If you are looking to lose weight and haven't been able to reach your goals with exercise and diet alone and are exploring bariatric surgery then consider bariatric endoscopy before going under the knife, reach out to our Arcadia and Los Angeles, CA based gastroenterologist Dr. Donald Portocarrero at Gastrointestinal & Non-Surgical Weight Loss Solutions, if you would like to become better informed.

Endoscopic Gastric Sleeve

An alternative to gastric bypass surgery for patients who are either not candidates or simply don't wish to undergo surgery, an endoscopic gastric sleeve can achieve many of the same benefits but with many others.

An endoscopic sleeve is created using a thin and flexible device (an endoscope) that is inserted through your mouth, down your esophagus, and into your stomach, where sutures are applied. This minimally invasive approach allows for a faster recovery and decreased risk over the surgical alternative.

Gastric Balloon

Decreasing the size of your stomach is the underlying goal of most of these types of treatments, including gastric bypass surgery. But while gastric bypass involves the removal of a part of your stomach, another minimally invasive approach, besides the endoscopic gastric sleeve, is the endoscopic gastric balloon.

Just as with an endoscopic gastric sleeve, the doctor uses an endoscope but instead of using sutures, a gastric balloon is inflated inside your stomach to limit the available volume inside it. The balloon then remains for six months before it is removed, at which point it can be replaced, though that's not always the case.

Transoral Gastric Outlet Reduction Endoscopy (TORe)

If you have already undergone gastric bypass surgery and have regained weight then transoral gastric outlet reduction endoscopy may be able to help.

Over time, the connection between your stomach and the small bowel created by the original surgery can begin to expand. This connection is called the gastric outlet and your doctor may be able to endoscopically repair it by reducing its size.

Bariatric Endoscopy

If you want to find out if bariatric endoscopy is right for you begin by scheduling a visit with our Arcadia and Los Angeles, CA, gastroenterologist Dr. Portocarrero at Gastrointestinal & Non-Surgical Weight Loss Solutions, by dialing (626) 461-5408.