Gastric bypass surgery at Spire Claremont Hospital

Being overweight is hard - both on your physical health and your mental well being. Obesity increases your chances of developing a number of serious health problems such as cancer, coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It can also result in low self-esteem and confidence, preventing you from doing the things you enjoy and living your life to the fullest.

A gastric bypass could be the most effective surgical weight loss treatment if you:

• are morbidly obese (have a BMI of over 40)
• have a BMI of over 35 and suffer from a condition that poses a serious health risk (eg, diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure)
• have tried all appropriate non-surgical measures but have failed to achieve or maintain adequate, clinically beneficial weight loss
• are generally fit for anaesthesia and surgery and commit to the need for long-term follow-up.

By reducing the size of your stomach and redirecting food in the digestive tract, the surgery aims to reduce the amount of calories absorbed while helping you to feel full after eating smaller meals. In addition to losing a large amount of weight, people who have had gastric bypass surgery with us said it helped them:

• reduce their appetite
• have better health, more energy and improved mental well being
• worry less about developing serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes
• have more self-esteem and self-confidence
• take part in new activities, such as playing sport with their children
• experience a positive, long term change in attitude towards healthy eating
• have improved health and mobility.

The procedure has also helped many people with health conditions related to obesity – such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and obstructive sleep apnoea. It can also reduce the impact of type 2 diabetes more quickly than other stomach reduction procedures such as gastric band and gastric sleeve surgery.

Our healthcare standards

If you decide to have your treatment with us, you will be looked after by an experienced multi-disciplinary care team.

We are proud of the cleanliness of our hospitals and centres. And because we want our patients and GPs to make informed choices about your healthcare, we were one of the first private hospitals to publish clinical performance and patient reports including information on our rates of MRSA blood infection and clostridium difficile infection.

We also publish ratings for the percentage of patients who would recommend our hospitals to others, dignity and respect, pain control, trust and confidence in our nurses and involvement in decisions about care and treatment.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see, and when you want. They'll be with you every step of the way.

All of our consultants are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospitals.

Our consultants have high standards to meet, often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. Many of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.

This is your formal consultation with the consultant of your choice. During this time you'll be able to explain your medical history, weight loss goals and the benefits of the various procedures available to you. Your consultant will discuss if another treatment would be more effective for you - such as a gastric band or gastric sleeve surgery - or if you can be booked straight in at a time and hospital convenient to you.

Weight loss procedures, including this option, can be life-changing and make many people healthier and happier. Your consultant will also want to confirm you're fit for surgery.

We're here to listen and help you every step of the way so that you can live your life to the fullest.

We’ve tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible. 

For more information on visiting hours, our food, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information page.

You might also be asked to fast for the six hours before surgery and follow a special diet for a few weeks before, which will help shrink your liver, making keyhole surgery more viable.

For more information on visiting hours, what to pack if you’re staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient and visitor information page. 

We're here to help every step of the way.

We understand that having surgery can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you every step of the way.

You will have a general anaesthetic which means you'll be asleep throughout the surgery.

Your surgeon will create a small compartment at the top of your stomach using staples. This will effectively be your new stomach and as it will be small, it will fill up quickly with food, giving you a sensation of fullness.

A piece of your intestine is then joined to this compartment, which bypasses the rest of your stomach and the upper part of the intestine, where most nutrients and calories are usually absorbed.

The operation normally takes two to three hours.

You will normally need to stay in hospital for about three days after the procedure so we can look after you and make sure you are happy with everything before you go home.

After this, you will be taken to your room or comfortable area where you can rest and recuperate until we feel you’re ready to go home.

Our team of dietitians and specialist nurses will look after you throughout your stay and provide support and advice after surgery. They’ll also help you plan a long-term healthy diet which will include taking vitamin and mineral supplements.

Pain relief

You'll be in pain for a few days as your stomach heals but we'll provide you with appropriate pain relief and medication to soothe this and any problems such as nausea and vomiting. If you need them, continue taking painkillers as advised by the hospital. 

We will provide you with a supply of all the medicines your consultant feels you need to take home with you after you've left hospital, up to 14 days. This may be at an additional cost to some patients.

Your recovery

You'll probably be able to eat a light meal after a few days.

When you go home at first you should avoid high fibre food (such as rice, beans and most healthy breakfast cereals). Your Spire dietitian will give you further advice; and remember that fibre is good to eat again when you’ve recovered.

Your mobility will be affected so you’ll need a friend or relative to take you home from hospital.

Your stitches are usually removed before you leave hospital. The skin staples are usually taken out 12 to 14 days after surgery. Please contact the hospital if you have any concerns

You can probably start back at work and get back to normal life after three to five weeks.

End result

You are likely to lose weight more quickly with this procedure than if you had a gastric band fitted. As you’ll be eating less from the day of your operation you should notice some weight loss after just a week or two.

It's important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly after this surgery to maintain your weight loss.

How your loved ones can help

You should ask a friend or relative to take you home from hospital as you won't feel up to driving and to help you around the house for the few days. 

Looking after you

Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still looking after you every step of the way. When you leave we’ll provide you with all the appropriate medication and dietary advice you need.

Typically your consultant will want to see you after your treatment to see how you’re doing, a date will be arranged for you before you leave hospital. You might also be seen again by one of our professional dietitians.

On rare occasions, complications following gastric surgery can occur. The chance of complications depends on the exact type of operation you are having and other factors such as your general health. Your consultant will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.

But everyone is different. If you have any questions or concerns, we’re ready to help.

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.