Weight Loss Surgery in London
Bariatric surgery is a collective term for various weight loss surgeries designed to help you achieve significant, long-term weight loss.
This type of surgery is typically considered when other weight loss methods, like diet, exercise, and medication, have not been effective.
Before opting for weight loss surgery in London, we recommend exploring non-surgical alternatives such as weight loss injections and weight loss pills, which can be effective for managing obesity.
Bariatric surgery comparison
Explore the various surgical and non-surgical options available for weight loss in London. This comparison will help you understand the pros and cons of surgical procedures like gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastric band, alongside non-surgical alternatives such as weight loss injections and weight loss pills. Weighing these options against each other can guide you in choosing the right approach for your weight loss goals.
Feature comparison
Gastric bypass
Stomach reduction, intestine rerouting
- Body weight loss
- Up to 35%
- Starting from
- £15,000
- Reversible
- No
- Non-surgical
- No
- No hospital stay required
- No
- No risk of surgical complications*
- No
- No use of foreign object
- Yes
- Adjustable
- No
- Duration of proceedure
- 2-4 hours
- Recovery time
- 4-6 weeks
- Available next-day
- No
Gastric sleeve
Permanent stomach size reduction
- Body weight loss
- Up to 30%
- Starting from
- £11,000
- Reversible
- No
- Non-surgical
- No
- No hospital stay required
- No
- No risk of surgical complications*
- No
- No use of foreign object
- Yes
- Adjustable
- No
- Duration of proceedure
- 1-2 hours
- Recovery time
- 4-6 weeks
- Available next-day
- No
Gastric band
Adjustable stomach-contriction band
- Body weight loss
- Up to 20%
- Starting from
- £8,000
- Reversible
- Yes
- Non-surgical
- No
- No hospital stay required
- No
- No risk of surgical complications*
- No
- No use of foreign object
- No
- Adjustable
- Yes
- Duration of proceedure
- 1 hour
- Recovery time
- 1-2 weeks
- Available next-day
- No
Feature comparison
Stomach reduction, intestine rerouting
Permanent stomach size reduction
Adjustable stomach-contriction band
Feature | Gastric bypass | Gastric sleeve | Gastric band |
---|---|---|---|
Body weight loss | Up to 35% | Up to 30% | Up to 20% |
Starting from | £15,000 | £11,000 | £8,000 |
Reversible | No | No | Yes |
Non-surgical | No | No | No |
No hospital stay required | No | No | No |
No risk of surgical complications* | No | No | No |
No use of foreign object | Yes | Yes | No |
Adjustable | No | No | Yes |
Duration of proceedure | 2-4 hours | 1-2 hours | 1 hour |
Recovery time | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 weeks |
Available next-day | No | No | No |
Learn moreNo | Learn moreNo | Learn moreNo |
Feature comparison
Gastric balloon
Adjustable stomach contriction band
- Body weight loss
- Up to 10%
- Starting from
- £8,000
- Reversible
- Yes
- Non-surgical
- Yes
- No hospital stay required
- Yes
- No risk of surgical complications*
- Yes
- No use of foreign object
- No
- Adjustable
- Yes
- Duration of proceedure
- 20-30 minutes
- Recovery time
- 3-5 days
- Available next-day
- No
Weight loss pens
Injectable prescription medication
- Body weight loss
- Up to 26%
- Starting from
- £149/mo
- Reversible
- Yes
- Non-surgical
- Yes
- No hospital stay required
- Yes
- No risk of surgical complications*
- Yes
- No use of foreign object
- Yes
- Adjustable
- Yes
- Duration of proceedure
- 10 seconds
- Recovery time
- No
- Available next-day
- Yes
Weight loss pills
Daily oral medication
- Body weight loss
- Up to 10%
- Starting from
- £50/mo
- Reversible
- Yes
- Non-surgical
- Yes
- No hospital stay required
- Yes
- No risk of surgical complications*
- Yes
- No use of foreign object
- Yes
- Adjustable
- Yes
- Duration of proceedure
- 10 seconds
- Recovery time
- No
- Available next-day
- Yes
Feature comparison
Adjustable stomach contriction band
Injectable prescription medication
Daily oral medication
Feature | Gastric balloon | Weight loss pens | Weight loss pills |
---|---|---|---|
Body weight loss | Up to 10% | Up to 26% | Up to 10% |
Starting from | £8,000 | £149/mo | £50/mo |
Reversible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Non-surgical | Yes | Yes | Yes |
No hospital stay required | Yes | Yes | Yes |
No risk of surgical complications* | Yes | Yes | Yes |
No use of foreign object | No | Yes | Yes |
Adjustable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Duration of proceedure | 20-30 minutes | 10 seconds | 10 seconds |
Recovery time | 3-5 days | No | No |
Available next-day | No | Yes | Yes |
Learn moreNo | Learn moreNo | Learn moreNo |
This comparison table summarises each weight loss treatment, providing an overview of what each one involves, the expected outcomes, and the potential drawbacks. This helps you become aware of the different weight loss options available to you.
Estimated weight loss percentages are based on The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) articles on gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, as well as National Institute of Health (NIH) studies on gastric band and gastric balloon.
*Surgical complications include infections, stomach or bowel perforation and obstruction, blood clots, leaks into the bowel, sepsis and bleeding.
Not sure if bariatric surgery is right for you?
See if you qualify for non-surgical prescription medication.
Achieve up to 26% weight loss without surgery
If surgery isn’t the right option for you, consider our weight loss injections as an effective alternative.
How it works
Your journey to weight loss in three simple steps.
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London weight loss pills FAQs
Answered by our experienced medical team.
Supporting your mental health
Obesity, being overweight mental health problems, such as depression and eating disorders, can negatively affect each other, making it harder to manage your weight. It’s important to recognise the link between your mental health and your weight so you can seek help if you need it.
Talking therapies
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be effective for tackling the psychological challenges associated with eating disorders and obesity. It focuses on changing the way you think and behave, helping to break the cycle of negative thoughts and actions that can impact eating habits and body image.
To find a CBT therapist via the NHS, you can refer yourself or speak to your GP, who can refer you to talking therapies in London.
Why it’s important
Keeping active
Exercise doesn’t just burn calories. By triggering the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood enhancers, exercise has been shown to help combat depression and anxiety.
There’s plenty of ways to stay active in London, from local gyms and fitness classes to parks and recreational facilities.
Support in London
In London, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust provides comprehensive mental health support. They can help with eating disorders and weight-related mental health issues.
Discuss your mental health with your GP in London who can refer you to a specialist. You may also be able to refer yourself directly without a referral, but you will need to be registered with a GP to get talking therapies on the NHS. You can find a GP in London on the NHS website.
Medically reviewed
This page was last medically reviewed by Dr Adam Abbs on 4 June 2024.
London Weight Loss Clinic is committed to providing you with the most objective, trustworthy and accurate health information.
Our content is regularly updated to reflect the latest medical research and guidelines.
Dr Adam Abbs
MBBS FRCGP PGCCE FHEA
Dr Adam Abbs is an NHS-trained GP with a keen focus on digital health, AI in healthcare, and personalised medicine, including weight loss. He is a leader in creating new ways to provide safe and easy-to-access healthcare through remote care. Dr Abbs is also a skilled medical writer and wrote the RCGP-accredited Remote Consultation Handbook in 2020, and shares his weight loss expertise on his blog Gastric Guru.
GMC Number: 7078829