Reputable surgeons to do sleeve in UK

[Beth72]

I'm researching the sleeve procedure & wanted to know people's opinions of the surgeons they had for their sleeves. It would be the private route I'm thinking of going down, but am confused as there seem to be so many surgeons on the web working for different Weightloss companies, I thought personal recommendation would be best rather than sales pitches from the companies. I live in West Yorkshire, but could travel if it was within 50-100 miles. Thanks in advance

 

[khanbdi]

Hi , I reccomend Basil Ammori in the North west. He has a high success rate and well known.

 

[Sashie1977]

I asked my GP to refer me to a private surgeon. I didn't look at any weightloss companies, I went to my local private hospital who offer weightloss surgery. I am in Edinburgh

Good luck. x

 

[tigergetby]

I had Dr Shamsi El Hansani, he performs surgery through many of the weight loss groups -(THG and WLS to name a couple) I went through WLS Group. I chose him because he is an eminent bariatric surgeon, published in scientific journals on the topic of weight loss surgery, has been performing these types of ops for ten years and been a specialist in bariatric/gastric surgery for 32 years. He works in the South East but basically to find him and his reputation I extensively googled him once I'd settled on a weight loss surgery provider and knew he was the surgeon at the hospital I'd chosen. I checked with the GMC when he was registered with them and made sure there were no outstanding complaints/investigations he was undergoing! That's about all you can do, other than take other people's experiences with their surgeon into account xx

 

[Beth72]

Thanks for the advice - I'd not thought about checking with the GMC - that's really thorough! I went to see my GP last night & asked his opinion on the surgeon I have in mind & he said he's very reputable & does lot of NHS work & complex revision stuff too, so that's given me more confidence. Also phoned both private hospitals up he works at & asked about him (as there are several other bariatric surgeons they could have directed me towards),

The reaction from my GP was very non committal on the sleeve - don't think he knows much about it & said there are no long term results on it, being a newish procedure. He panged the guilt on too (probably unintentionally), by saying I've got to think of those around me too, looking at my baby & husband!!! X

 

[Ruthiep]

I live in London and my surgeon was Mr. Pratik Sufi who works out of Bushey Spire Hospital and also the Whittington. I can highly recommend him. He does all the procedures and has been sleeving people for about 9 yrs.

 

[tigergetby]

The reaction from my GP was very non committal on the sleeve - don't think he knows much about it & said there are no long term results on it, being a newish procedure. He panged the guilt on too (probably unintentionally), by saying I've got to think of those around me too, looking at my baby & husband!!! X

I have a relatively low opinion of GP's, being a health professional myself - very much the saying 'jack of all trades, master of none' applies! I have a 14 month old baby and husband too, my Gp actively encouraged me to go for it because long term, my son probably could do without me being the fattest mum in the playground and able to play with him and be fun and up for anything and potentially give him a sibling, and my husband could do without me being diabetic in 2-10 years time or have congestive heart failure etc etc... So take your GP's opinion with a pinch of salt - remember they know relatively little about most specialist procedures and do what feels right. I'm nearly two weeks post op and I know it was the right decision, for my family, my baby and me xx

 

[Beth72]

Thanks Tigergetby - agree totally. Far more risks staying as I am - he even suggested I had thyroid check & blood sugars done, so kind of contradicting his "think of those around you before surgery" advice, as he'll be well aware that staying as I am is dangerous. Luckily I avoided gestational diabetes in both my pregnancies, but it really was a lottery with a BMI of 43 at 9 months pregnant!

Glad you're pleased with your surgery - this forum is my saviour as without it, there's so much negativity towards surgery from those who've never had weight issues, that it'd be all too easy to be put off & continue to pile on the lbs & feel miserable! X

 

[EJFez]

Does the nhs surgeon who works for Yorkshire pct not do private work ? At least he's then in the area for aftercare ?

 

[tigergetby]

See I got gestational diabetes and was insulin dependent in my pregnancy plus mild pre eclampsia and was hospitalised for a month before having an emergency c section so I know how high risk I am to develop diabetes in the near future particularly as have PCOS and already insulin resistant! The benefits far outweigh the risks xx

 

[Beth72]

Yes the surgeon does private & NHS & is based in Leeds, hence the reason for my choice in terms of follow ups etc. Getting the green light from my GP on his reputation has also confirmed my decision.

Sorry to hear about the gestational diabetes Tigergetby - hopefully having the surgery will ensure you don't develop it again. I had c-sections in both my pregnancies, but they were elective so I knew what to expect - must've been daunting for you having an emergency one, but at least the outcome would have made it bearable I guess when you look back now How have you found the sleeve so far & the post op early diet? Have you missed any of your usual foods of choice? X

 

[EJFez]

So you don't want to be miles away from your team if you're high risk and they would have access to your other medical records. Mr Woodcock does private aswell as NHS but he's in ncle

 

[Beth72]

Yes Leeds is only about 20 miles away, so I'd have less anxiety than if I were travelling miles. Also means hubby & children can get over easily to visit whilst I'm in hospital & still be able to travel home to put them to bed etc. It's Mr Simon Dexter I'm having (hopefully sorting a date next week) x

 

[tigergetby]

Sorry to hear about the gestational diabetes Tigergetby - hopefully having the surgery will ensure you don't develop it again. I had c-sections in both my pregnancies, but they were elective so I knew what to expect - must've been daunting for you having an emergency one, but at least the outcome would have made it bearable I guess when you look back now How have you found the sleeve so far & the post op early diet? Have you missed any of your usual foods of choice? X

I am hoping if I ever get Pg again I may avoid diabetes but then ill alway have PCOS no matter what I weigh. Fortunately I'm a midwife so I wasn't too daunted having an emergency section , more freaked out by my colleagues seeing my bits! Like that nightmare where you go to school in just your pants! So far I've found things ok, recovery has been unremarkable - no major pain or problems, on liquids for 4 weeks and I'm week 2, I have a small wine glass of yoghurt smoothie (banana for potassium) made liquidy with milk for brekkie, half a can of liquidy soup for lunch and dinner - it's about 450-550 kcals a day at present. Some things go down easy others I really can't tolerate - like spicy soup just gives me pain every mouthful, so it's a bit trial and error - so far I'm sticking to what I know is ok. I lost 14lbs pre op, 10lbs in week one post op and am hoping for 4-6lbs this week to take me up to 2 stone loss! Ill let you know. It is scary taking the plunge but really think its going to be worth it. X

 

[Beth72]

I have PCOS too & both times I fell pregnant I took metformin to help conceive. I'm sure a lot of the symptoms are meant to subside with weightloss & hormone levels regulate etc, so your sleeve should help with that.

Well done on the weightloss so far - it must be such a motivator seeing the scales move in the right direction! X

 

[borogirl]

Metformin helped me conceive 2. Awful tummy some effects but after 4 years of trying , I fell quickly once on a high metformin dose. I don't take it now, couldn't get away with rushing to the loo on it!!

 

[clar01]

I know it's quite far from you but please please look into Ameet Patel in London.
He has a website and his secretary will tell you more about costs. I think they fleece for around £9000.
I originally went to see him about the sleeve and took his advice and opted for a bypass instead.
He was extremely professional and an amazing surgeon, and I have no faith whatsoever in the medical profession due to previous experiences.

Give him a go x

 

[salty]

I am hoping if I ever get Pg again I may avoid diabetes but then ill alway have PCOS no matter what I weigh. Fortunately I'm a midwife so I wasn't too daunted having an emergency section , more freaked out by my colleagues seeing my bits! Like that nightmare where you go to school in just your pants! So far I've found things ok, recovery has been unremarkable - no major pain or problems, on liquids for 4 weeks and I'm week 2, I have a small wine glass of yoghurt smoothie (banana for potassium) made liquidy with milk for brekkie, half a can of liquidy soup for lunch and dinner - it's about 450-550 kcals a day at present. Some things go down easy others I really can't tolerate - like spicy soup just gives me pain every mouthful, so it's a bit trial and error - so far I'm sticking to what I know is ok. I lost 14lbs pre op, 10lbs in week one post op and am hoping for 4-6lbs this week to take me up to 2 stone loss! Ill let you know. It is scary taking the plunge but really think its going to be worth it. X

How much are sleeves in the uk? X

 

[joisslimmer]

Ameet Patel charges £7500. I researched him but couldn't afford that (also I was revising band to sleeve and he wouldn't do it in one op which was fair enough!). If I had the money, I'd have gone with him direct, as it was I found a fab surgeon in the Czech Republic for nearly half the cost!

 

[Muizenberg]

Ameet Patel charges £7500. I researched him but couldn't afford that (also I was revising band to sleeve and he wouldn't do it in one op which was fair enough!). If I had the money, I'd have gone with him direct, as it was I found a fab surgeon in the Czech Republic for nearly half the cost!

Ameet Patel works at Kings College, London where I had my surgery but under Avril Chang. Funnily there does not appear to be many female bariatric surgeons in UK.