Hospital offers surgery to slim

9:25am Monday 11th September 2006

Comments (0)   Have your say »

NEW, potentially life-saving surgery to treat obesity has just been added to the list of cosmetic operations carried out at a private hospital.

Bupa Hospital, Ambrose Lane, Harpenden, has introduced the bariatric surgery after recent statistics indicate that one in four adults are now obese.

The treatment works by inserting an adjustable gastric band round the upper part of the stomach through keyhole surgery.

This restricts how much food the stomach can hold before feeling full, helping people to lose weight quickly and painlessly.

As major surgery, this is only considered for people who have morbid obesity, a complex disorder not due simply to over-eating.

As the only private cosmetic surgery in the district, carrying out breast enlargements, tummy tucks and more, most patients are local residents.

Since the cosmetic ward opened in 2001, more and more people have gone under the knife to modify their looks.

Upper and lower eyelid corrections have seen the sharpest rise at the hospital, with 467 per cent more people now having the treatment, shortly followed by tummy tucks and breast uplifts.

Rhinoplasty, or "nose jobs", have seen the slowest increase, with only a 109 per cent growth.

This latest addition to its cosmetic list comes with full counselling and support, available before and after surgery, by a team made up of a physician, dietician and psychotherapist.

Lisa Trybus, business development manager for Bupa Harpenden, said: "I think cosmetic surgery has become more popular because it's not a taboo subject any more."

A cosmetic surgery open evening for facial rejuvenation is being held at the hospital tonight, with information regarding body contouring and breast surgery being discussed on Tuesday. Call 01582 714448 to reserve a place.