Gastroplasty or bariatric surgery? How they are made, doubts and biggest differences

Endoscopic gastroplasty is nothing more than a new technique for treating obesity. It generally lasts for two years. Furthermore, it is a great option for those who do not want to undergo surgery.

Many people don’t know, but obesity is a disease that affects the whole world. Mainly in Brazil, where the disease affects several people. Around 20% of the population suffers from obesity. The information is according to the Surveillance Survey of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel).

However, only 1% of the population has access to surgeries that can reverse the condition. In addition, there are also a number of people who are waiting. In other words, they do not have the required requirements to undergo bariatric surgery. Therefore, they try to reverse the condition with medication. Which, most of the time, doesn’t solve it.

Among all this movement, gastroplasty appears. Understand now what it is and how this procedure is carried out. According to experts, it is a less invasive method.

What is gastroplasty?

It is a treatment aimed at people suffering from obesity. However, it is considered less invasive than bariatric surgery. This procedure is the most recommended by doctors and specialists. However, the person who is sick needs is within the requested range. For surgery to take place.

With this, gastroplasty becomes a lighter treatment and form of control. In addition to treating obesity in elderly patients and adolescents. However, it is recommended for people with grade I and II obesity. In other words, those who are generally not suitable for surgery. In fact, it is also indicated for morbid obesity, which does not have clinical conditions. Or they just refuse to perform the bariatric procedure.

The results achieved are a loss of at least 20%. Reaching, including in results, up to 25%. However, the patient needs to adopt habits such as dietary re-education and physical exercise. The procedure lasts 2 years. In fact, the gastroplasty process can be repeated when necessary. It is understandable that nutritional re-education is a long-term and very difficult process.

How is it done?

The technique basically consists of introducing a flexible tube through the mouth. This is also done in endoscopy. However, the procedure is done in the hospital and under general anesthesia. The person responsible for the procedure, the endoscopist, sutures the organ until it forms a tubular shape. It is important to remember that he carries out the entire process guided by the broad view he has of the stomach. Therefore, the organ is not cut, but its volume decreases. Generally, the patient is discharged on the same day.

Therefore, all treatment is closely monitored by the hospital. In other words, a multidisciplinary team is assembled. They are the endocrinologist, nutritionist, psychologist and physical educators. Depending on the case, other professionals are also added. Therefore it varies from case to case.

Post-surgery symptoms

Basically, the most common symptoms are abdominal pain, and they vary from mild to moderate. That is, more specifically in the epigastric region and costal margin. In addition, symptoms such as abdominal distension, nausea and rare vomiting are possible.

The symptoms previously reported last 2 to 3 days. And they are treated and alleviated through medication prescribed by the doctor.

Nutritional advice

It is an important step before and after the procedure. The patient will undergo numerous changes in their eating habits. Another fundamental part of gastroplasty is nutritional re-education. It will guarantee the success of the procedure.

Furthermore, it promotes initial weight loss and reinforces the patient’s perception of weight loss. It even identifies eating errors and disorders. It also helps with post-operative meal preparation.

Unlike bariatric surgery, gastroplasty does not impair the absorption of nutrients. Therefore, there is no need to use vitamin and protein supplementation.

Can anyone do it?

Generally, gastroplasty is in high demand as a means of rapid weight loss. Because there is no need for surgery. However, according to experts, it is not suitable for everyone. In other words, only patients with a BMI (Body Mass Index) between 28 and 35, and who have not had results with medication and diets.

Furthermore, people who have already undergone bariatric surgery, gastric surgery, or even those who have delicate clinical conditions or immunological and hepatic changes are not recommended for gastroplasty.

There are even restrictions regarding children and teenagers. There is a minimum age for carrying out the procedure. And she is around 13 or 14 years old. But it also depends on a recommendation from a child psychologist and endocrinologist.

However, there are experts who say that there is no age limit. The child or adolescent just needs to meet the criteria and have the exams approved.

Is gastroplasty reversible?

The main concern for people who want or intend to use this method is whether the fat returns. However, according to experts this procedure is completely irreversible.

According to doctors who perform the procedure, the stomach produces scarring and fibrosis. Therefore, it is irreversible. However, the stomach may need new sutures. This is because it loses its tubular shape. Therefore, it will only need to be redone if, above all, weight gain returns.

That is why nutritional monitoring after carrying out these types of surgeries is so important. Despite being a weight loss surgery, with old eating habits, all the weight can come back.

Gastroplasty x Bariatric

The two are very different. Firstly, because there are no cuts in gastroplasty. On the other hand, in bariatric surgery there are cuts and the removal of part of the stomach. Therefore, it is not a metabolic procedure action. Furthermore, gastroplasty is a process to reduce stomach volume. Therefore, there is no need for vitamin supplementation, as, as already mentioned, there is no interference with the absorption of nutrients. This, according to experts on the subject.

Another factor that differentiates them is the target audience. Because the patient who opts for bariatric surgery is one who has a high BMI, that is, greater than 35. Gastroplasty is aimed at obesity and mild overweight. In this way, the procedures are two completely different forms of treatment. In other words, they are recommended for a different specific audience. Therefore, they do not compete with each other.

Furthermore, gastroplasty is also an option for patients with a high BMI who do not have the clinical conditions to undergo bariatric surgery, for various reasons. Therefore, being a less invasive surgery, gastroplasty is performed in these cases.

Alice Salazar

The influencer and youtuber Alice Salazar had gastroplasty. With that, she lost 16 kg within 3 months, basically. In addition to losing weight, she points out improvements in her eating habits. According to the influencer, her diet was completely unregulated. And it basically consisted of fast food and lots of sweets in all of his daily meals.

Today, she says she managed to introduce salad into her daily life. And consequently she started to enjoy eating it. What she did, before, out of obligation. In other words, Alice’s improvement and nutritional re-education can be seen.

However, Alice opted for the procedure, as she had a lot of difficulty losing weight. Including because it is faster and less invasive. But, according to youtuber, Despite the procedure, it is not easy to reverse obesity. She said it was a drastic way to lose a lot of weight, as she noted that she couldn’t solve this problem any other way.

Despite being an expensive and recent procedure, she says it is an investment. Because the way she lived, she didn’t have well-being or healthy eating.

If you would like to know more about this new procedure that helps with weight loss, which is gastroplasty, also check out What to eat to get rid of cellulite, stretch marks and fat

Source: IG Delas, Ativo Saúde

Featured image source: Entertainment – ​​Uol