We understand how difficult and frustrating it can be to want to lose weight and to struggle with meeting your weight loss goals. There are several factors that make it hard for many people to lose weight and keep it off. If you don’t qualify for weight loss surgery, but want a safe option that offers great results and a faster recovery, there may be an endoscopic weight loss procedure that’s right for you.
Endoscopic weight loss procedures are non-surgical procedures that are performed using an endoscope. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube that is typically inserted through the mouth. It allows your doctor to view your digestive system and perform procedures without making any surgical incisions (cuts) through your skin. The advantage of endoscopic treatments is that they are minimally invasive and recovery time is compared to traditional surgery. Also, unless it’s your second weight loss procedure, you typically don’t need to stay overnight at the hospital. The procedures are quick and most people return home the same day as treatment.
The Endoscopy Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is named a Center of Excellence by the World Organization of Digestive Endoscopy. We are one of only 17 gastrointestinal endoscopy programs in the world to receive this honor, and we are proud to offer you the best possible care. We also take a very collaborative and integrated approach to treatment that combines the expertise of different specialists. This helps us ensure that your treatment plan is comprehensive and that we address your needs in a well-rounded way.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital was the first hospital in the U.S. to have a bariatric endoscopy program and we have performed endoscopic weight loss procedures since 2003. We were the first in the world to perform endoscopic suturing to treat weight regain after gastric bypass in 2003. We were also the first center in the U.S. to perform endoscopic suturing of the stomach for weight loss in patients without prior bariatric surgery in 2008. This procedure later became known as Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG). Our team was also first to perform ESG with the current suturing platform (in India in 2012) and later that year was first to perform ESG in the U.S. We also participated and led several FDA trials that resulted in weight loss device approval including aspiration therapy and the Spatz adjustable intragastric balloon most recently.
We are one of the few centers in the U.S. to offer the full spectrum of endoscopic weight loss procedures. Our multidisciplinary team has extensive experience having performed over 3,000 endoscopic weight loss procedures and is well prepared to help you achieve your personal weight loss goals.
Endoscopic Revision of Gastric Bypass:
Endoscopic Revision of Sleeve Gastrectomy:
Endoscopic Revision of Bariatric Surgery Complications
Our team has extensive experience managing complications of various bariatric surgeries endoscopically. We have an international referral base and deal with the most complex conditions, including staple line leaks, gastrogastric fistula, ulcers, strictures, outlet stenoses, band erosions and sleeve stenoses.
Weight Loss Medications Offered:
We also offer all FDA-approved weight loss medications for patients with and without prior bariatric surgery. These medications can be used alone or in combination with the above procedures. The decision on which medication to take is individualized based on each patient’s health history. Patients are monitored closely in our clinic for the duration of medical therapy.
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