What is Gastric Plication?

When your BMI is over 30 and you suffer from obesity related conditions such as

• Sleep Apnea
• Fatty liver disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Hypertension

Gastric Plication has also been a preffered choice by younger patients whoo suffer from obesity.

Under general anesthesia. A laparoscopic telescope with a camera and instruments are used to perform the procedure. This enables the doctor to access the stomach area.

The surgeon makes a fold within the patient’s stomach and sutures the ends together.  Another fold is formed and sutured. This reduces the stomach capacity, as a result the patient feels fuller faster  They cannot eat as much as they used to, which leads to rapid weight loss.

• Shorter prodecure and recovery time.
• Less invasive than other surgical procedures as it does not involve any cutting or stapling.
• Gastric Plication does not require rerouting of intestines as with gastric bypass.
• Reduction of conditions associated with obesity such as,
  • Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and other morbid conditions are greatly reduced.
  • Cancer including breast, colon, kidney, liver, ovarian, pancreatic and thyroid cancers.
  • Essential hypertension is relieved in over 70% of patients.
  • Lower-back pain and joint pain are typically relieved or improved in nearly all patients.
  • Leg swelling are typically alleviated.

Studies show that patients lose approximately short-term percentage of excess weight lost ranges from 30 to 55% within 2 years.

This is usually individualized based on the surgery and the patient.

• Most patients require pain medication for one week following surgery.
• It may be advised to avoid intercourse, baths, douching, strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks after the operation.

• Most people stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 days.
• Patients can return to work within 5 to 7 days.
• Get back to normal activities in 3 to 5 weeks.

Walking exercises and raising the legs when seated are important. These light activities will reduce the chance of blood clots.

• Dietary requirements for the first few days after the operation will include fluids such as small sips of water, low-calorie drinks and sugar-free juices.
• Patients must avoid malnutrition after a by eating sufficient protein every day.
• Patients should take supplements, vitamins and minerals to avoid deficiencies. (Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron and Vitamin B12)

Bariatric surgery improves your quality of life as you progress you will:

• Improve confidence
• Improve breathing
• Increase energy and stamina
• Relieve joint pain caused by obesity

As the excess weight is lost, exercise will become easier and more enjoyable, you will  build stamina and improve cardiovascular fitness.

These may include

• heavy bleeding
• infection
• blood clots formed in the legs
• side effects of anesthesia
• Lung or breathing problems.

Gastric Plication is relatively a low risk with limited complications associated with the procedure

Risks related to Gastric Plication procedure might be

• Opening of the stomach fold this will require additional surgery to correct
• Leakage of gastric juice
• Narrowing of the inner diameter of the nasogastric infection and
• Nutrient malabsorption where the stomach does not absorb enough nutrients
• Nausea and vomiting but should last about a week