OverStitch (Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty)

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a procedure that uses a unique tool and technique recently authorized by the FDA called the Apollo ESG™ System to make changes to a patient’s stomach without any incisions. This means that there won’t be any scars left behind. Shedding a significant number of pounds can be a transformative life event, and this procedure may help patients succeed with sustainable weight loss when everything else has failed.

Overstitch ESG Works Like This

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) yields similar results to the most popular form of weight loss surgery, VSG (gastric sleeve surgery), only without the use of a scalpel or making any abdominal cuts. The gastroenterologist, who has received special training, works from inside your stomach while the patient is under sedation and uses the Apollo Overstitch® suturing tool to reduce stomach size by about 75%. This is the original and sole device on the market that has been given FDA clearance to carry out the ESG procedure.

The Overstitch suturing device is connected to a camera that goes through a patient’s throat into the stomach while the patient is sedated in order to minimize pain and discomfort. The doctor is able to target precise places on your stomach and administer full-thickness sutures until the shape is altered to be much shorter and smaller. In simple terms, the stomach is sewn together in certain places to limit the amount of food that can be eaten during one meal. If necessary, these stitches can be taken out, effectively reversing the results.

Videos on this website are used with express permission from Apollo Endosurgery, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boston Scientific Corporation. Video comes from: https://apolloendo.com/patients/apollo-esg/.

Would Overstitch ESG Be Right For You?

Apollo Overstitch ESG is a treatment option for people age eighteen or older whose BMI (body mass index) ranges from 30 to 50 kg/m2, which is classified as obese. It is for adults who have struggled and failed to lose weight or keep it off using traditional calorie counting and physical activity. Patients who cannot safely tolerate the endoscope, who are expecting or nursing, who take specific blood thinners, who have malignant tissue, significant hiatal hernias, possibly bleeding gastric lesions, or who have eating disorders would not qualify. To find out if ESG would be a good match for you, speak to your doctor about your specific circumstances.

What You Can Expect On ESG Procedure Day

Medication that will sedate you and keep you comfortable during the process will be administered after you have a brief consultation with your doctor.

The vast majority of patients are able to go home the same day. However, you will be groggy from the sedation, so you will not be allowed to drive and will need a friend or family member’s help. You should take it easy the rest of the day, and because your reflexes will be impaired due to the sedation, you should avoid using machinery or equipment that can potentially cause you harm. You can resume your regular routine as early as the next day or when you feel up to it.

To aid in the healing of your stomach, you’ll need to follow dietary guidelines, which begin with a liquid diet for the initial week or two; however, do not consume any alcoholic beverages. After that, you can gradually introduce pureed and soft foods over the following two weeks. Usually, by the fourth week, you can start eating solid foods again. Just make sure to follow the specific instructions given by your doctor relating to your unique circumstances.

When there is less space in your stomach, you will start feeling full more quickly, which can help you reduce your weight. The procedure can assist you in developing better nutritional eating habits and in continuing to make smarter, ongoing lifestyle choices that have a positive impact on your health.

The Efficacy Of The Procedure

Apollo ESG™ using the Overstitch tool was developed to give patients the opportunity to achieve sustainable weight loss results. With bariatric surgery being the only historical option, this is an appealing alternative for people who haven’t lost weight successfully through traditional means alone and are scared of more intrusive procedures.

A major study revealed that a significant number of people who underwent Apollo ESG™ and made the necessary changes to their diet and lifestyle dropped a large amount of weight and were able to keep it off even after two years.

Most individuals lost around 49% of the extra weight they were carrying (about 14% of their starting weight). Almost 70% of these people had maintained their weight loss two years later.

What Kind Of Doctor Performs The Apollo ESG Procedure?

The ESG procedure is typically performed by a gastroenterologist or an interventional endoscopist with specialized training in endoscopic procedures.

Gastroenterologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the digestive system. They have completed medical school and a residency in internal medicine. They receive the highest level of training regarding endoscopic procedures than any other doctor, which makes them experts on the architecture and functionality of the digestive system. This makes them the most qualified for safely and successfully carrying out procedures like ESG.

In some cases, surgeons or interventional endoscopists have received additional training in advanced endoscopic techniques and procedures, which may include the Overstitch ESG procedure.

How Much Weight Can You Lose After Overstitch ESG?

During the clinical trials, the average percentage of weight lost by participants was about 14%; however, at Innova Weight Loss Solutions, we have witnessed our patients losing significantly more weight during the initial 12-month period after their Overstitch ESG procedure. (20% or more) The percentage of weight that patients lose is directly related to how well they modify their behavior and make healthy choices. There are patients who have lost 100 pounds or more after Overstitch ESG.

Losing weight with Overstitch ESG has helped many of our patients get their blood sugar and high blood pressure under control, as well as improve or eliminate other conditions that occur with excess weight. The medical team at Innova Weight Loss Solutions will be there to support you, help you improve your health, and reach or surpass your goals.