Gastric Fundal Mucosal Ablation (GFMA) is a novel, groundbreaking procedure pioneered by the medical and research teams at True You Weight Loss.
The procedure involves endoscopic gastric mucosal ablation or application of thermal energy (heat) to the inner lining of the top part of the stomach called the gastric fundus. It is performed by a gastroenterologist using an endoscope, a small tube with a camera, and a light.
During the procedure, True You Weight Loss doctors use a tiny ablation device to treat the mucosal (surface) layer of the stomach lining. Gastric mucosal ablation leads to changes in the stomach tissue, including a direct reduction in the hunger hormone, ghrelin.
The fundus is responsible for 80-90% of ghrelin production in the body. Ghrelin is a very powerful hormone. It’s what makes us feel hungry before meals, and what leads us to eventually crave more food as we diet. Ghrelin is designed for survival but can resist our efforts to lose weight.
GFMA eliminates the ghrelin-producing cells, preventing them from triggering the release of this appetite-stimulating hormone. The result: less hunger, reduced cravings, and greater control to resist overeating.
Researchers at True You Weight Loss designed and conducted the first studies of GFMA, with their rigorous clinical trials confirming the potential benefits of this groundbreaking procedure:
Disclaimer: The GFMA procedure is performed using the ERBE VIO3 and APC3 devices, which are FDA 510(k) cleared for coagulation and ablation of tissue. However, the use of these devices for the treatment of weight is currently investigational.
Gastric Mucosal Ablation Ablation is still an investigational procedure. The True You Weight Loss team pioneered this technique and continues to investigate the use of GFMA for patients with obesity in multiple ongoing studies. If you are an adult with obesity or pre-obesity, you may be eligible for the GFMA procedure within a clinical trial or registry. Contact our team to speak directly with one of our experts.
The GFMA procedure is clinically proven to reduce hunger, stomach capacity, and weight. If you have struggled to lose weight through diet, exercise, or other modalities, and if hunger (often referred to as “food noise”) is problematic, GFMA may be a helpful treatment.
This is the only non-surgical approach to reduce the hunger hormone ghrelin. Prior to the development of GFMA, the only way to reduce ghrelin was to surgically remove or bypass the gastric fundus with a surgical sleeve gastrectomy or roux-en-y gastric bypass. At True You Weight Loss, we understand that traditional bariatric surgery may be too drastic for some patients. The novel endoscopic GFMA procedure may be an alternative strategy for patients who don’t want surgery.
The GLP-1 medications, including Wegovy and Zepbound, control appetite through the glucagon-like-peptide 1 hormonal pathway. Boosting the effect of GLP-1 helps to curb hunger but does not directly alter ghrelin. By comparison, GFMA works directly to reduce ghrelin levels in the body. Though these treatments work through completely different hormonal pathways, patients describe a similar reduction in “food noise” and “head hunger.” However, with GFMA, there is no need for ongoing medication injections to sustain this effect.
Mucosal ablation is a technique that involves applying thermal energy, or heat, within the body. This technique is commonly used to treat growth, lesions, or other abnormalities within the gastrointestinal tract. Gastric fundal mucosal ablation is a non-surgical procedure that ablates the mucosal lining of the gastric fundus – the top part of the stomach. Mucosal ablation is an FDA-authorized technique, though its use as a primary weight loss treatment is still investigational.
Yes. GFMA was proven to be safe in the first-in-human clinical trials of GFMA conducted by True You Weight Loss researchers. The most common side effects were mild and included gas, bloating, nausea, and aversion to savory foods. There were no serious adverse events in these studies. The GFMA procedure is a highly advanced, investigational procedure, and should only be performed by experts trained and experienced in the technique. Risks of the procedure could include bleeding, ulceration, or perforation.
