Looking for a “scar-less” alternative to bariatric surgery? Our Lady of the Lake is offering a new, innovative weight loss procedure that shrinks the stomach using a suturing device inserted through the mouth rather than cutting open a person’s abdomen.
“Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty is a great option for patients who want to lose a lot of weight, but don’t want to have surgery,” said Our Lady of the Lake Surgeon Karl LeBlanc, MD, MBA, FACS. “Because it is non-surgical, the procedure is less expensive than traditional bariatric surgery and patients typically recover faster, with most being able to go home the same day.”
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty involves using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera and a suturing device attached. The endoscope is placed down the throat and into the stomach, where the tiny camera allows the surgeon to see and operate inside the stomach without making incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon places sutures in the stomach, making it smaller and changing its shape. The procedure takes about 90 minutes to complete.
“The obesity epidemic in the United States is now three decades old, and today more than 38 percent of U.S. adults are obese. But thanks to advancements in research and technology, we are constantly finding new ways to battle this epidemic through better health and wellness as well as more innovative treatment options like Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty.”
LeBlanc recently performed the first Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty in Louisiana. The procedure is gaining in popularity worldwide, with nearly 1,000 total procedures performed. It is sought after as a more permanent weight solution compared to other non-surgical options, like Gastric Balloon, because it physically alters the size of the stomach. The procedure is safe and effective for those who are significantly overweight with a body mass index of 30 or more and for whom diet and exercise alone have not worked.
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center recently received full re-accreditation as a comprehensive bariatric facility by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). As a leader in weight loss treatment, Our Lady of the Lake provides many surgical and non-surgical options for success in achieving a more active and healthy lifestyle.