British woman, 28, dies while undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey – as devastated boyfriend pays tribute to his ‘angel’
A young British woman hailed by her boyfriend as an ‘angel’ has died while undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey.
Shannon Bowe, 28, passed away on Saturday during the procedure, The Mirror reported.
Gastric band surgery is a weight loss procedure in which a band is placed around the stomach to decrease food consumption.
Bowe’s loved ones are devastated by her death, particularly her boyfriend Ross Stirling who posted a tribute online saying: ‘Sleep tight my angel, love you forever and always.’
Shannon Bowe, 28, passed away on Saturday while undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey
Ms Bowe is understood to have travelled to the middle eastern country to undergo the surgery.
It is unclear at which medical facility she received the operation or what complications led to her death.
According to the NHS, gastric band surgery typically takes less than an hour, not including the time needed for inducing anaesthesia and waking a patient up. The total process should take about three to four hours.
During the operation, a doctor will place a gastric band around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch.
When the patient eats, the small pouch fills up more quickly than their so-called normal stomach, making them feel fuller with less food.
The procedure is said to help patients eat less, eat more slowly and lose weight.
Complication rates for weight loss surgery are low and approximately only 1 in 100 people suffer problems after gastric band surgery, the NHS reports.
Only 1 in 1,000 are likely not to survive the procedure.
Patients who are heavier, older, have had previous operations in the stomach area or have other significant health problems are at higher risk for complications.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is reportedly in contact with the local authorities in Turkey.
