John Watkins, aged 49, the general manager of Hoar Cross Hall Luxury Spa Resort, opted for a procedure called a sleeve gastrectomy that not only restricts stomach capacity, but also reduces appetite stimulating hormones in the stomach, which leads to loss of appetite. He had the treatment with leading bariatric surgeon Dr Amir Khan, based at Spire Little Aston Hospital, and is delighted with the rapid results it has helped him to achieve.
John, a father-of-three, says:
“I heard about this new treatment and decided to look into it, as I’d been trying to lose weight for years, unsuccessfully. Over the years, working at Hoar Cross Hall I’ve ‘grazed’ a lot on the food available here – eating socially - which has led to on-going weight gain. I’d reached 19 stone 2 pounds and decided enough was enough. I decided to take the plunge and after researching the treatments available and going to see Mr Khan, I decided the sleeve was for me. It appealed as it’s not as invasive as the by-pass, and unlike some bariatric treatments, you can’t cheat with this.
“It’s been brilliant for me – I no longer feel constantly hungry, I can still enjoy food, just in smaller amounts, and I can’t believe how quickly the weight has dropped off. The procedure itself went well and I was on my feet within five days. My family has been very supportive and people at Hoar Cross keep saying I look years younger – one of the regulars actually walked straight past me as she didn’t recognise me!”
While the ‘sleeve’ procedure is becoming more common in the UK, only a handful of specialists are offering the treatment. It was originally developed as stage one of a two stage procedure for seriously obese patients to help them lose weight to reduce operative risks of a full bypass, however the sleeve has proved to be a successful standalone weight loss treatment. During the operation, up to ¾ of the stomach is removed by dividing it, with the new stomach taking the shape of a narrow tube or sleeve. This restricts the amount of food that can be consumed at any one time. The operation can be performed as a keyhole procedure and is done under a general anaesthetic.
The doctor who performed this procedure on John, Amir Khan, says:
“John’s results are a perfect example of how the sleeve treatment is a successful single-stage weight loss treatment for those looking to have weight loss surgery, but don’t want to go down the route of a by-pass. Food can still be consumed and enjoyed, in much smaller quantities, and the reduction of the appetite stimulating hormones is a great side-effect and enhances success of the treatment.”
John says:
“I’m absolutely thrilled at the results and would advise anyone considering this treatment to go for it. It’s had a very positive effect on the way I feel and look and allowed me to achieve a weight loss I’d never have achieved in any other way in such a short space of time. So far, I’ve had no loose skin as a result – it’s been great.”
October 2011
John Before Surgery
John After Surgery
