Nonsurgical weight loss options

In addition to bariatric surgical procedures, you and your HonorHealth physician may also discuss nonsurgical weight loss options. These include:

A physician-supervised weight loss program

If you have excess weight to lose, but want to avoid surgery or need help losing weight to be ready for surgery, a personalized, physician-supervised weight loss program might be right for you.

With this alternative, you'll meet with a bariatric nurse practitioner, registered dietitian and exercise specialist each month to discuss lifestyle changes that include diet and exercise programs. You'll create realistic action plans and make follow-up appointments to track and document your progress.

To learn more, call 480-882-7460.

Endoscopic weight loss procedures

In addition to minimally invasive surgical options, you have options via endoscopy.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty

This weight loss procedure involves no surgical incisions on the outside of your body. Instead, while you're under general anesthesia, your HonorHealth Bariatric Center specialist will operate through an endoscope placed through your mouth into your stomach. The specialized device is a flexible tube equipped with a tiny camera, light and suturing tool.

Using about 12 sutures, your doctor will change your stomach's shape, leaving it shaped like a tube. This nonsurgical gastric sleeve procedure for select patients decreases the size of the stomach. That means you should consume fewer calories.

Most patients go home that day, although you might need to stay in the hospital for a day. Recovery usually takes one to two days.

This type of endoscopic weight loss can be an option if:

• You have a body mass index between 30 and 40.
• You have not been able to maintain weight loss through diet and exercise.
• You have not had previous surgery on your stomach.

Lifestyle changes required

Your HonorHealth bariatric specialist will carefully evaluate you to see if you're a candidate for the procedure.  To qualify, you need to be significantly overweight and unable to be a candidate for other bariatric surgeries.

You won't qualify if you've had previous stomach surgery, have a hiatal hernia larger than three centimeters or have gastrointestinal bleeding.

You should know that for this procedure to be a success you need to:

• Be willing to make a commitment to lifestyle changes.
• Have regular follow-up visits.
• Participate in behavioral therapy.

Because endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is new, it might not be covered by insurance. You'll need to check with your insurer.

Make an appointment

See if you're a candidate for endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty — call the HonorHealth Bariatric Center at 480-882-7460.

Endoscopic pouch reduction

If you've gained weight after gastric bypass surgery, the cause might be the gradual stretching of the stomach pouch and/or the stoma — the outlet from the stomach to the intestine — over the years. This can allow you to eat more food, resulting in weight regain.

If this is the case, you might be a candidate for a new procedure, endoscopic pouch reduction. It's performed without any incisions on the outside of the body.

During the procedure, your highly skilled HonorHealth Bariatric Center specialist will place the endoscope through your mouth into your stomach. The endoscope is a flexible tube with a tiny camera, light and suturing tool. You'll be under general anesthesia while the surgeon uses the suturing instrument to reduce the size of the stomach pouch and narrow the stoma. The surgeon can place stitches through all layers of the gastric wall, almost as if he or she were in the operating room doing open surgery.  

The procedure will lead to a reduction in the size of the pouch and stoma.  When you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, the procedure can effectively help you reverse the trend of weight gain after gastric bypass. An endoscopic pouch reduction carries with it a low risk of complications.

Please note: Because it's a new procedure, it might not be covered by insurance. You'll need to check with your insurer.

Make an appointment

See if you're a candidate for an endoscopic pouch reduction by calling the HonorHealth Bariatric Center at 480-882-7460.

Intra-gastric balloon procedure

HonorHealth participated in the clinical trials that made this nonsurgical option possible.

You may be eligible for the intra-gastric balloon procedure if you:

• Have a body mass index of 30 to 40.
• Have attempted diet and exercise without success.
• Have one or more medical conditions resulting from excess weight.

What you can expect with the intragastric balloon procedure:

• It will be done on an outpatient basis.
• A bariatric physician will insert an instrument called an endoscope through your mouth, placing two balloons in your stomach.
• The balloons will be filled with saline (a sterile salt solution) and will remain in your stomach.
• After six months, your bariatric physician will deflate and remove the balloons during a similar procedure.
• You should go home the same day.

How the intra-gastric balloon procedure can help you lose weight:

• The balloons in your stomach make you feel fuller. You eat less and therefore take in fewer calories. This can jump-start your weight loss.
• During the six months the balloons are in your stomach, you’ll meet regularly with registered dietitians and weight loss coaches. This will help you establish healthy eating and exercise patterns.
• You'll continue to receive weight loss coaching for an additional six months to help you stay on track with your goals. At the end of the year, you'll have the tools you need to keep the weight off for good.

What are the advantages to the intra-gastric balloon procedure?

• Nonsurgical weight loss option done on an outpatient basis with little down time.
• No scarring.
• The procedure is reversible — in fact, the balloons will be removed in six months.
• Initial results show twice the weight loss of traditional weight loss methods with continued weight loss or maintenance at six months.