Gastric bypass surgery at Spire Wellesley Hospital

We provide comprehensive private hospital care for our patients across Essex and the South East.

You’ll have a choice of bariatric surgeons (consultants specialising in weight loss surgery) who can carry out gastric bypass surgery. This can help to reduce your weight if changing your diet and lifestyle hasn’t worked.

Our bariatric surgeons are supported by a team of dietitians and bariatric nurses who can ensure the treatment and aftercare is tailored to your needs. Your dietitian will offer you dietary support, such as advice and a diet plan.

Getting here

Spire Wellesley Hospital is a couple of miles from Southend town centre, just off the A127. We’re a short taxi ride from the train station, which has a fast and regular connection to London Liverpool Street. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

Your initial appointments will take place in one of our 16 consultation rooms. During your consultations, we’ll:

• Ask about your medical history
• Explain about the different surgical methods – your consultant may recommend gastric sleeve surgery first
• They’ll explain what’s included in your treatment price
• Explain about your aftercare, the diet and exercise plan you’ll need to follow and how the operation will affect your lifestyle in the long term
• Discuss risks and complications

The consultations give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Once you and your consultant have decided to go ahead with a gastric bypass, you’ll also be assessed by a bariatric nurse, an anaesthetist and a dietitian. You'll also need to have a pre-operative assessment which may include:

• An electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Blood tests

When you come in for your operation, you’ll be with us for around one to two days. You’ll stay in one of our large, bright, private en-suite rooms. All our rooms have the comforts and conveniences you’d expect to find at home, including:

• TV
• En-suite bathroom
• Armchair
• Safe

Here’s what will happen on the day of your gastric bypass:

• You’ll meet your surgical team and anaesthetist
• Your anaesthetist will administer the general anaesthetic, which will send you to sleep for the operation
• Once it’s taken effect, your surgeon will carry out the surgery to reduce the size of your stomach and connect it to the lower part of your small intestine
• Your operation will take between one and three hours

If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge while you have your operation.

After surgery, our nursing team will give you pain relief to help you deal with any discomfort from the surgery.

Once you leave hospital, we’ll have follow-up appointments with you two weeks and six weeks after surgery, then as required.

Although everyone’s different, here’s a typical recovery guide for gastric bypass surgery: