Appoitment to meet my surgeon

Hi Natalie,

Are you having your surgery done on the NHS and do you know the surgery  you want to have? I had my initial appointment with surgeon in late August 2014 and I had my surgery on 31st March 2015. At the appointment the surgeon should go through all the options of weight loss surgery. I came to the appointment wanting to have a band and was adamant about it, still the surgeon went through the the other options explained to me that he thought the sleeve would be a better option but he would book me in for a band but if I wanted to change my mind I could. I myself did a lot of research and agreed that the sleeve would be a better option for me and I am very pleased that I changed my mind, and 6 weeks post surgery plus the 2 weeks pre-op diet I did before I am 2 pound from losing 3 stone 😀. Go into your appointment with an open mind even if you have already decided what surgery you would like. Look at the recovery times from each op, the doctors will only give you a rough estimate and it all depends on the job you do, I am still off work and expect to be for another 6 weeks as I am constantly on my feet with my job and just don't have the energy levels at the moment but that is just me and we are all different. If you have a good support network take someone with you so they can take notes etc. Research, research, research is the best advice I can give you, good luck.

Hi Natalie. I had my surgery (a band) on the NHS. I saw my surgeon on the 15th December and had my surgery on 31st March (about 14 weeks). But I had been in the system quite a while before I actually got funding and was referred to the surgeon. I was thinking of having a sleeve but my surgeon guided me towards a band. I've had no problems since the surgery and since my pre-op diet to now (about ten weeks) I have lost about 15kg. I am now ready for my first fill and have an appointment next Monday. It does seem as if some hospitals/surgeons have their preferred surgical interventions: mine wasn't keen on sleeves whilst a friend of mine had a sleeve at a different hospital and has done fantastically. Whatever you go for, all the best.