Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is an incision-free, non-surgical bariatric surgery that reduces the size of your stomach to promote weight loss. The procedure takes place under sedation and allows you to return home the same day.
ESG is best suited for people with a BMI of at least 30 who are committed to long-term weight maintenance. It is also an excellent option for patients not candidates for surgical procedures.
Costs
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is an outpatient, minimally invasive procedure that reduces stomach volume and slows the speed at which food passes to your digestive tract, making you feel full more quickly. This enables you to lose weight and improve your health. Like other endoscopic options, sleeve gastroplasty does not leave scars or marks, so you can return to your routine immediately after surgery.
The ESG procedure changes your stomach’s shape to limit how much you can eat by stitching the walls of your stomach to make it smaller and more tube-like. one of the first centers in the country to perform this procedure. During the surgery, a flexible tube called an endoscope fitted with a mechanical suturing device is inserted through your mouth and into your stomach. The endoscope then sews three rows of stitches, reducing your stomach’s capacity to a sleeve shape.
You can eat various foods after your ESG procedure, but you must avoid high-fat and sugary items, as they can add excess calories to your diet. Your physician will help you learn how to navigate this new eating pattern. In addition, the typical costs of the ESG process depend on the state you live in.
If you are severely overweight and don’t qualify for other types of bariatric surgery, many centers can help you find an affordable solution. Our team of dedicated medical professionals can also connect you with a behavior coach and dietitian to support your efforts to maintain long-term success.
Recovery
With the minimally invasive weight loss treatment called ESG, your stomach’s capacity is decreased, causing you to feel full faster and take in fewer calories. This results in substantial and sustainable long-term weight loss for patients who haven’t succeeded with traditional diet and exercise alone.
The endoscopic suite is where the procedure occurs while you are asleep under general anesthesia. The doctor inserts a small flexible tube with a camera (endoscope) into your throat and stomach.
This tube contains a suturing device that recreates the anatomy of surgical laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). The surgeon staples the stomach vertically to create a small ‘tube’ that restricts the amount of food you can eat and changes your satiety-inducing hormones.
After the procedure, you start on a liquid diet and slowly progress to soft foods, then to solids as your stomach heals. The process takes about a month.
You should avoid strenuous activity until your stomach heals. You’ll also need to follow a strict diet. You can find out more about the specifics of your dietary restrictions by meeting with an experienced dietitian. In addition to your nutritional modifications, you’ll have regular medical appointments and behavioral therapy to support your efforts.
Preparation
ESG is a minimally invasive procedure associated with fewer complications and shorter recovery times than traditional surgical bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. During the process, doctors use an endoscope (a flexible tube with a light and camera) to insert sutures into your stomach. These sutures change the structure of your stomach so it’s shaped like a small, tube-like pouch and limits how much you can eat.
The procedure typically takes 60 to 90 minutes, and you can go home the same day. Before you undergo ESG, you’ll receive a thorough medical evaluation to ensure the procedure is correct. We’ll also help you develop a healthy eating and exercise plan to support your long-term success with weight loss.
During the ESG procedure, you’ll be under general anesthesia. Your healthcare team will include an endoscopist, an anesthesiologist, and nursing staff to ensure your safety and comfort.
The endoscope is passed through your mouth to reach the walls of your stomach, where a running stitch pattern is used to create a “sleeve-like” or tubular appearance. The reduction in stomach volume restricts how much food you can eat and changes your hormones that influence satiety. This lets you lose weight and improve obesity-related comorbid conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
Insurance
Many people are concerned about whether or not their insurance company will cover bariatric surgery, particularly the less invasive endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG). ESG, sometimes called the Apollo technique, uses an endoscope – a thin tube with a light and camera at its tip that can pass through small openings, such as your mouth – to reach your digestive tract. Your doctor can then use special tools to perform the procedure.
The endoscope also allows your doctor to place sutures in your stomach, altering its shape into a “sleeve” like a tube. This reduces its volume, which makes you feel full after eating fewer calories and encourages weight loss. This procedure is outpatient so that you can go home the same day. However, you may need to spend a night or two in the hospital to be monitored and have someone drive you home afterward.
Currently, most insurance companies do not cover the cost of ESG. Still, it is becoming more popular as a less invasive alternative to other surgical weight loss procedures that require cutting into your stomach. It is also more effective than diet alone, causing significant long-term weight loss and improving conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, joint pain, and sleep apnea.
Before getting a weight loss procedure, it is essential to understand that it will only be successful if you are committed to healthy habits. Be prepared to follow a healthy eating plan, exercise regularly, and participate in monthly follow-ups for the first year after your ESG.
