A private hospital will offer private surgery to treat obesity to residents in southeast Scotland for the first time.
The procedure is currently available on a limited basis in Scotland. Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh plans to change that.
The procedure forces patients to limit their portion size after the surgeon places a restrictive band around the stomach, limiting the amount of food the patient can eat.
Experts expect the procedure to grow in popularity among the one-quarter of Scottish adults who are considered obese and who have been unable to drop their weight through other methods.
Morbidly obese patients who undergo the gastric band procedure should enjoy a more prolonged and healthier life, say experts at the hospital.
Patients must understand that the surgery is one part of their overall wellness treatment, a comprehensive package that includes assessment, support and mental health counseling, say surgeons Andrew de Beaux and Bruce Tulloh.
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