Cost of a Gastric Band

Coming to terms with the idea that you may need some assistance in losing your excess body weight can be a hard realisation; however taking the first step to get help is a great success. Considering having a Gastric band fitted is a huge decision in aiding your weight loss. A Gastric band is a band which is fitted through keyhole surgery around your stomach, in a sense it reduces your stomach size. It is a semi permanent treatment and the size of the band can be adjusted, initially the band will be fitted and your stomach will be split into a smaller top section where your food will settle, this will lead you to feel full more rapidly than prior to the band being fitted. The food will then be released slowly through a small tube into the larger part of your stomach. Your body will think it is full, and in turn this will reduce the amount of food you need to eat in quantity as well as throughout the day.

Your Options

There are many choices available to someone who wishes to go ahead with this surgery, the procedure is available on the NHS, privately and abroad, all three options however, present varying costs as well as specific criteria to meet.


Who Can have a Gastric Band?

Gastric Bands are offered to Morbidly Obese individuals – seen as having a BMI of over 40. An individual who has a BMI of over 30 along with a health issue, which in effect could put them at risk of further medical problems, will also be considered.

NHS Gastric Bands

To apply for the procedure through the NHS, each individual will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, for your case to be considered you will need to show that you have previously tried all methods of weight loss and prove that you meet specific requirements. The NHS receive various funding and again is only approved when they are satisfied that you meet the set criteria.

Private Gastric Bands

If you fail to meet any part of the criteria, and the NHS fail to consider you there are other options available, one of which is to go private in the U.K. Prices vary when considering the procedure privately. The average price is usually around the £7,000 mark, however surgery can be found from as little as £4,000 to a maximum of around £10,000. Prices can also vary on a BMI basis, for lower BMI’s such as under 50 you may be offered the surgery for £5500, BMI’s of over 50 can cost up to £500 more. When looking at Private procedures it is necessary to consider all aspects of the price, such as what type of aftercare package you will be provided with.  Some companies offer cover for a full 2 years of aftercare whereas others only offer initial cover for a few months.

Benefit’s Of Going Private

A benefit of using Private surgeries is that sometimes they run special offers on price, but again you may wish to consider all aspects of the procedure when companies offer these promotions. Another benefit is that you can apply for finance to cover your cost of surgery. With certain companies, you can spread the cost over short periods with low interest, or over a longer period with varying interest rates.

Surgery Abroad

Another option you may consider is surgery abroad, this can often be a cheaper option and prices can be inclusive of airfare. Procedures abroad can be priced at as little as £3,000. Again, care must be taken in the type of package you will receive, with regards to accommodation, air fare, after care and the quality of your surgery. The cheaper price is clearly much more appealing, but caution must be taken when considering surgery abroad.

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