What is Least Invasive Weight Loss Surgery?

Least Invasive Weight Loss Surgery – Overview

Being overweight is not healthy. Though dieting and exercising tend to reduce excess weight significantly, this is not always the case. When a person is significantly obese, the conventional diet-exercise routine is not as effective and fails to reduce additional weight. This is where doctors recommend patients undergo weight loss surgeries.

These surgeries are performed using conventional methods as well as least invasive techniques. Most patients today prefer the least intrusive route when undergoing weight loss surgery.

This article will take a closer look at the best, least invasive weight loss surgery options.

What Is Endoscopy

Endoscopic surgery uses small incisions or natural openings in the body, minimizing the need for large incisions. In this technique, a thin, flexible tube attached to a tiny camera is inserted through the mouth and into the digestive tract.

This technique allows surgeons to access the digestive system with reduced risk compared to traditional surgeries requiring large incisions. Before performing an endoscopy, the patient is administered local or general sedatives to avoid discomfort or pain during this surgical procedure.

Endoscopic weight loss surgeries allow doctors to use special devices and medications directly on the gastrointestinal tract, restricting the amount of food the patient can eat. Experts suggest that less invasive endoscopic weight loss procedures can offer a middle ground, with better outcomes than medication alone and lower risks than traditional surgery.

Types of Least Invasive Weight Loss Surgeries

4 Types of Least Invasive Weight Loss Surgeries

Now that you understand what endoscopy entails, let’s take a deeper look at the different options you have when you decide to undergo a least-invasive weight loss surgery in the United States:

1 – Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Sleeve

Sleeve gastrectomy, also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve surgery, is a minimally invasive surgery to reduce stomach size with the goal of weight loss. This procedure requires removing a portion of the stomach, which makes the stomach the size and shape of a banana.

After this procedure, patients feel full even with a small amount of food. Besides this, the surgical procedure removes the portion of the stomach, which produces a hormone that makes you feel hungry more often, which helps to avoid over-eating too. Eventually, these changes will help the patient lose weight.

Sleeve gastrectomy is considered minimally invasive but is not the least invasive option; it’s an alternative to more complex surgeries like gastric bypass. This is a significantly simpler solution than others as it involves less rerouting or reconnecting of the intestines. Additionally, as opposed to gastric banding, a sleeve gastrectomy does not require implanting a banding device to decrease the stomach size.

2 – Gastric Banding

Gastric banding is another popular weight loss surgical procedure. In this surgery, the surgeon attaches an inflatable band around the stomach’s upper portion, creating a smaller pouch. This helps restrict food intake and increases the time it takes for the stomach to empty. In addition, the gastric band also helps achieve significant weight loss in a shorter period by reducing your appetite and slowing down your digestion.

3 – Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass also restricts the amount of food intake and prolongs digestion, which ultimately helps the patient lose unwanted extra weight. The Roux-en-Y procedure is the most popular method of performing gastric bypass surgery.

In this procedure, the surgeon creates a smaller pouch in the upper part of the stomach, similar to gastric banding, using staples or elastic bands instead. This small stomach pouch is about the size of a walnut and can hold just around one ounce of food at a time.

Once the small pouch in the stomach is created, the surgeon will reroute part of the intestines by attaching (stapling) the intestine to the small stomach pouch. Consequently, a gastric bypass patient cannot eat much and absorbs fewer nutrients, resulting in significant weight loss.

Gastric bypass is a more complex surgery compared to some less invasive options and may not have the shortest recovery time or lowest risk of complications among weight loss surgeries.

4 – Gastric Balloon

The gastric balloon procedure is minimally invasive and temporary, requiring endoscopic balloon placement in the stomach. The gastric balloon can facilitate weight loss, with results varying among individuals. This surgery requires a lightweight gastric balloon in the stomach for around 6 months. The balloon helps to produce a feeling of satiation and reduces the frequency of hunger.

Conclusion

Every least invasive weight loss surgery listed above has benefits for certain people, depending on their individual situation and health status. So, it is highly advised to consult your general physician or a gastroenterologist to find the best-suited and most effective minimally invasive weight loss surgery.

Grants for Medical