If you’ve been struggling with weight loss and want a less invasive alternative to surgery, you might consider nonsurgical endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. This weight loss procedure reduces your stomach size from the inside without any external incisions, and it’s available here at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions in Westwood, New Jersey.
Take a moment as board-certified general surgeon Dr. Mikhail A. Botvinov answers your top questions about endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is performed using an endoscope — a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light. During the procedure, Dr. Botvinov inserts the endoscope through your mouth and into your stomach.
A specialized suturing device then creates internal folds (sometimes called accordion folds), which reduce your stomach’s volume and reshape it into a smaller, tube-like form. This limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you feel full faster.
Your procedure is performed in an outpatient setting under general anesthesia. The procedure typically takes 1-2.5 hours, and you’ll wake up in a recovery area before going home the same day.
You might consider endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty if:
A thorough screening process at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions helps determine if this procedure is right for you.
There are several advantages to undergoing an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, particularly when compared with other options, such as surgery or medication.
By nature, all endoscopy procedures allow your medical team to see inside your body (and perform a variety of procedures) without the need for traditional open surgical techniques.
To put it another way: Because endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is an endoscopic procedure, it involves no external cuts or scars, and the risk of complications is lower than that of traditional bariatric surgery.
Most people go home the same day, and recovery tends to be quicker.
The Multicenter ESG Randomized Interventional Trial (MERIT) shows that ESG can lead to an average 49.2% excess weight loss at one year, while semaglutide with lifestyle changes leads to about 14.9% total body weight loss over 68 weeks. Both are effective, but endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty typically results in more significant weight loss.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is also more cost-effective than weight loss medications like semaglutide over a 5-year period.
Additional benefits may include:
Though endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is designed to be a long-term solution, it can be converted to another bariatric surgery later if necessary.
Dr. Botvinov and our team provide you with all of your after-care instructions. Generally, you can expect to follow a structured recovery plan that includes a liquid diet for the first few weeks, a gradual reintroduction to solid foods, and ongoing lifestyle modifications.
Because there aren’t any external sutures, you won’t have to worry about incision care or suture removal.
Lifestyle changes, such as nutritional counseling and exercise support, can help you establish long-term healthy habits. Together, these steps help you build sustainable habits and achieve long-term success, rather than just a temporary fix.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty may offer the jumpstart you need to take control of your weight and your health without incisions or a lengthy recovery. Schedule an appointment at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions P.C. today to find out if endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is right for you.
Or simply call us at 201-778-5344.
