Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is a cutting-edge and minimally invasive weight-loss procedure. Endoscopic procedures such as ESG use no incisions for increased comfort by going through the mouth. ESG may be the solution if you’re significantly overweight and diet and exercise haven’t worked.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)
ESG Animation Video
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What about long-term? Typically, patients who stop weight-loss medication regain 100% of their lost weight, while weight-loss procedure patients gain back less than 20% after 5 years.
What is the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) Process?
Before the Procedure
If you qualify for endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, our team will give you specific instructions on how to prepare. The following are some of the most common preparations for ESG:
- Various lab tests and exams before surgery
- Restrictions on eating, drinking, and which medications you can take
- Starting a physical activity program
You should also plan for recovery after the procedure, such as arranging for someone to help at home for a few days.
During the Procedure
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is an outpatient procedure using general anesthesia, so you’ll be unconscious. The procedure is performed orally with no incisions and generally takes up to ninety minutes.
ESG uses an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera, and an endoscopic suturing device attached. Your surgeon places sutures in the stomach to change the structure of your stomach. ESG reduces the size of the stomach by 70-80%. Shaping the stomach into a tube restricts the amount of food you can eat. Food stays in the stomach for a longer time, allowing patients to feel fuller.
This procedure does not remove any part of the stomach. Because the procedure is minimally invasive by going through the mouth and avoiding incisions, it reduces the risk of operative complications and allows for a quick return to daily activities.
After the Procedure
Most ESG patients return home the same day after recovering from sedation. However, some patients might require a short hospital stay for observation, generally no more than one day and night.
After the procedure, you won’t be allowed to eat for a few hours. When you are released to eat, you will start a liquid diet lasting at least two weeks. After those two weeks, you can move on to semisolid foods before beginning a regular, healthy diet.
Frequently Ask Questions
When can I return to work after ESG?
Patients typically return to work in 2-3 days
Are the sutures permanent or dissolvable?
The sutures are made of a durable, permanent material that does not dissolve. However, in the event the sutures break, you may not feel as full after eating as you did immediately after the procedure. If this happens, another procedure can be done to replace the broken sutures and restore the sleeve.
Who cannot have ESG?
Patients who are unable to have an upper endoscopy, are pregnant, are using certain types of blood-thinning medications or have malignant tissue, large hiatal hernia, potentially bleeding gastric lesions, or eating disorders are not eligible for the procedure. Talk to a New York Bariatric Group provider about whether you are a candidate for ESG.
Will I have to take nutritional supplements or vitamins?
No, you are typically not required to take nutritional supplements or vitamins following an ESG. Follow your doctor’s instructions on any specialized diet plans during recovery and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Is the ESG procedure permanent?
Over time, scarring and bridging tissue forms to maintain the smaller stomach size and sleeve-like shape. As with weight loss surgeries, the sleeve can stretch over time. In the event the sleeve stretches, you may not feel as full after eating as you did after the procedure. In the event the ESG stretches, you may not feel as full after eating as you did after the procedure. If this happens, a retightening procedure can be performed to place new sutures and restore the sleeve.
Is ESG reversible?
In the event that you cannot tolerate the ESG, your doctor may consider reversal. Reversal soon after the procedure can typically be done by cutting and removing the sutures in your stomach. If more time has passed and scarring has formed, the sleeve could be reversed by a procedure to cut the bridging tissue and removing the sutures, if recommended by your doctor. Like with any procedure, reversal of ESG is associated with risks and should be discussed with your doctor before proceeding.
Why Choose NYBG for ESG?
Our experience is a record of success and caring, and it is what separates us as the very best surgeons from the average ones. We do everything to ensure a safe and comfortable endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty procedure in NYC, followed by a successful weight loss journey and a long, energetic life. With post-procedure care and support programs, our patients consistently enjoy better results than other practices.
Past patients will tell you our experience does not stop after your procedure. We know what it takes to lose weight and keep it off, so our comprehensive after-care program gives you an excellent chance of success.
The weight loss surgeons at New York Bariatric Group are recognized in New York City as leading bariatric surgeons and are also recipients of multiple national awards and commendations. Dr. Garber and his team are regularly asked to train other weight loss surgeons around the country and are actively sought out for their expertise in all areas of bariatrics. The team is proud to use its experience to help develop new methods and bariatric surgery options.
When ready for an incision-free solution to bariatric surgery, choose the New York Bariatric Group for all-oral ESG.
