Bariatric Surgery: Frequently asked questions

The main types of surgery are gastric bypass, gastric band, gastric balloon and sleeve gastrectomy. To have weight loss surgery on the NHS, you usually need to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more and have already tried to lose weight through other methods, such as dietary changes.

In general, these procedures make your stomach smaller, helping you to feel fuller more quickly and eat less food.

Once you’ve had the surgery, it is still important to keep up healthy lifestyles changes and attend regular follow-up appointments in the long term. Many of the surgeries are irreversible and therefore need to be considered carefully. They can also increase your risk of acid reflux.
If you want to become pregnant, it is usually advised to avoid pregnancy for 12–18 months following surgery, until your weight has stabilised.

Your physical health should be assessed through blood and urine tests and scans to check for issues such as blood clots, hernias and ulcers. Your mental health should also be assessed to make sure you are well enough to cope with the lifestyle changes required after surgery. Your diet should be reviewed to check your eating habits and to look at supporting this going forwards.

You will usually be kept in hospital for one to three days after surgery and can expect to recover within four to six weeks. You will have follow-up appointments for the rest of your life. These usually start at a weight loss clinic before moving to GP reviews after the first couple of years.
Follow up appointments may involve: blood tests to check your vitamin levels, physical health checks, diet and exercise support, emotional support.

The main risks of bariatric surgery include:

• blood clots;
• stomach leak;
• gastric band slipping out of place;
• wound infection;
• blocked gut;
• gallstones;
• excess skin;
• nausea and vomiting;
• nutritional deficiencies;
• gastric ulcers and structures.

Warning signs can include worsening and/or severe abdominal pain lasting for several hours, as well as persistent nausea and vomiting. Red, swollen or painful wounds that start to discharge fluid or pus and separation of wound edges. These suggest that something has gone wrong.

Malnourishment can occur with warning signs including feeling tired, shortness of breath, pale skin, pins and needles, palpitations. Dumping syndrome can also occur: the primary cause is the rapid gastric emptying of undigested food into the small intestine, triggering symptoms. Other longer-term issues can include gallstones, ulcers and acid reflux.

Potential grounds to bring a clinical negligence claim include:

• failure to promptly diagnose and treat a complication leading to injury;
• performing incorrect or inappropriate surgery;
• failure to provide adequate follow-up care.

If you are concerned about treatment you have received, you should contact us and we will be happy to discuss your potential claim further. You can also put in a complaint with your healthcare provider (often through PALS) and you can request your medical records through a subject access request if you would like to review them.

You generally have three years from the date of the negligence, or date of knowledge, in which to bring a claim. It is best to seek a legal opinion as soon as possible.

We offer confidential legal advice, with no win, no fee funding available. We have offices serving all of England and Wales, as well as experienced lawyers who can support you in bringing a clinical negligence claim.