Mr Horner developed an interest in morbid obesity and undertakes laproscopic banding procedures for this intractable condition. He has trained internationally in obesity units in Melbourne Australia, with Joe Petelin, in Kansas USA, with Dr George Fielding, in Hallein Austria, with Dr Karl Miller, in Alcoy Spain, with Dr Aniceto Baltazar, and in Lyon France, with Dr Vincent Frering.
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Gastric banding is essentially a restrictive procedure, whereby the adjustable band placed high around the upper stomach, slows and prevents the easy passage of food into the stomach. Following insertion of the gastric band, the restrictive effect is not usually immediately evident. The patient is instructed to remain on a very specific diet, progressing from liquids, followed by pureed and then normal food over a 3 to 4 week period.
Bariatric or weight loss surgery, is undertaken to help morbidly obese patients lose weight, because an obese person is more likely to suffer from physical and psychological illness than a person of normal weight.
Weight loss surgery is to be considered when standard methods of weight loss such as dieting, exercise regimes and prescribed medication, fail to achieve results.
In particular, overweight and obese patients are more at risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks or stroke, sleep apnoea, depression, and osteoarthritis.
Losing weight has been shown to reverse or reduce the severity of these conditions.
The operation is performed under general anaesthesia, and the entire procedure usually takes approximately one hour. The laparoscopic or keyhole method is always used.
Mr Horner will make several small cuts in the upper abdomen. He will place surgical instruments, along with a telescope, inside the abdomen in order to perform the operation. Mr Horner will then create a small tunnel behind the upper stomach, and will pass the band around the stomach and secure it. This creates a smaller pouch in the stomach.
The small incisions are closed with skin glue and waterproof dressings. The dressings can be removed by the patient themselves, 7 – 8 days after surgery.
A return to full and normal activity is usually possible after 10 to 12 days.
Mr Horner uses local anesthesia in all the small skin incisions, so that postoperative discomfort is kept to a minimum.
Your band is a life long experience, and often after 1 or 2 years have passed since your operation, you may have lost contact with your original bariatric team.
You may have had your band inserted in Europe or elsewhere in the UK or the world, and are experiencing problems with the band.
"Being seriously overweight restricted me from so many wonderful things. I have never even thought that running or skating could be a part of my life...."
Nadia C.
