Losing weight isn’t easy at all, but as we’ve discussed in this blog, there are plenty of options available to help you along the way. People take the first step in the weight loss process by trying one of those diets that are promoted as miraculous. But it is necessary to clarify that in many patients the fact of losing weight alone does not work, that is why it is so important to discuss the importance of endoscopic procedures to lose weight and how they can help you.
Weight loss surgery has potentially life-saving effects. If a patient is 100 pounds overweight (the equivalent of a body mass index or BMI of 40), weight loss procedures can result in significant weight loss and help treat conditions that develop from obesity. Health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes can be controlled and improved thanks to these weight loss procedures.
There are also patients who are not overweight and whose body mass index is less than 40; they do not qualify for weight loss surgery. Endoscopic weight loss procedures (in addition to being innovative) could be right for you. These non-surgical procedures imply using an endoscope, which is a flexible tube with a camera attached, and are used to reach the stomach through the mouth in order to perform the weight loss procedure.
What are the non-surgical procedures to lose weight?
Today endoscopic weight loss procedures are evolving by leaps and bounds and are helping professionals transform the way a bariatric patient should be cared for. At Innova Weight Loss Solutions we can offer patients non-invasive, non-surgical, and effective weight loss procedures such as Orbera Gastric Balloon and Endoscopic Sleeve or Overstitch Gastroplasty. These procedures can help patients lose 15-20% of their body weight. Patients who undergo these procedures may also experience improvement in adverse health conditions that develop from being overweight such as sleep apnea sleep and gastric reflux. These types of procedures are ambulatory, which means that patients return home the same day and can return to their normal activities in two or three days.
Orbera® Gastric Balloon
The non-surgical Orbera® gastric balloon procedure for weight loss uses a balloon made of soft silicone to be inserted in the stomach. By occupying an important place within the stomach, patients are forced to adapt to much smaller and healthier food portions. This process accelerates an overall healthy weight loss. Over 300,000 balloons placed and millions of pounds lost show that this weight loss procedure helps patients lose up to 3 times more weight than with diet and exercise alone. The Orbera gastric balloon is a weight loss program that requires the discipline and commitment of the patient to change and adapt to new eating habits and lifestyles.
How much weight can I lose with the Orbera® gastric balloon?
The most significant weight loss with the Orbera gastric balloon usually occurs within the first three months of treatment. On average, patients lost 3 times more weight than is lost through diet and exercise. One of the biggest commitments that the patient acquires with the gastric balloon is to adapt to new and better lifestyles and healthy habits to stay active and achieve constant and effective weight loss.
What are the risks of this procedure?
This procedure is safe and non-invasive. Therefore, it does not represent major risks. However, the side effects of this procedure can be perceived as nausea in the first 7 days after the balloon is implanted in some patients. Stomach pain and acid reflux may also occur.
How much does the Orbera® Procedure cost?
Innova Weight Loss Solutions offers all-inclusive pricing for the Orbera gastric balloon procedure. The price of this procedure averages around $8,500 throughout the country, but our team currently has special promotions for you, you just have to make an appointment.
Is Gastric Balloon Covered by Health Insurance?
This procedure is not currently covered by any insurance plan, but the costs may be somewhat offset if the patient makes use of the patient’s health care FSA or HSA. We also offer flexible financing options. Insurance companies generally take their time in recognizing new trends or advanced techniques in medicine. Until now, this type of procedure, such as the gastric balloon, is still considered a cosmetic procedure and not a medical treatment to treat obesity.
Am I a Candidate for the Orbera® Weight Loss Procedure?
In reality, only a professional from our medical team can tell you if Orbera is right for you or not, which is why it is so important to schedule a consultation as soon as possible. However, if you are an adult with a BMI (body mass index) greater than 30 and are looking for a non-surgical, non-invasive solution, and have tried diet and exercise without success, the Orbera gastric balloon can help you achieve your ideal weight in 6 months.
When Will I See Results After the Orbera® Procedure?
The greatest weight loss occurs in the first 3 months of treatment. This weight loss is rapid and noticeable. On average, patients lost 3 times more weight with Orbera than with diet and exercise alone. Adjustments in eating habits and willingness to stay active greatly influence results.
Apart from the gastric balloon as a procedure to lose weight without surgery, we have another powerful and effective procedure to lose weight quickly and without surgery. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is also known as the Overstitch, sleeve, or accordion procedure. This relatively new weight loss procedure is becoming the first choice for patients who do not want to undergo major surgery and long recovery times. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty reduces the size of your stomach using an endoscopic suture device without the need for surgery, cuts or scars. This procedure may be an option if you are significantly overweight (body mass index of 30 or more), and diet and exercise have not worked for you to achieve your weight loss goals.
Endoscopic Gastric Sleeve Or Overstitch
The non-surgical gastric sleeve ensures significant weight loss. It will help you lose weight by limiting the amount of food the patient is used to eating. This procedure is minimally invasive, which reduces the risk of surgical complications and long hospital stays.
As with other weight loss procedures, Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty requires a commitment on the part of the patient to adhere to a healthier and more physically active lifestyle. This means that patients must commit to adopting better eating habits and physical activity in order to notice effective weight loss.
This non-surgical procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure. General anesthesia is used for the procedure, so the patient will be unconscious for a couple of hours. The procedure is performed using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera, and an attached endoscopic suturing device. This endoscope is inserted down the throat and into the stomach. The small camera allows the doctor to see and begin stitching inside your stomach without making incisions in your abdomen, without scarring, and best of all, without an overnight stay in the hospital.
What is the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Procedure?
The endoscopic gastric sleeve is a weight loss procedure that uses an endoscopic suture device to reduce the size of the stomach by up to 80%. With the stomach reduced in size, patients will feel full with little food and the stomach will not be able to secrete as many hormones that induce hunger. ensuring constant and effective weight loss.
Who Is a Candidate for Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty?
This non-surgical procedure is an excellent option for patients with a body mass index greater than 30 (BMI>30) who are not ideal candidates for bariatric surgery or do not wish to undergo major surgery. The accordion procedure can help patients prevent and improve obesity-related medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disease or stroke.
How Much Weight Can I Lose with Overstitch?
An endoscopic gastric sleeve can lead the patient to significant weight loss. The amount of weight you lose also depends on how much you can change your lifestyle habits. But studies have shown very interesting results for patients with obesity. This procedure together with the discipline and changes in the habits of the patients can generate a loss of up to 75 pounds in the first year after performing the procedure.
Risks and Side Effects Associated with the Accordion Procedure
In general, this procedure is very safe. The only known risks with this procedure are bleeding (<1%), nausea, and obstruction or injury to the esophagus. However, this type of risk has a level of less than 1%. The only discomfort you may have after the procedure is a sore throat, and that's because the endoscope was placed inside your esophagus throughout the procedure. The chance of side effects from a non-surgical sleeve endoscopy is low, but if they do occur, they are not serious and last up to 5 days.
In general, these non-surgical and outpatient procedures are excellent tools to lose weight and maintain it. Our professional team is ready to guide your process and create a personalized plan so that together we can transform your life. Getting started is very easy, you can make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in Puerto Rico and New York. We will analyze together which is the best way to achieve your weight loss goals and improve your healthy habits.