Millions of Americans struggle each day with obesity. In fact, nearly 40% of adults are obese, according to the CDC. This struggle affects not only their health but also their self-image and quality of life.
In addition, diets are tough to stick to, and some of the newer weight-loss medications, such as GLP-1 injections, may be too expensive for some patients.
Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective ways for people living with obesity to lose weight successfully for the long term. These procedures typically involve removing parts of the gastrointestinal tract so patients can eat less and still feel full.
However, even the least invasive of the current bariatric surgeries — a sleeve gastrectomy — may require up to a month for the patient to fully recover.
But there’s now a new, far less invasive procedure — the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. The ESG configures the stomach into a smaller shape without making external incisions or removing organ tissue, and patients can recover in a few days.
The experienced physicians at Advanced Surgeons PC at Grandview Medical Center, including Dr. Andrew Frey, will soon offer the ESG procedure to patients in Birmingham. The surgeries will be done at Birmingham Surgery Center (BSC) in Homewood beginning in mid-April.
Advanced Surgeons has partnered with BSC to “allow patients more convenient scheduling, easier accessibility and a more cost-effective alternative to inpatient care,” Dr. Frey says.
The ESG is an “innovative procedure due to the minimally invasive, non-surgical approach,” Dr. Frey says.
Using a sewing device attached to a flexible tube called an endoscope, surgeons can sew the stomach from the inside to reduce its capacity by 70% to 80%.
“The capacity of the stomach is reduced similar to a traditional sleeve gastrectomy, but without scars, without pain,” Dr. Frey says. “This provides a lower risk and very quick recovery.”
Clinical evidence shows that ESG can result in significant, lasting weight loss when used in conjunction with a prescribed diet and exercise program.
The ESG is a perfect choice for several types of patients, Dr. Frey says.
“Primarily, we see patients who have had some success with medical weight loss, but either the side effects of a medication or high financial costs of the medication limit prolonged use,” Dr. Frey says. “Other patients have concerns with their weight but are not candidates for traditional bariatric surgery either due to a BMI under 35 or lack of additional medical problems. Then there are some patients who are just not ready to undergo surgery but recognize the importance of addressing their health.”
Dr. Frey says that it’s gratifying to help people get control of their weight, but that the weight loss itself “is just scratching the surface.”
He says he also hears from patients about their “increased energy levels, decreased joint pain, no longer requiring blood pressure medications, no longer requiring daily insulin injections, the smiles of patients revealing before and after photos, chasing kids around. Those are the rewards — knowing you have helped reshape a patient’s life for the better.”
Advanced Surgeons PC holds monthly in-person and online seminars so that prospective patients can learn more about the procedures.
For details, call 205-595-8985 or go to advancedsurgeonspc.com.
