced pain, infection risk and anaesthetic time than that of open surgery.

See the individual weight loss procedures we offer for further information on the risks associated with each weight loss surgical procedure.

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How long will I be off work?

This depends upon what you do for a living and the procedure you have chosen to have. Gastric band patients usually return to work within 1 week and gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients normally return to work within 2 weeks.

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When will I be able to fly following my procedure?

You should be fit to fly short haul approximately 5 days following your procedure. For long haul flights, it is advised you wait 4-6 weeks following your procedure. The gastric band does not set off airport security systems.

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What aftercare will I need?

We invest heavily in resources for our post-operative care. Weight loss surgery is the first part of your journey. 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.

When creating our comprehensive aftercare programme we listened to patient feedback and were guided by patients who had been there. Our programme will ensure you learn about and have the chance to get used to the changes in lifestyle and eating habits you will need to make to get the most out of your surgery.

We also provide a 24-hour emergency helpline, which you can call seven days a week. Knowing there is help at hand 24-hours per day is very re-assuring. We even give you a medical identification card to keep with you at all times in the event of an emergency.

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Will I ever be able to eat normal food again?

In short, yes. Following your surgery you will be asked to follow a post operative regime to allow the stomach to recover from surgery and to enable your body to adjust to a new digestive process.

Knowing what to eat is one thing. Being able to do it can be a whole different ball game. You will start to eat normal food again, albeit smaller portions. You will also need to make some changes to your eating habits.

Don’t worry though. We know how challenging this can be and are here to support you every step of the way.

99.9% of the patients we see did not get to the weight they were before their operations because they were hungry! We truly understand how and why some people ‘use’ food as a crutch and know that this has nothing to do with greed and gluttony.

Our Health Educators and Dieticians actually do ‘get’ where you’re coming from and are passionate about supporting you through your journey, understanding your needs, and getting you through those days when you really feel you can’t cope on this roller coaster journey.

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What if I get pregnant?

Great news! Let us know and we can ensure your care pathway is changed to reflect your condition. We will monitor you very closely to ensure you and your baby are kept healthy.

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Can I still take my medication?

We will talk to you more about the medication you are taking at your consultation as some tablets can be crushed down during the post operation regime. You may be asked to check with your GP.

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Will I need to take vitamin supplements?

Yes, depending on the procedure you choose to have depends on the supplements you will need to take. We will give you further information at your consultation.

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Will I need to exercise?

Exercise plays a big part of your weight loss journey and you are encouraged to increase your physical activity both before and after your surgery. We are not advising you to go to the expense of a gym membership at this stage. Simply increasing the amount of steps you take each day will make a huge difference. You will be given fitness information and advice about physical activity before and after your surgery from one of our Fitness Advisors.

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Can I drink alcohol?

Yes – in moderation.

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Will I need cosmetic surgery after weight loss surgery?

How much excess skin you have depends on you, your body and how much weight you lose. Every patient feels different about how they look when they get near to their goal weight. Please wait approximately 2 years after surgery before making any decisions about cosmetic surgery.

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Why is it cheaper to have surgery in Preston and Kent?

We are able to offer substantial savings at our bariatric centres in Preston and Kent with accredited Upper GI Bariatric surgeons due to discounted hospital fees. Both hospitals are Healthcare Commission approved with high grade facilities.

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