UK self funding sleeve

[fed-up 67]

Hi All , could anyone tell me if they've gone private , how long is it till you actually get the surgery ? I know there is some preparation (drinking milk to clear the liver for example ) but no one has told me how long it is from consultation to operation when going private ? would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this

thanks

x

[summerseeker 1,870]

I had my Sleeve done last November, right in the thick of Covid. I am not sure if Covid made a difference but I imagine it did. My private hospital was picking up a lot of ops from the NHS. It was very busy.

In all it took 8 months from start to finish. I was initially told 4 - 6 months. The hospital that I went to had to stop its Bariatric work and have its practices audited. That took an extra, very frustrating 2 months.

Every surgeon has their own pre op diet some lucky people have none or just a day on liquids. I got 3 weeks of milk and vegetables. High carb veg was not allowed.

[fed-up 67]

Thanks for the reply .That's a lot longer than I thought it would be .My husband is going down the NHS route , but that's a lot longer and you have to start off with a 3 month diet which is making him think if he could diet for 3 months , why would he go down the surgery route .Fair point .

I'll see what my specialist says .Anyone else ?

[JacquelineC 40]

Here in the US, if you are self pay, you can get it done pretty quickly . With insurance paying, for me it was a 6 month process . Private pay you don’t have to meet a lot of the criteria that you do with insurance.
Some self pay go to Mexico to have the surgery, much cheaper there.

[EastcoastUSvsg 9]

On 6/13/2022 at 11:22 AM, fed-up said:

Hi All , could anyone tell me if they've gone private , how long is it till you actually get the surgery ? I know there is some preparation (drinking milk to clear the liver for example ) but no one has told me how long it is from consultation to operation when going private ? would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this

thanks

x

I self paid and flew to Mexico; 30 days between deposit and surgery.