Gastric Band Procedure Available in Sheffield
    Every year, hundreds of people successfully lose weight with the NOSC Gastric Band Programme. Our national network of  hospitals   includes hospitals in Sheffield. By joining the growing number of NOSC   patients you can be sure that our professionally-qualified team in   Sheffield will give you the support and dedicated individual patient   care that you need to achieve significant weight loss. The Gastric Band is a revolutionary and simple way to lose weight and change your   relationship with food forever. Patients have lost up to 13 stones  with the gastric band from The National Obesity Surgery Centre programme.
 
 
    What is a Gastric Band?
    
    
    The Gastric Band is a small inflatable band that fits around   the top of your stomach to restrict your food intake and control your   hunger.
    When the band is inflated it creates a small upper stomach pouch and   a narrowed outlet, limiting the stomach’s capacity to intake food and   increasing the feeling of fullness. The combination of these two effects   results in significant weight loss.
    The adjustable Gastric Band has been used in hundreds of thousands of patients throughout the world over many years, and has been shown to be:
    
      - Safe
 
      - Effective
 
      - Well tolerated
 
      - Easily reversed
 
      - Does not require invasive surgery
 
      - Associated with few complications in experienced hands
 
    
    What is a band adjustment?
    Adjustments are made by adding or removing fluid from the band via   the small access port which is located just under your skin. This is a   quick 10 minute out patient procedure. Your band is usually filled for   the first time six weeks after your surgery.
    As the purpose of the band is to severely restrict your capacity to   eat, you must be prepared to adopt a very different eating pattern.   Meals are going to be small, although most patients are able to eat   normal food. Some people find this adjustment to their eating habits   easier to make than others
    What is laparoscopic surgery?
    Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery is a minimally invasive surgical   technique in which surgery is performed using slender surgical   instruments, passed through small incisions in the abdomen. This creates   less tissue damage than large, open surgical procedures. After   laparoscopic surgery patients report much less pain and fewer wound   complications. Patients also recover faster and are able to resume   normal activities sooner.
    
    
    Is a Gastric Band suitable for me?
    
    
    If you have followed every diet regime going in an attempt   to shift your excess weight and feel that you need a long term aid to   help you to control your weight, the Gastric Band may be the solution   for you.
    To qualify, your BMI should be over 30 and you should understand that you will need to work with your Gastric Band to achieve significant long term results.
    Why might I choose a Gastric Band for my weight loss procedure?
    Years of losing and gaining weight results in repeated failed   behaviour around food and eating. If you truly believe that you do not   have the discipline to maintain your weight loss and feel that you would   benefit from the safety net and reassurance of a long term procedure,   then Gastric Banding may be the answer for you.
    
    
    The procedure
    
    
    What happens during the procedure?
    The Gastric Band operation takes around 30 minutes and is carried out under general   anaesthesia via laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. Four tiny incisions are   made to the upper abdomen and the band is fitted around the top of the   stomach with the use of a special telescope and camera. A fifth incision   is made at the site of the access port.
    Attached to the silicone band is a fine soft silicone tube. At the   time of your operation the surgeon brings this tube through most of your   abdominal wall from the inside. To the end of this tube is attached a   small port.
    This is fixed under your skin and allows your surgeon to add or   remove small amounts of sterile saline into your band system. In doing   this it is possible to adjust the amount of restriction the band is   placing around your stomach. The Gastric Band will dictate how quickly   food will enter your stomach.
    
    
    
    
    Aftercare
    
    
    Immediately after the Gastric Band procedure you’ll be required to stick to a liquid only diet for about   two weeks. You will gradually progress to blended then soft foods and   then on to normal foods in small portions.
    You will have lots of support to help you through this time. One of   our bariatric nurses will contact you daily for the first week and then   our nutritional support team will take over. They will guide you through   the dietary requirements until you feel confident about your new way of   eating and living with your Gastric Band.
    Our support team will keep you motivated and help you address issues around food that you may want to work through.