Endoscopic Weight Loss Procedure
While medication and surgery can help with weight loss, we now offer several approved endoscopic approaches for the treatment of obesity. Endoscopic options achieve better results than medications and don’t have the side effects of surgery. If you want to lose weight and keep it off for your health, an endoscopic procedure may be for you.
Compared to surgical procedures, endoscopic procedures offer an easier recovery, less discomfort, no abdominal scars, and a faster return to normal daily activities. Many endoscopic treatments are also reversible. Endoscopic options are available to some people with lower body mass index who would not otherwise qualify for bariatric surgery, but who need help losing weight.
By combining the boost of an endoscopic procedure combined with a healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle, you have the recipe to maintain long-term weight loss results.
Intragastric Balloon
With the intragastric balloon as a weight-loss procedure, a silicone balloon is placed in the stomach by endoscopy. Once in the stomach, the balloon is inflated with saline. By taking up space in the stomach, the balloon limits how much you can eat, leading to smaller and less frequent meals. After six months, we remove the intragastric balloon endoscopically.
This procedure is an option if you are overweight or obese, and diet and exercise haven't worked. Like other weight-loss procedures, an intragastric balloon requires commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Permanent, healthy dietary changes are needed along with regular exercise to help ensure the long-term success of the intragastric balloon procedure.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty reduces stomach size using an endoscopic suturing device without the need for surgery. By reducing the size of the stomach, this leads to significant weight loss by limiting how much you can eat due to a feeling of fullness. The procedure is minimally invasive, performed with an endoscopy through the mouth, with no external incisions.
This procedure may be for you if you are overweight with a body mass index of 30 or more, and if diet and exercise haven't worked in helping you lose weight. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is an option if you are not able to undergo bariatric surgery, and if you have:
- Body mass index (BMI) of less than 40 without comorbidities
- BMI of 30-35 with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or sleep apnea
- Large amounts of abdominal scarring from injuries or previous procedures
Like other weight-loss procedures, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty requires your ongoing commitment to a healthy lifestyle. You need to make permanent, healthy dietary changes along with regular exercise to help ensure your long-term success with an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty or intragastric baloon.