Home BMI Calculator About Obesity About the Surgeon About the Surgery About the Hospital Payment Options Case Studies FAQ's Register for a Consultation Thornbury Hospital site
Call our helpline on 01142 661 133
For a consultation click here or call 0114 266 4455
Experienced Care at Thornbury
Image of Thornbury Hospital staff

Many who want to lose weight are now opting for surgery at Thornbury Hospital under the experienced care of our consultant surgeon Mr Roger Ackroyd. Following a consultation he will be able to recommend the most suitable treatment for your obesity. We are currently able to perform a number of procedures that are all recognised by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), as well as biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch.

VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY

In this operation, commonly known as “stomach stapling”, staples are placed across the upper stomach to create a small pouch with a relatively narrow outlet, around which is placed a silicone band. No part of the stomach is removed. This produces a restriction to the amount of food that you are able to eat and, if you try to overeat, you may vomit. Rapid and significant weight loss can be achieved with this operation.

LAPAROSCOPIC GASTRIC BANDING

One of the least invasive approaches to obesity surgery, as neither the stomach nor the intestine is cut. An inflatable silicone band is placed around the upper stomach, creating a small gastric pouch. This acts to restrict the amount of food you are able to eat. It is very flexible as it is adjustable and, if necessary, reversible. The band is adjusted by inserting or removing fluid using a needle through the skin into a small port, which is placed over the breastbone. The amount of weight lost depends on how tight the band is adjusted and on your motivation and commitment to alter your eating habits.

GASTRIC BYPASS

In this operation the upper stomach is either stapled or divided to create a small gastric pouch. The small intestine is then divided at a much lower point (the exact position depending on your BMI) and is joined up to the pouch, to create a new way through for the food to pass. This means that any food you eat will no longer enter the main portion of the stomach, but rather bypasses this area and passes directly into the bowel. With this operation the weight loss is achieved through a combination of restriction of the amount able to be tolerated and malabsorption of what is eaten, such that only a proportion of the food that is eaten is actually absorbed.

BILIOPANCREATIC DIVERSION/DUODENAL SWITCH

In this operation most of the stomach is removed and the small intestine is divided much lower down. The divided intestine is then joined on to the stomach remnant to create a new way through for the food to pass. By doing so the amount of food able to be eaten is somewhat reduced but also much of the small bowel is bypassed. The weight loss is therefore achieved by a degree of restriction of intake, but largely by malabsorption. The amount of food able to be eaten may be slightly more than with a gastric bypass, but it may lead to a degree of diarrhoea. This operation tends to be reserved to people with a very high BMI.

If you'd like to find out more about obesity surgery at Thornbury Hospital then register for a consultation now or call us on 0114 266 4455.