Losing weight can be hard, and billions of dollars are spent every year by Americans trying to shed unwanted pounds. Fad diets, expensive exercise equipment, and unused gym memberships are just some of the tools people use to try to lose weight, but they’re usually ineffective and often demoralizing.
DR. CHRISTOPHER MCGOWAN
Dr. Christopher McGowan, MD, a leader in endobariatrics, specializes in non-surgical obesity treatments and is triple-board-certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Obesity Medicine. Renowned for pioneering endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) with over 2,000 procedures, his global influence and research contributions define him as a top expert.
When the traditional methods don’t work, some people turn to bariatric surgery for help. Even though this kind of surgery can be effective, surgery itself brings its own risks—especially for those with comorbidities that make any type of surgery dangerous.
At True You, we are passionate about offering an alternative to the endless cycle of trying new weight loss methods and becoming frustrated with the results. Instead, we specialize in state-of-the-art, non-surgical weight loss options that can provide results similar to surgery without the need for actual surgery.
All of our procedures are minimally invasive, which means both less risk and a shorter recovery time. If you’ve been struggling to lose weight, you may want to consider options like ESG, ORBERA®, Spatz3, or Gastric Fundus Mucosal Ablation.
Understanding Weight Loss Surgery
Well-known bariatric surgeries like Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, lap band, and gastric sleeve can be effective at helping you lose weight, but they also all require major surgery. Even though most of these procedures are done laparoscopically these days, the surgery still requires incisions in the abdomen as well as internal incisions.
The very nature of this type of laparoscopic surgery creates a variety of risks and potential side effects, including infection, internal bleeding, and blood clots. Moreover, for people with weakened immune systems, these risks can be even more pronounced.
Additionally, the type of incisions involved in bariatric surgery often require multi-day hospital stays so that doctors can monitor your condition in the event any complications arise.
Beyond the hospital stay, the recovery time after surgery can be significant. Depending on the type of surgery and your reaction to it, recovery can take more than a month. It can take quite a bit of time after surgery to return to your normal activities. During that recovery time, you remain vulnerable to many of the possible complications from having surgery. So, even though the surgery may ultimately be effective, there is a lot to consider before deciding if surgery is the best option for you.
Who Can Benefit From Non-surgical Weight Loss Procedures?
Most types of bariatric surgery determine eligibility based on having a BMI of at least 40 (or 35 for those with medical comorbidities like type 2 diabetes). BMI is short for “body mass index,” a value that represents the ratio between your weight and height.
BMI is often used as a screening tool to determine your weight status and disease risk. While this measurement isn’t perfect, it is one way that doctors use to determine eligibility for weight loss surgery.
At True You, our non-surgical weight loss procedures are designed to be ideal for those who have a BMI of 30 or higher and who haven’t had success with more traditional weight loss methods like diet and exercise regimens.
Best Non-Surgical Weight Loss Procedures
There are several types of procedures available when considering a non-surgical weight loss option. The procedure that is right for you will depend on your medical history, personal preferences, desired weight loss, and other factors your doctor can discuss with you.
At True You, we primarily offer three types of non-surgical weight loss procedures: endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), gastric balloons (ORBERA® or Spatz3) and Gastric Fundus Mucosal Ablation. We also do bariatric revisions for those who have previously had bariatric surgery.
ESG – Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is similar to bariatric surgery called sleeve gastrectomy in that both involve reforming the stomach into a sleeve-like shape. The major difference, of course, is that ESG is done entirely with an endoscope, a flexible tube that is fed down the esophagus and into the stomach. Unlike with sleeve gastrectomy, the entire procedure is done without the need for internal or external incisions.
Once the endoscope is in the stomach, specialized suturing tools mounted on the end of the tube are used to stitch together two sides of the stomach along its greater curvature. In effect, a large portion of the stomach is cordoned off until only a narrow sleeve remains.
Once complete, only about 20% of stomach volume remains, and that means substantially less food can be eaten. By feeling full faster, you won’t eat as much, and you’ll be able to start losing excess weight due to a caloric deficit.
ESG is not reversible; the sutures used to stitch together the inside of the stomach will safely remain in your stomach, but the stomach wall will heal around them and become permanent. The potential amount of weight you can lose will vary by person, but our patients have seen an average of 23% total body weight loss after the first year. The main reason for this sustained weight loss is that a smaller stomach size promotes permanent positive changes to eating habits.
ORBERA®
The ORBERA® Managed Weight Loss System is a very different approach to weight loss in terms of the procedure, though the fundamental method of weight loss is similar to ESG and other weight loss procedures.
Rather than physically altering the size of the stomach as in ESG, ORBERA® involves placing a deflated “gastric balloon” directly into the stomach cavity via endoscopy. The balloon is then filled with a completely safe saline solution until it grows to about the size of a grapefruit.
The presence of the inflated ORBERA® balloon has the same basic effect as ESG: it reduces the overall size of the stomach so that a smaller amount of food can be eaten. You’ll feel full sooner, and over time, eating less food will lead to a caloric deficit and weight loss.
The whole procedure takes around 10-15 minutes to complete. The balloon is designed to stay in your stomach for six months until it is removed. In those six months, True You patients have been able to lose between 30-50 pounds on average—nearly three times more weight loss than diet and exercise alone!
Spatz3
Similar to the ORBERA® the Spatz3 is also a silicone gastric balloon that is filled with saline once placed inside the stomach. The main difference between the Spatz balloon and the ORBERA is that the Spatz3 has a catheter or tube attached to it. This tube allows the balloon to be adjusted once it is inside the stomach, either increasing the size or decreasing the size, if needed.
Like the ORBERA® it is also placed endoscopically in a procedure that takes only 10-15 minutes to complete. Patients typically go home the same day.
The Spatz3 gastric balloon remains in the stomach for 8 months, where U.S. clinical trials have demonstrated that patients lose an average of 32 pounds or 15% of their body weight during that time.
Gastric Fundus Mucosal Ablation (GFMA)
Gastric Fundus Mucosal Ablation (GFMA) is a novel procedure pioneered by the medical and research teams at True You Weight Loss. It involves mucosal ablation, or the application of heat to the top inner lining of the stomach, known as the gastric fundus.
The heat causes changes in the stomach tissue that eliminate the cells that produce the hunger hormone ghrelin. Suppression of this hormone reduces appetite, leading to weight loss.
The procedure is performed using an ablation device that is inserted endoscopically. Recovery is typically fast, with most patients fully being able to resume normal activities after 1-3 days.
Based on our clinical studies, the average weight loss with GFMA is between 8-17% of total body weight within 6 months.
Freedom is Waiting
In the past, complex and potentially risky bariatric surgery was one of the only options for those who couldn’t lose weight through traditional methods. And because of the potential comorbidities involved in obesity, many people aren’t even realistically candidates for surgery because of the risks. At True You, we believe that non-surgical weight loss options are a great alternative for people who need help losing weight.
If you are tired of fad diets and unsustainable exercise routines, our non-surgical weight loss procedures may be just what you’ve been waiting for. To learn more about ESG, ORBERA®, Spatz3, or our other offerings, request a consultation today. We offer transparent pricing and financing options to help you meet your goals. Our highly qualified staff has extensive experience in performing these procedures and helping many people finally find the freedom they’ve been searching for.
