A new way to lose weight! Let's learn about Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty, which shrinks the stomach without surgery

Are you tired of trying different things to lose weight? Maybe you've been trying hard to control your diet and exercising every day, but you haven't seen the results you'd hoped for. This is not just your problem, many people who are struggling with obesity have experienced this. So, as a solution to this, today we are going to talk about a new, safe way to lose weight without going for surgery.

What is Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)?

The name may sound a bit complicated, but it's actually quite simple. Simply put, Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is a procedure that reduces the volume of your stomach (stomach) without any incisions. It's a great alternative to bariatric surgery.

Think of your stomach as a large cloth bag. In this procedure, instead of cutting the bag from the outside, you sew it from the inside and make a small opening. Just like during a gastroscopy, the doctor inserts a thin tube (endoscope) with a small camera attached through your mouth into your stomach. Then, using a special device attached to the tube, the stomach walls are brought together and sewn together. Some people call this the "Accordion Procedure" because the stomach is folded from the inside in this way.

After this procedure, your large stomach becomes like a thin sleeve, shaped like a banana. This means it shrinks by about 30% of its previous size.

This has two main advantages:

1. The amount of food you can eat is very limited because your stomach is small. You still feel full even if you eat a little.

2. Because the stomach is like a thin tube, the time it takes for food to travel through it increases. So you don't feel hungry for a long time.

Who is this treatment suitable for?

ESG treatment is usually recommended for adults and sometimes young children who are severely obese. If you are an adult, you may want to consider this if your body mass index (BMI) is over 30. Bariatric surgery is usually recommended for people with a BMI that is much higher.

If you have already tried to lose weight through diet and exercise and have failed, it is time to consider a medical procedure like this. For those who are not eligible for major surgery, or are afraid or unwilling to undergo surgery, ESG is the best option between the two.

What other health conditions can be controlled with (ESG)?

Obesity is not just about gaining weight. It is a complex condition that affects the body over time. It also increases the risk of many other dangerous diseases.

For example:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Increased cholesterol levels
• Cardiovascular disease
• Fatty liver disease
• Snoring and sleep apnea

Successful weight loss through the (ESG) method can reduce the risk of developing these diseases. If you already have such a condition, with weight loss, the symptoms may be controlled, and perhaps even the medication for them may be discontinued .

What happens before and during treatment?

Let's talk about this process step by step.

Before the Procedure

You and your doctor will decide together whether you are a good fit for this. You will need to undergo several tests to do so.

• Health check: Blood tests and an ECG may be done to see if your body is ready for general anesthesia.
• Medical consultation: The doctor will talk to you at length about your health history, diet, lifestyle, and weight loss goals.
• Education: You will be fully informed about the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of this method. Most importantly, you will be given a good understanding of the long-term changes you will need to make to your lifestyle in order to make it successful.

During the Procedure

You won't feel anything while this is being done, because you're given full anesthesia and are sound asleep.

1. The specialist doctor (gastroenterologist or endoscopic surgeon) inserts a tube with a camera called an endoscope through your mouth and passes it through your esophagus into your stomach.

2. Then, gas is injected into the stomach to inflate it a little. This allows the inside to be clearly seen.

3. While watching the images from the camera on a monitor, the doctor uses a special device attached to the endoscope to bring the walls of the stomach together and place about 8 to 10 stitches.

4. When these stitches are tightened, the large stomach becomes shaped like a thin tube.

The entire procedure only takes 60 to 90 minutes . After you wake up from the anesthesia, you can go home the same day if you don't have any major discomfort. If you have any pain or nausea, it will be treated before you leave the hospital.

How do you feel after the treatment?

How is the pain?

Most people may have some mild pain while their stomach heals. Some people may experience some severe pain and nausea for a few days. However, these discomforts can usually be controlled with painkillers. If necessary, your doctor will prescribe medication.

Is there a special diet?

Yes, absolutely. You will need to follow a very strict diet for the first month or so after your treatment. This is to give your stomach time to heal after the stitches are removed. Your doctor will give you full instructions on this.

The diet usually goes in this order:

1. First week: Liquids only (things like soup, fruit juice).

2. Second week: Pureed foods.

3. Third and fourth weeks: A little more solid, soft foods.

4. After a month: Gradually getting used to regular solid foods.

What are the benefits and risks of ESG treatment?

As with any medical treatment, there are benefits and minor risks. It is important to clearly distinguish and understand these.

What is the difference between a regular surgery (Gastric Sleeve) and ESG?

The goal of both methods is the same: to shrink the stomach and limit the amount of food you can eat. But the way they do it is completely different.

• (Gastric Sleeve) Surgery: This is a real surgery . Several incisions are made in the abdomen and about 80% of the stomach is removed . This is a permanent change. It cannot be reversed.
• (ESG) Treatment: This is not a surgery . There are no incisions. No part of the stomach is cut out and removed . It is just sewn up and folded over. Therefore, this is a less invasive procedure than Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

Another important difference is that in Gastric Sleeve surgery, the part of the stomach that is cut and removed is where our hunger hormones are produced the most. Removing that part also helps control hunger. Since the stomach is not cut and removed in (ESG), hormones are not affected as much. Therefore, Gastric Sleeve surgery may be slightly more effective than (ESG) in weight loss. However, the risks of surgery are also higher.