Weight loss procedures have progressed greatly over the last 20 years, and JourneyLite Physicians has always been on the leading edge. In the not-so-distant past patients were forced to commit to big operations, big incisions, long hospital stays, and potentially high risk. Now, however, there are many new developments in the field of weight loss procedures that could be real game-changers in the field.
Many patients are interested in losing weight, but they don’t want to have surgery. Diets have failed them repeatedly over the years and they need a more powerful option to succeed. For decades, gastric bypass was the gold standard, and still is in many circles. But there are two camps who are looking for non-surgical options: those who don’t have enough weight to lose to justify full-on surgery, and those who qualify for surgery but their fears of being cut on outweigh the benefits of bariatric surgery.
The risk of weight loss surgery has really come way down in the last decade, and it’s now no more risky than gallbladder surgery. But the more options we have in our arsenal, the more effective we can be at treating the disease of obesity. At JourneyLite Physicians, we are of the opinion that obesity treatments might be more successful if patients were treated at a lower BMI, intervening earlier rather than waiting for the scale to climb high enough to require gastric bypass.
First in the field of incisionless weight loss came the gastric balloon. Some patients don’t like the temporary nature of a balloon, as it must be removed after 6 months. So there aremany patients out there looking for a more permanent tool. A newer procedure, called the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, or “ESG” could some day fit the bill for these patients.
The ESG procedure uses an endoscopic “sewing machine” called the Overstitch (Apollo Endosurgery). Sutures are placed inside the patients stomach to reduce the gastric volume, while the patient is under anesthesia. One study has shown that after patients have the ESG, they require 59% fewer calories to achieve maximum fullness. Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, early results have been promising. Patients can typically have this procedure done on an outpatient basis and be back to work in about a week.
This procedure shows promise but is not yet time-tested and early results were very encouraging. Intermediate results, however, show a reasonably high rate of suture failure, which allows the stomach to re-expand. So, although this procedure could become a standard in the arsenal of incisionless weight loss options, currently we are not offering it. We will continue to monitor the scientific evidence and advancements in technology to see if the ESG is validated as a durable procedure.
Would be a canister if had lap band that slipped and removed and what is cost
Patients who have had gastric bands removed in the past could be candidates for ESG. Our current price is $9900 until the end of 2017.
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
will this cut down on cravings at all? Thats why I eat sweets and carbs, cant get past the darn cravings.
I am 5’3 195 pounds. small boned, so lots of fat.
Perhaps a little, but not much. Primarily it is a tool to reduce portion sizes.
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
When is the soonest I can have the gastric balloon done?
Usually we can get you on the schedule within 2-3 weeks of your consultation!
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
I have diabetes and nuroapathy and I need to lose at least 65 lbs. I’ve lost 15 lbs in a year. Please help!
Hi Kimberly just give us a call at 513-259-2555!
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
I have non alcoholic fatty liver and cant lose the “visceral” fat very easily… I am 67, otherwise in decent health but want to lose 50 lbs
You’re goals are very much in line with the ESG procedure, I’d give a call to our patient service reps on Monday and they can give you more info. 513-259-2555
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
I’m 5’1” and I weigh 213lbs it’s very difficult to lose the weight I’ll drop a few lbs and gain it again. I’ve cut out carbs and sweets and work out. I’m 33 yrs old and it’s difficult to lose and keep it off. I’ve never been this heavy and it’s hurting my knees a lot. I would like to request more information.
We have many options, just give our patient service reps a call at 513-559-1222. They can help you figure out a plan that fits within your needs.
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
Hello
I am very interested in learning more about the procedure. I would like to know cost and overall success rate? Does insurance cover any of the cost. I am almost 300 pounds and 5 ft 3 in. I am very miserable and just want to have a happier healthier body. Please provide any info that you can
Thanks
The cost is around $10,000, insurance does not cover but it’s HSA/FLEX eligible. We don’t have long term data yet on overall success rate of the procedure. I would recommend giving a call to our patient service representatives and talking to them at 513-259-2555.
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
Dr. how long are you in the hospital following the procedure? Is the procedure permanent? I live in the Dayton area. Do you perform the procedure in this area.? Are there follow up visits? If so how often e.g. monthly/ quarterly are the follow up visits?
The procedure is outpatient. It’s meant to be permanent but we don’t really know at this point how long the sutures will last for sure as it is a new procedure. There are 6 follow up visits required during the first year, which could be done in our Dayton office.
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
How much are your office visits?
It varies depending on what it’s for. I believe a virtual ESG consult is $99 if that’s what you’re looking for.
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
Doctor
as you don’t know how long the sutures will last, does it mean that if the suture gets off, the whole operation will be reversed??? does not the body develop any kind of fibrotic tissue where the sutures are?
We just don’t know for ESG how long these sutures will last. They may be permanent, they may not be – time will tell. The body does develop fibrotic tissue, the question is it strong enough to keep them together forever.
Dr. Trace Curry
Medical Director
JourneyLite Physicians
I had the balloon, and I just could not tolerate it. My stomach never adjusted to the foreign object in it, so my side effects didn’t subside. Could the EGS ever be an option for people with a lower BMI like the balloon? Since it’s less invasive, it would be great to have a permanent option for those of us who need to lose 20-30 pounds and have been unsuccessful through other methods.
Sure there is no reason a balloon patient couldn’t get an ESG.
Dr. C
Is this procedure reversible? Will you do the procedure on someone whos BMI is over 40?
It’s not technically reversible, but could be modified in the future into a sleeve, bypass, or SIPS in most cases. In the right candidate our surgeons may offer it to patients with a BMI over 40 but you have to be motivated to follow the program to the “T”!
Dr. Curry