Have you tried everything to lose weight and failed every time? Find out about the latest non-surgical weight loss procedures and if they could work for you.
Three-fourths of Americans are currently overweight or obese.
We already know that carrying extra weight can lead to a whole host of issues, including heart attacks, diabetes and strokes. The best way to avoid these types of risks is to lose weight.
However, for many people, simply losing weight isn’t that simple, or they wouldn’t be in their current position. While many people know about gastric bypass surgery, not everyone is eligible, and many people would rather not take the risk.
Luckily, new weight loss procedures have since been invented that can help the obese lose weight without gastric bypass surgery.
It should be noted that for the majority of these procedures, you’ll need to have a BMI between 30 and 40, which disqualifies many morbidly obese individuals. Nevertheless, it is important to discuss all of the available options with your doctor. Some procedures may have differing requirements, and different doctors may have differing requirements, as well.
While most of these procedures are classified as non-surgical, in many cases, there will still be a small incision in order for your doctor to properly access your stomach.
Read on for more information on these non-surgical weight loss procedures.
1. The Aspire Assist Device
The Aspire Assist Device is similar to a feeding tube, but in this instance, it works in reverse. Instead of pumping food directly into your abdomen, the feeding tube helps you drain it so that you can reduce most of your calories.
This procedure is technically non-surgical, but it does still require a small incision. Your doctor will use an endoscope into your stomach, which is accessed by a small incision.
The doctor will then place a tube inside your stomach, which connects to a tiny port that sits outside of your body. 20 to 30 minutes after each meal, you’ll drain your stomach so that you remove a good portion of the meal you’ve just consumed.
New information shows that this procedure can be safe for those with a BMI of up to 55. This makes it an excellent solution for morbidly obese individuals who are not interested in gastric bypass surgery.
As with feeding tubes for individuals who are unable to eat temporarily, this tube can be removed once you reach your goal weight. You may have a small scar where the incision was.
2. Gastric Balloon
The gastric balloon is sometimes confused with the gastric sleeve. These, however, are two different procedures.
This outpatient procedure only takes about 30 minutes to complete.
The doctor will place a tiny saline-filled solution into your stomach using an endoscopic camera. Once the balloon is placed, the doctor will then fill the balloon with saline solution. This is perfectly safe, so there is no risk should the balloon accidentally pop.
The saline-filled balloon will then remain in your stomach until it is removed. This allows you to experience the feeling of fullness much faster so that you don’t continue to eat past the point of satiety.
Some doctors will also offer you a gas-filled balloon instead of the saline solution. Together, you can decide which is right for you.
The balloons are meant to stay in place for six months before removal.
3. Endoscopic Sleeve
If you’ve been investigating weight loss surgery or weight loss procedures, you’ve likely already come across the gastric sleeve. In many cases, this surgery is invasive and includes the surgeon placing a gastric sleeve around the stomach to reduce its size.
However, the endoscopic sleeve is a similar concept, but without the incisions.
The endoscopic sleeve is inserted into the body through the mouth. The doctor will use a small tube to place into the stomach orally. Then, the doctor will make the stomach smaller using stitches similar to the traditional surgery.
With this procedure, your stomach will be reduced by almost 70%, making you feel much fuller much more quickly. As the stitches are created orally, the doctor can later undo them if the two of you agree you would like to do so. Your stomach will remain as it was previously, though some patients may experience a small amount of scar tissue.
Not only can this procedure be reversed, but your doctor can also use it as the basis for another weight loss procedure. This keeps your options open if you feel that this procedure was not exactly what you were hoping for, or you do not achieve the results you and your doctor expected.
This surgery can be performed for individuals who have a BMI of 30 or greater, which can mean that those who are not large enough for the traditional sleeve can still have the surgery. It allows them to have a handle on their weight before it becomes out of control.
For those that are looking to lose a higher percentage of weight, there’s also a minimally invasive procedure called duodenal switch surgery. Patients that opt for this surgery on average experience an extra 20% loss of excess weight over the sleeve. That said, malnutrition can be an issue post-surgery so it’s recommended you have a nutrition plan to make up for any deficiencies.
Non-Surgical Weight Loss Procedures
With obesity on the rise in the United States, both surgical and non-surgical medical weight loss procedures are a great way to help curb the phenomenon. With so many negative side effects of obesity, it is important that individuals and their doctors keep a handle on their weight so that they don’t go on to develop further problems.
Non-surgical weight loss procedures allow those who are not yet morbidly obese to get control of their weight. This helps them get a handle on their problem before it spins out of control.
Looking for more information on maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle? Visit the rest of our site here at Health Voyager for more.
