Here’s a few question you will need to ask to check whether the private surgery will cover:

• Does the private surgery cover the pre–op assessment blood tests and ECG? Surgeon, physician and dietitian fees?
• Are all hospital costs and operation costs included? Fees for surgeon and anaesthetist? What happens if there’s complications and you need to stay in hospital or need more specialised care?
• Is Follow up treatment included? What period of care is covered? How many visits to the surgeon (and how many band fills is incurred?) What about the dietitian? Does it include blood tests for RNY/BPD/DS patients? What if you need additional care?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions regarding your private surgery for gastric banding and what it entails. Many gastric band surgery packages will offer two band fills which normally is not enough. As many patients require several more adjustments over the next two years after the surgery to reach their weight loss goals. If possible get a package with slightly more of surgeon appointments and dietitians follow–up after surgery than to be faced with the dilemma of not doing as well as you had hoped and having to find the money for additional appointments.

Its a pity but most of the UK private health insurance companies will not reimburse the costs of the gastric band surgery as they see obesity is a chronic condition. BOSPA is lobbying the private insurers to adopt a more enlightened approach – treating the obesity will more than likely reduce the likelihood of the insurer having to pay out for many other treatments over subsequent years.

Some patients chose to travel to France or other countries like Belgium for gastric lap band surgery which will be done privately because the basic costs of the operation are considerably lower. However, you may miss out on the follow up care services that UK surgery will provide. Many surgeons may actually refuse to see you even privately if you have had your gastric surgery done abroad.

Whichever route you choose to follow for your surgery, the most important aspect is the follow up care and typically that provided at specialist UK obesity surgery centres will undoubtedly be the best. Multidisciplinary teams of doctors will ensure that the correct attention is given to all aspects of follow up such as weight loss progress, diet, exercise and social aspects, as well as the correct functioning of the alterations made to your anatomy by the surgery. This quality of care should not be compromised by your seeking treatment privately.

Diet after Gastric Banding Surgery

Immediately after your Gastric Banding operation has been completed, it is important to let it sit and rest so that scar tissue can form around it which is crucial to helping it fix in the correct position. If you were to eat a normal solid diet immediately after the operation your stomach muscles squeeze and churn to break down the food and put stress and pressure on the band and any stitches holding it in position.

The Gastric banding idea is to limit how much food your stomach pouch can contain, so you need to get to grips with your diet after Gastric Banding Surgery if you are going to get the best results. Whilst individual surgery centres do vary in their specific eating plan advice, here is general information and guidance for Gastric banding patients.

Your food will alter as time goes by and can be broken into two different time frames, the first being within the first four weeks and the other being beyond four weeks.

The first four weeks

You will start taking sips of water the day after the gastric band surgery and following day you will probably be able to take free fluids. Once you are taking fluids easily the next step is moving to puree.

The key point to your eating plan for the four weeks after gastric banding is to make sure all your food is pureed and that you eat small quantities (4–5 small meals per day).Here’s the key points to take note when preparing your diet:

• The texture should be something like smooth baby food and this can be achieved by using a food processor or hand–held blender, or push though a sieve to remove any lumps and remember to add a little water to make a smoother consistency.
• The size of your meals should be about 100g, or 5–6 tablespoons is the correct amount. Ensure you eat this slowly and eat in small mouthfuls.
• Stop eating as soon as you start to feel full as your pouch is at the top of your stomach, the feeling of fullness you will get is different from the feeling before and has been explained as a tightness in your chest not your stomach.
• Drink 1.5 litres of water (2 1/2 pints) every day in 100-200ml portions which is too be taken between meals and not with the meal as it could fill you up fast.

Example meals during this stage:

By controlling your diet after Gastric Banding Surgery you will gain the maximum comfort and results, combine this with a exercise after gastric banding surgery routine and your gastric surgery recovery process will be improved.