Gastric sleeve surgery (sleeve gastrectomy) at Spire Southampton Hospital

At Spire Southampton Hospital, we provide comprehensive private hospital care for our patients across the South Coast. We have a team of bariatric surgeons who can carry out gastric sleeve surgery for weight loss. Working alongside an excellent aftercare team, they’ll provide you with a treatment and recovery plan that’s designed for your own needs.

We offer comfortable accommodation with all the facilities you’d expect from a private hospital.

After your surgery, we offer aftercare and follow-up support from our bariatric nurses and dietitians. A dietitian will help you with your pre-operative liver reduction diet (if required) and a diet plan following surgery.

Getting here

We’re a 10 minute taxi ride from Southampton Central train station or 15 minutes from Southampton International Airport. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

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

• Find out about your medical history
• Explain the different surgical methods and what's recommended for you
• Tell you about the general anaesthetic and how it may affect you
• Explain your personalised aftercare, diet and exercise plans and how the surgery will affect your lifestyle in the long term
• Discuss any risks and complications and how they may affect you personally

Your consultations give you the opportunity to ask any questions you have about your treatment or aftercare. You may want to make a note of any questions you have in advance.

Once you and your consultant have decided to go ahead with gastric sleeve surgery, you’ll be assessed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a psychologist, dietitian, anaesthetist, bariatric nurse and healthcare assistant. Your pre-operative assessment may include:

• Blood tests
• MRSA swabs

When you arrive on the day of your surgery, we’ll show you to your own private en-suite room where you’ll have access to all the facilities you’d expect at home, including:

• TV
• En-suite
• Bedside cabinet
• Two armchairs
• Window
• Telephone

You’ll meet your consultant, anaesthetist and the surgical team. Before the operation, you’ll be given a general anaesthetic so you'll be asleep and once ready, your consultant will carry out the surgery to remove part of your stomach.

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

The surgery usually takes one to two hours, but you’ll stay in hospital for around two days after your surgery.

During your stay, you’ll be given painkillers for any discomfort. Your nursing team will make sure you’re comfortable with everything you need.

After you leave hospital, we’ll arrange to see you regularly so we can keep track of your progress and ensure you’re recovering and losing weight as intended. You can have as many follow-up appointments as required with your consultant, dietitian and psychologist. Your dietitian will also be available by email and telephone and will schedule regular follow-ups with you.

Spire Southampton Hospital now offers ‘The Weigh Forward’ Support Group. You're invited to join this moderated Facebook group when you're discharged. Patients can share recipes and offer peer support and are invited to attend a quarterly meeting at our hospital’s physiotherapy centre where we have inspirational speakers (previous patients) and members of the multidisciplinary team on hand to give talks and offer support.

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