Hi there

I have just taken the first step of going to my GP and being referred for Lapband surgery. My GP did not know much about it to be honest and he asked me who I wanted to go to for this surgery?!? I told him I had no idea, so he is researching this for me.

Is there anyone here who has had this done in Scotland? I live in Troon, Ayrshire and I think I will have to go to Glasgow. I am paying for this myself. Will I have long to wait to see a consultant? I have so many questions and glad I found this web site and I am alo terrified at the thought of having this done but relieved at the same time!!

Any replies would be appreciated.

Arran

Hey i was thinking bout going to nuffield in glasgow to have mine done its £7500 but after talking to a few people i think il go to belgium to dr de bruyne everyone speaks highly of him and it costs between €3400-4000 which is a bonus he comes to uk and dublin everymonth to do fills and aftercare i have a consultation in dublin next thursday and hopefully surgery on the 5th of september i just emailed him last nite for info and rang his sectary today i dont know if that helps you any

I'm Scottish and I also live within the North Ayrshire and Arran health board area - they dont currently have a bariatric service but are in the process of setting on up and they hope to be operational (pardon the pun) in about 3 years from what I've been told. So yes, private is your only option but Glasgow is expensive :s I'm also going to Dr Chris de Bruyne, gl flirty and let me know how you get on :cursing:

Hi arrangal

I went to Dr De Bruyne too, he is excellent. I have not heard any good reports about the glasgow hosp to be honest, mainly bad.

Spire in Edinburgh(bupa Murrayfield) now has a bariatric surgeon,but I have not heard anything yet!

but defo go see Dr db

Hi guys i had gastric band surgery at murrayfield edin hos on . The 24th nov o7 i am doing great so far down by over 8 stone andrew de beaux and bruce tulloch the surgeons were grt along with the rest of the staff. Hope to see u all at the support group on the 24th sept 08

Hi Vixon

I live in EastAyrshire and have been given the run around something terrible. Was referred by my GP to a surgeon in Glasgow (on NHS) and told that he would do surgery but unfortunately NHS Ayrshire & Arran won't pay for it! It makes me so mad! The prices in Glasgow are unbelievably high and out of reach of most people. Can I ask how you contacted Dr De Bruyne? I have searched the web and have found very little info on him, yet everyone seems to have glowing reports on his work (and prices too!!!)

Have you had your surgery? If so, how did it go; if not when are you due to have it?

Many thanks for your help!

Annie

HI ANNIE

I HAD MY GASTRIC BAND DONE IN EDINBURGH AT SPIRE MURRAYFIELD ON THE 24TH NOV 07. SINCE HAVING IT DONE I HAVE LOST OVER 9 STONE SO FAR WITH ANOTHER 6 STONE TO GO. DR ANDREW DE BEAUX AND BRUCE TULLOCH DONE MY OP. FOR GASTRIC BAND SURGERY BMI LESS THAN 50 IT COSTS £7,995 FOR BMI MORE THAN 50 IT WILL COST £8,995. I HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK AT HAVING IT DONE ANNIE. IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO MY PROFILE CAVALIER2US I HAVE PUT PHOTO,S ON THE LAPBANDTALK SITE. IF YOU WANT ANYMORE INFORMATION E-MAIL ME AT elaine-mcloughlin@hotmail.co.uk

Hi Annie, you can contact Dr Chris via his website www.obesity-assist.co.uk

I've not had my operation as yet but I'm scheduled for 19th December :redface: I didn't have much luck with my GP who after refusing previously to let me try pills suddenly suggested them the moment I mentioned surgery, only for the practice nurse to say no I couldn't get it. By the time I saw another Dr who said yes I could get it if I lose 5lbs to prove I was trying I was already booked for a consultation with Dr Chris. I had circumvented my GP's by going to my former diabetic nurse at Crosshouse who helped me when I was pregnant last year in the hope her and my endocrinologist (posh term for diabetes specialist) would be able to refer me. She did some research for me and it looks like there will eventually be a bariatric service in Ayrshire but it will take a few years.

In a way I'm glad I have to go private because then I don't need to jump through the hoops of trying the tablets I know wont have any long term success. My bank balance isn't so happy though lol.

Vicki

Hi Vicki Thanks for getting back to me! I appreciate your help. Thanks for the link to Dr Chris' website. Are you going to Belgium to have your surgery? I am so apprehensive about that, worrying about things going wrong etc (i am an eternal pessimist!!!) but the price of the surgery is very appealing. Did you have your consultation in Edinburgh? Did you chose to wait until the end of the year or does Dr Chris have a huge waiting time? My sister had a lapband fitted two weeks ago in Ross Hall Hospital, Glasgow and so far, including her two week pre-op diet, has lost two stones!!! I have tried every slimming tablet known to man with no great success; whenever you stop taking them, the weight starts to pile on again! Life really is a croc, isn't it!!

Yes I am going to Belgium for my surgery annie, flying out from Glasgow and back via Prestwick to get the best price on flights which are twice as expensive as you can get if you dont choose the week before Christmas haha. I choose that date myself I could have had it last week if finances had allowed but choose 19th December to fall in with money and husbands holidays to help look after me and our son post-op.

I'm really pleased with my choice of surgeon but if I could I'd go to Ross Hall as with Dr Chris doing the op.....oh to win the lotto lol

I did go to Edinburgh for my consultation, I know a number of people don't bother and just get the free consult in Brussel the night before the op but for my own and husbands peace of mind I chose to pay for a UK consult in advance.

Hi I'm also new to this site, I live just outside Edinburgh and had my band fitted on September 11th at the Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow, my surgeon was Ross Carter and I can recommend him to anyone thinking about this type of surgery, he has been fantastic as have all the nursing staff at the hospital and his evening clinics. His clinics are on a Wednesday evening and he usually does his operations on a Thursday. Yes it is expensive £7950 but this covers absolutely everything, and no money is taken until the day of the operation and 6 months interest free credit is available via the hospitals own BMI card.

I had my first consultation with a nurse, nutritionalist and Ross Carter at the end of July, another appointment with with all 3 again in August and my op in September, with a follow up 2 weeks later and another just last week when I had my first fill. I have so far lost 26lbs and have another appointment for 2 weeks time, and have been told I can have as many or as few consultations as I feel I need as part of my payment, this includes nurse, nutritionalist and Ross Carter.

Ross Carter has a fantastic reputation and works as a consultant at the Southern General.

Hope this helps

Forgot to mention the Ross Hall also run a Support Group the next meeting of the Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Support Group is on Saturday 25th October at 11.00am in the Boardroom at the Ross Hall Hospital, 221 Crookston Road, Glasgow (Crookston Station is a short walk away)

Hi there

I had my op done last Thursday at Spire Murrayfield in Edinburgh by Mr Tulloh and I have to say the care from all involved was fantastic. I was VERY apprehensive beforehand, particulary as I work in the medical profession (case of knowing too much!) but everyone was fantastic and very professional.

I self-funded and yes, it's expensive but what price health? We've foregone buying a new car for the next few years so I could have this.

I met Cavalier2us at the open day at Murrayfield earlier this year and was really impressed with the results she'd had so it was part of my decision to finally go through with it.

The recovery has been much quicker so far than I imagined and I returned to work 3 days later.

God I'm fed up with slimfast already though! lol

Edited December 10, 200817 yr by Scotschick

Hi Scotschick

glad to hear you are feeling so well and are back on you feet - I live in East Lothian about 6 miles from Edinburgh so if you fancy a coffee/chat let me know we could maybe arrange a little get together.

Hey JB, thanks for that, that sounds great. I'm sure these things are much easier with support from others going through the process. I'm not far from you in Mid Lothian.

Do you attend the support group run by Cavalier2us? I've not been to any yet but hope to make it along to the next one - any idea when it is?

Hi Scotschick

have to confess I really haven't been on this forum as much as I should have so I was unaware that Cavalier2us was running a support group - but I would defo be up for attending the next meeting if only to meet other folk in the same situation - if you find out the details please pass them on. I used to live in Midlothian - Newtongrange. I work in Edinburgh (12 hours shifts) so I get quite a lot of time off in between shifts so let me know if you fancy getting together sometime.