How much weight can you expect to lose from aspiration therapy?
After aspiration therapy, you can expect to lose about 15 to 20 percent of your total body weight and the implant is approved for long-term use.
What is recovery like after aspiration therapy?
People usually take 1 to 2 days off from work and most patients can go home the same day as the procedure. The procedure is also considered reversible. This means the procedure can be undone.
Are there any additional health benefits to treatment, besides weight loss?
You might experience better health, like improvements in weight-related health conditions. These can include sleep apnea, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver and dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia is when you have abnormal amounts of lipids (fats) in your blood. In some cases, these conditions may even resolve completely.
Am I a candidate for aspiration therapy?
Your doctor can help determine if aspiration therapy is right for you. People typically qualify for aspiration therapy with a body mass index (BMI) between 35 and 55. Healthcare professionals use BMI to determine your health risk for weight-related diseases. It’s based on a formula that considers your current weight and height. While it’s not a perfect method, BMI can be a useful health indicator for many people. To find out your BMI, you can use our BMI calculator. This weight loss method requires you to carefully maintain the tube and device, to reduce the risk of complications such as infection or leakage.
How do I improve my health before the procedure and prepare for aspiration therapy?
You can meet with your doctor to ask any questions you may have about aspiration therapy. You can also work with our dietitians and nutritionists before and after the procedure to learn how to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Do you offer long-term weight management support after the procedure?
Yes. We provide support after the procedure.
We take a collaborative approach to treatment that combines the expertise of many different specialists, including the expertise of nutritionists and dieticians. Our team-based approach helps us offer a very high quality of care.
Which doctors offer treatment with aspiration therapy?
Christopher Thompson, MD, MSc, AGAF, FASGE, FACG
Co-director of Center for Weight Management and Wellness
Director of Endoscopy
Director of Bariatric Endoscopy
Pichamol Jirapinyo, MD, MPH, ABOM
Associate Director of Bariatric Endoscopy
Director of Bariatric Endoscopy Fellowship
How do I schedule an appointment to learn more about aspiration therapy?
If you would like more information or would like to schedule an appointment with a Brigham doctor, you can call us at 617-525-3597 or fill out our appointment request form.
I'm a physician. How do I refer a patient for treatment?
Physicians who are looking to refer a patient can call 617-525-3597 or email us at brighamweightloss@bwh.harvard.edu.