Virtual gastric band hypnosis

Gastric band surgery has become a more common, and some may say extreme way to lose weight. It is however becoming increasingly popular in the UK. According to the British Medical Journal there are currently over 240,000 people on NHS waiting lists, keen to have this surgical procedure.

Because of the long wait to have the operation on the NHS and the very strict criteria people have to comply with, many chose to have the procedure done privately. This can be anything between £3,000-£4,000 and there are also the risks associated with any surgical procedure. 

These are the reasons why virtual gastric band procedures are now also being sought out by those who wish to lose weight. But what is a gastric band and how can hypnotherapy help? 

Gastric band surgery is conducted by laparoscopic/keyhole surgery via the upper abdomen where the stomach is situated. 

The stomach can be best visualised as a “sausage balloon” similar to the ones seen at children’s parties and which are often twisted into shapes. 

In gastric band surgery, approximately one third of this “balloon” has the band placed round it and tightened, creating a tiny stomach pouch and restricting the passing of food and fluid to the other two thirds of the stomach. This band is what we commonly call the gastric band, and it can be tightened or loosened to allow more or less food to pass through from the new stomach pouch to the remainder of the stomach and small intestine. The operation lasts about an hour and is performed using a general anaesthetic.

The virtual gastric band procedure also lasts an hour, however no surgery is required. Instead, hypnotherapy is used to convince the patient through the workings of the subconscious mind that a surgical procedure has been carried out.

At the end of the session people tend to change their eating habits and consumption, much the same way as they would have done after a gastric band surgical procedure in a clinic or hospital environment.

With a virtual gastric band procedure costing a fraction of the price of the full medical procedure it is a viable option for those who have been struggling to lose weight and keep it off long term.