The ESG Procedure (The Non-Surgical Gastric Sleeve)
The Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is a relatively new procedure that involves stitching the stomach from the inside to reduce its capacity. One of the attractions of the procedure is that it is non-surgical, meaning there is no cutting of the stomach. It is done under general anaesthetic and patients stay in the hospital for one night. This procedure is sometimes called the ‘non-surgical sleeve’.
The initial weight loss results are encouraging with 2-year results at levels close to the surgical sleeve. We will continue to observe results in the years ahead to see how long term outcomes compare to the surgical alternatives.
IMPORTANT – Today, this procedure is not done in the NHS and is only available at one or two locations in the UK. Mr Jamie Kelly did the first ESG and has now done approaching 100. You can get more information, Mr Jamie Kelly here.
The Gastric Balloon Procedure
Gastric balloons are a popular non-surgical treatment for people with a BMI above 27. The balloon is a temporary procedure in which a water-filled balloon is placed in the stomach for 6 or 12 months. Patients can expect to lose about 1-2 stone, depending on their starting weight, but the weight will often return when the balloon is removed. For those with more than a couple of stone to lose or for those who have struggled with their weight for a long time, the surgical options are better. Follow the link to get more detailed information on the benefits of weight loss surgery.
Medical Weight Loss Programmes (Weight Loss Injections)
These programmes have been available for a long time. They generally deliver a modest amount of weight loss and some of the medications that are used have quite unpleasant side effects. There are however new injectable drugs available that are achieving more encouraging results with better and more tolerable weight loss. The latest results are suggesting that about 10% weight loss can be achieved with these programmes.
IMPORTANT – we recommend you only use these medicines when they are prescribed by a specialist doctor. Click the button below to get in touch with us and to discuss the medical weight loss treatment as an option for you.