When most people think about weight loss procedures, bariatric surgery comes to mind. And, while surgical weight loss procedures can be highly effective for weight loss, they’re not for everyone. Bariatric surgery comes with significant downtime and risk – as well as long-term considerations that many patients aren’t ready for. Fortunately, treatments for obesity have come a long way in the past few decades – paving the way for a new medical subspecialty known as endobariatrics.
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.
Endobariatric procedures require no surgery or hospital stay – and are performed by a board-certified gastroenterologist using a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope that is placed through the patient’s throat – thereby requiring zero cutting or incisions.
Endobariatric weight loss options are among the least invasive weight loss procedures available today. Endoscopic weight loss procedures are an amazing alternative to traditional bariatric surgery because, while they’re highly effective, they offer few risks, a fast recovery, and minimal side effects.
There are numerous minimally or non-invasive weight loss procedures, performed endoscopically, that can help patients lose weight and keep it off long-term without the downsides of bariatric surgery:
- Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)
- Intra-Gastric Balloon Placement
- Bariatric Revisional Procedures
- Gastric Fundus Mucosal Ablation (GFMA)
While all of these procedures are excellent treatment options for obesity and obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, it’s important to understand each option when considering which procedure might be right for you.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) – One of the Least Invasive Weight Loss Procedures
For results that rival traditional bariatric surgery coupled with all the benefits of non-surgical endoscopic techniques, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a great option. It’s an innovative, safe, and highly effective procedure that helps patients lose approximately 20 percent of their total body weight.
In an ESG procedure, a gastroenterologist uses a state-of-the-art endoscopic suturing system to reduce stomach size and capacity by 70 to 80 percent – with no cutting. After placing a thin, flexible endoscope, fitted with a camera, down the throat, and into the stomach, the gastroenterologist stitches the stomach in an accordion-like pattern to create a small gastric pouch.
By significantly reducing the stomach’s size, the procedure limits how much you can eat, restricts your calorie intake, and slows stomach emptying so you feel full longer. These measures all contribute to rapid, sustainable weight loss.
ESG is a good treatment option for patients who:
- Are 21 or older
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more
- Have not succeeded in losing weight with diet and exercise alone
- Are looking for an alternative to invasive bariatric surgery
- Do not qualify for gastric bypass surgery for medical reasons
- Are ready to commit to lifestyle changes for long-term success
ESG patients can expect to lose about 20 percent of their total body weight or up to 70 percent of their excess weight.
ESG vs. Bariatric Surgery
Traditional bariatric surgery is considered the gold standard in the treatment of obesity because it offers the best weight loss results of the available treatments on the market today. However, vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and gastric bypass surgery both require general anesthesia (which means intubation with a ventilator), a hospital stay, considerable time off work, and up to 6 weeks of restricted activity while your incisions heal.
VSG involves creating a small, sleeve-like gastric pouch to reduce food intake. Unlike ESG, in gastric sleeve surgery, up to 80 percent of the stomach is cut away completely and removed. Patients can lose about 50 to 70 percent of their excess weight in the two years after surgery.
During gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon creates a small gastric pouch and re-routes the intestines to reduce food intake and calorie absorption. Patients can lose up to 80 percent of their excess weight in the 18 months after surgery.
Instead of these surgical options, many patients are looking for the least invasive weight loss procedures that can offer long-term success. Endobariatric weight loss options are non-surgical, minimally invasive, and require little to no downtime, risks, or long-term side effects.
Other Non-Invasive Endobariatric Treatment Options
Gastric balloons, bariatric revisional procedures, and gastric fundal mucosal ablation (GFMA) are other alternative, non-surgical procedures that can help boost weight loss, especially when combined with diet and exercise.
In a gastric balloon procedure, your gastroenterologist places a silicon balloon into your stomach using an endoscope. Once it’s inside, the balloon is filled with a saline solution to the size of a grapefruit, taking up room in the stomach to help you feel fuller faster. The balloon remains in place for 6 to 8 months to jumpstart rapid weight loss – supporting the development of healthy habits that will help patients maintain weight loss after the balloon is removed.
For patients who have undergone previous bariatric surgery but have experienced weight regain, the emerging field of endoscopic bariatric medicine can prevent the need for additional, invasive, and risky surgeries. Sleeve gastrectomy revision and gastric bypass revision can both be performed endoscopically in an outpatient procedure under sedation, requiring no hospital stay or risks from anesthesia. These bariatric revisional procedures stop weight regain and help patients start losing weight once again – giving their bariatric surgery a second chance at success.
Lastly, gastric fundus mucosal ablation (GFMA) is the newest and least invasive weight loss procedure available today. It’s a novel, groundbreaking procedure pioneered by True You Weight Loss. With GFMA, the lining of the top part of the stomach (the gastric fundus) is treated with heat to change the stomach tissue and reduce the hunger hormone ghrelin. About 80 to 90 percent of the body’s ghrelin production occurs in the gastric fundus.
By targeting ghrelin at its source, this procedure reduces hunger and cravings and helps patients resist overeating. In our clinical trial, patients lost an average of 8 percent of their total body weight within 6 months. Some patients lost up to 17 percent of their total body weight, rivaling the results of GLP-1 weight loss medications or more complex weight loss procedures.
For even greater weight loss outcomes, True You Weight Loss is also the only weight loss center in the world to offer ESG-MAX™, a revolutionary weight loss treatment that integrates two advanced, non-surgical procedures: ESG and GFMA. This combined approach results in a smaller, sleeve-like stomach and a proven decrease in the hunger hormone ghrelin, leading to accelerated weight loss, reduced appetite, and enhanced weight loss.
True You Weight Loss has helped thousands of patients in more than 45 states and 10 countries lose weight through safe, effective non-surgical procedures. Dr. Christopher McGowan is a recognized leader in the field of endobariatrics and is regularly called upon to train other physicians from all over the world in endoscopic techniques.
Beyond our unparalleled expertise, True You Weight Loss also offers 24/7 physician access and lifelong follow-up to be there for patients with their successes on and off the scale. We offer motivation, encouragement, and personalized guidance for as long as you need. You’ll also have a direct line to your physician through their personal cell phone, text, email, and video chat, so you’re never far from the support you need.
Request a consultation today to learn more about how True You Weight Loss can help you in your weight loss journey.
