If a person has a BMI of 50 or above, they may be considered for surgery on the NHS without needing to try any other weight loss methods (ie diet and exercise) first.

If you have a BMI of below 35, you may still qualify for weight loss surgery on the NHS. If you have been recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, particularly if you have a south Asian background who may have other associated health implications, you may be assessed to see if you are a suitable candidate for surgery.

However, as criteria can vary depending on the NHS Trust you fall under, this may not always apply.

Healthcare budgets are controlled by local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). These bodies have to decide which treatments and programmes to pay for with the funds they receive from the government. These priorities and levels of funding vary in different CCGs. You may qualify for NHS funding in your home town, but if the next town falls under a different CCG, then a person in the same position as you may find themselves judged under different criteria and may not qualify.

Unfortunately, the NHS has been, and continues to be, hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. High levels of staff sickness has had an impact on waiting times. And, just like the NHS treatment criteria, these waiting times vary from hospital to hospital. You could potentially be facing weeks or even months of waiting for your weight loss surgery on the NHS. And any new waves of Covid-19 infections may result in this wait getting even longer.

Of course it is not the fault of the NHS, but if faced with a lengthy weight for treatment, you may find that any obesity-related conditions that you may already have, such as type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis, deteriorate. And the longer the wait, the longer you continue to be at risk of serious, perhaps even life-threatening, health problems, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnoea, joint problems and infertility. The wait may exacerbate any mental health problems too, particularly depression and anxiety, which are commonly associated with people who are very overweight or obese.

Because of this, many people choose to go to a private clinic for their weight loss surgery.

Can You Get Weight Loss Surgery Privately?

At the Cadogan Clinic, there is no waiting list for weight loss surgery, so providing you meet the criteria, you can have the procedure promptly. This means that you can start your weight loss journey sooner and lower your risk medical conditions associated with a high weight or BMI.

Although you will have to pay for your weight loss surgery, many feel that it is a price worth paying to tackle a very serious health concern quickly and effectively.

Here at the Cadogan Clinic, we offer the following as part of your weight loss surgery:

• Your procedure carried out at London’s leading specialist cosmetic surgery centre of excellence
• 24/7 on-call nurse assistance
• A dedicated Patient Co-ordinator, as a personal point of contact through your journey with Cadogan
• A pre-operative medical assessment to ensure you are fit for surgery  
• Comprehensive post-operative aftercare courtesy of our specialist team.

If you are considering the Cadogan Clinic for weight loss surgery in London, book an appointment with one of our experts who will be able to discuss the options with you.

Although private treatment in other countries may seem appealing due to lower costs, the standards of safety, patient-care and aftercare may not be as high as those upheld in the UK.