British surgeons have urged women in the UK not to be tempted by the "cut-price" gastric band surgery available overseas.
According to Independent.co.uk, the surgeons performing these operations may not be properly qualified or trained. As such, this could lead to potential complications for the patient.
A surgical registrar from the Bath's Royal United Hospital, Simon Monkhouse, also revealed: "Post-operative care [for operations performed abroad] is often patchy or non-existent, which increases the risk of complications." What's more, some of the weight loss surgeries being promoted overseas aren't even offered in the UK; implying they may not be 100 per cent safe.
Reports have speculated that the rise in British ladies hoping to undergo gastric band surgery may have been prompted by celebrities like Fern Britton or Vanessa Feltz, who have both lost weight after having said operation. With the average NHS waiting time for weight-loss surgery standing at 18 months, heading abroad may seem enticing for those hoping to shed several pounds.
However there are alternatives to surgery which both genders can consider - and they should, given the potential to become "malnourished" or "deficient in vitamins" after going overseas for weight-loss operations.
Hypnotherapy is one of these, helping to change the relationship a person has with food; in addition to eating well and exercising regularly. These can prove much safer than going under the knife, if undertaken sensibly and may be much cheaper, too.
In fact, the difference in cost could reach thousands of pounds, as Aol.co.uk confirmed that weight-loss operations in the UK can reach up to £6,500. Although admittedly cheaper overseas (in Syria, for example, the cost can be £2,000), weight-loss surgery may still not be worth the time or effort involved; particularly if the patient's operation is botched by an inexperienced surgeon.
source: http://www.nationalhypnotherapysociety.org
