Gastric band surgery is a popular weight loss procedure, but some people might find that they can’t achieve their ideal weight loss with the band or that they experience clinical complications. In situations like these, a conversion to a gastric bypass may be an option.
2 - 3 hours
first 6 weeks
A gastric band is an inflatable weight loss band which is placed around the upper portion of your stomach, creating a smaller ‘pouch’. This new pouch is where your food will go, and as it fills up quickly you should feel fuller for longer, and in turn lose weight.
A gastric bypass is a weight loss procedure that reduces the size of your stomach to help you lose weight. This surgery creates a small pouch at the top of your stomach and connects this to the small intestine, meaning that food ‘bypasses’ the rest of your stomach, helping you lose weight at a steady rate.
If you’ve had a gastric band but feel it’s not working well for you or if it’s causing you any problems, having it converted to a gastric bypass is an option. This is the most common revisional procedure for patients who either want or need to have their gastric band taken out.
If you’ve had a gastric band fitted but have found that you’re not achieving the weight loss results that you expected, you might benefit from having your band converted to a gastric bypass. Gastric bypass surgery has specific benefits, including:
A band to bypass conversion surgery comes with some risks as well as side effects. These can include:
General anaesthetic is required for this procedure, so you should be aware of the risks and side effects that come with this.
Before your surgeon begins, you’ll be given general anaesthetic, meaning that you’ll be asleep throughout the entire procedure.
Your surgeon will begin by removing the gastric band – they’ll make incisions to do this laparoscopically, just like when it was placed.
Once the band is removed, they will then begin the gastric bypass surgery by making an incision across the top of your stomach to make a small, golf ball-sized ‘pouch’. This new pouch is where food will go once eaten.
Your surgeon will then make an incision in your small intestine and attach the lower part of it to your new pouch. The rest of your stomach and upper small intestine is connected to the lower part in order to allow digestive fluids from the stomach to drain out. Your incisions are then closed to complete the surgery. The gastric bypass procedure can take between 1 to 3 hours.
If you’ve had a gastric band fitted but find that it’s causing you problems or simply hasn’t helped you achieve your weight loss goals, you might be able to have it converted to a gastric bypass. This depends on your own weight loss goals and how your gastric band has been for you. When you have a consultation with one of our weight management experts, they’ll be able to advise you on the best option for you.
If you would like to avoid the requirement to visit a clinic to have your gastric band filled or have an aspiration, then conversion to a gastric sleeve could work for you.
After your procedure, you’ll spend a night in hospital to make sure that your recovery is progressing as it should. When you’re ready to go home, you should make sure that you have someone to pick you up and help you get settled on your return.
Your surgeon or nutritional adviser will give you instructions regarding what you can and cannot eat following surgery. The post-operative diet for gastric bypass usually involves liquids-only for the first 2 weeks, before moving on to pureed food in week 3, and soft food in week 4.
For the first few weeks, you might experience some discomfort and tiredness. These symptoms will ease as your body gets used to the change in your digestive system. After 6 weeks, you should be able to return to your normal routine, including exercise.
I’m in a great place to help you with your weight management journey because I’ve been through weight loss surgery myself.
It was a year after the first lockdown and my weight was getting me down. I was starting to avoid social events, and my confidence was at an all-time low. Having tried many diets unsuccessfully, I started to look into weight loss surgery. Shortly after, I had my gastric bypass surgery. That’s why I’ve joined the team here at Klinikal, as I know exactly how it feels to go through this journey and how I can best support you.
I’m almost 2 years on, and my life has never been better. I’m happy, feeling great and I’ve met the love of my life – all things that didn’t seem possible before my surgery. In total, I’ve lost 7.5 stone, but I’ve gained confidence, peace of mind and find myself just really loving life now.
Our highly experienced team have helped 1000’s of patients achieve their weight loss goals.
Dietetic support programme tailored to your needs
Localised care – clinics and hospitals near you
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Deciding to have weight loss surgery can be really empowering. But to help you make an informed decision, you need to understand the surgical process and what your journey will involve. At Klinikal, we know that this is important.
We’ve summarised each stage of the journey to give you an idea, but of course your experience will be tailored to your own needs.
Nice to meet you!
Your journey with us begins with a call from a weight management surgeon assistant. One of our highly experienced, friendly surgeon assistants will talk you through our weight loss procedures, pricing and finance options, and answer any questions that you might have.
Meet your surgeon
After speaking to your surgeon assistant, they’ll match you with the right bariatric surgeon for your procedure. You’ll meet them via video call, where they’ll take you through your surgery in more detail. If required, you’ll meet your surgeon in person.
Meet your dietitian
Your dietitian will be an important part of your weight loss journey. Before your surgery day, you’ll meet them to go through the dietary changes that you’ll need to make pre and post-surgery. They’ll give you plenty of advice and will be able to answer any dietary questions that you might have.
Pre-op nurse appointment
It’s important that you’re fit to go ahead with your surgery. That’s why we’ll schedule in an appointment with one of our lovely nurses, who’ll make sure that you’re well enough to proceed.
Surgery day
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for! We’ll welcome you into one of our Klinikal locations where you’ll settle into your private room. You’ll then head down to theatre to have your procedure. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your luxurious suite to recuperate.
Post-op and beyond
Once you return home to recover, you’ll have our full support. You’ll have post-op appointments with a nurse and you’ll see your surgeon again to make sure that you’re recovering nicely. Your surgeon assistant and dietitian will also be in touch regularly, and you can call our helpline if you have any issues.
Nice to meet you!
Your journey with us begins with a call from a weight management surgeon assistant. One of our highly experienced, friendly surgeon assistants will talk you through our weight loss procedures, pricing and finance options, and answer any questions that you might have.
Meet your surgeon
After speaking to your surgeon assistant, they’ll match you with the right bariatric surgeon for your procedure. You’ll meet them via video call, where they’ll take you through your surgery in more detail. If required, you’ll meet your surgeon in person.
Meet your dietitian
Your dietitian will be an important part of your weight loss journey. Before your surgery day, you’ll meet them to go through the dietary changes that you’ll need to make pre and post-surgery. They’ll give you plenty of advice and will be able to answer any dietary questions that you might have.
Pre-op nurse appointment
It’s important that you’re fit to go ahead with your surgery. That’s why we’ll schedule in an appointment with one of our lovely nurses, who’ll make sure that you’re well enough to proceed.
Surgery day
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for! We’ll welcome you into one of our Klinikal locations where you’ll settle into your private room. You’ll then head down to theatre to have your procedure. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your luxurious suite to recuperate.
Post-op and beyond
Once you return home to recover, you’ll have our full support. You’ll have post-op appointments with a nurse and you’ll see your surgeon again to make sure that you’re recovering nicely. Your surgeon assistant and dietitian will also be in touch regularly, and you can call our helpline if you have any issues.
Each bariatric procedure can produce different results, but it all depends on how you adapt your lifestyle after surgery. While a gastric band restricts the amount of food that you can eat at once, a gastric bypass changes your digestive system, meaning that you absorb less food and fewer calories. This can mean that you lose more weight with gastric bypass surgery, but you will need to stick to your post-op diet and change the way that you eat in the long term. Combining this with exercise and a healthy lifestyle should help you maintain your weight loss.
Gastric sleeve surgery differs from gastric bypass surgery, although both can help you lose weight in the long term. You can find out more about gastric sleeve surgery, which involves removing a portion of your stomach, here.
Gastric bypass surgery is reversible, although it can involve greater risk and complications than the original procedure. Many surgeons will only perform a gastric bypass revision if the original procedure is causing serious problems.
If your gastric bypass is causing you discomfort or if you find that you’re not losing as much weight as you expected to, you can always get in touch with our weight management team. They will discuss your options with you and let you know what your next step should be.
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