It is no secret that the United States is experiencing an obesity epidemic that is worsening year after year. Currently, there are 19 states that report adult morbid obesity rates that are over 35%. Overall, the average obesity rate among adults across the nation has risen to over 41%.

Research has indicated that only around 10% of obese individuals undergo bariatric surgery to address the disease. It makes one wonder why more of these obese patients do not have surgery to help them lose weight and improve their health. Maybe they did not get approved for the surgery by their insurance company, or perhaps it was due to poor health, or maybe they did not want to undergo surgery. Maybe, for one reason or another, they could not deal with the extended recovery that is required after bariatric surgery.

If you are struggling with weight loss and have been looking for an effective treatment that would not involve surgery or the risks, possible complications, and long recovery times, you will want to continue reading this blog post! We are going to provide an overview of ESG (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty) recovery day by day so you will understand how amazing this fairly new weight loss procedure really is!

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Quick Overview Of Suture Sculpt ESG

Suture Sculpt endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a non-surgical outpatient procedure that is performed using an endoscope. This is a special medical device that might remind you of a hollow flexible drain snake but is a bit more high-tech as it also contains a tiny camera and a light.

The endoscope is lowered down the patient’s throat into the stomach, and the entire procedure is completed from the inside without any incisions. While being guided by a live video stream from the tiny camera, the doctor reduces the patient's stomach size by about 75%. This is done by reshaping it and using another special device to place strategically located sutures that will secure the stomach’s new shape and size. After that, the endoscope is removed and the patient is taken to the recovery room.

After undergoing Suture Sculpt ESG, the usable capacity of the patient's stomach is much smaller, and they are unable to eat too much during each meal. The smaller stomach size also takes longer to empty which makes the patients feel full for a longer period of time.

Since this is a procedure that is not surgical and there are no incisions or hospital stays involved, it is an excellent alternative for those who do not qualify for or do not wish to undergo bariatric surgery. ESG offers safe and effective weight loss, but one of the best things is that the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty recovery time is so short that patients are back to their normal routines in a flash.

Typical Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Recovery Timeline

If you are hesitant to get help with weight loss because you do not wish to undergo surgery or cannot afford the necessary downtime, Suture Sculpt ESG is something you should definitely consider. It provides the same or better weight loss results as bariatric gastric sleeve surgery, but it is not surgery, and most patients feel great before the first week of recovery is finished. Here is the average timeline for recovery after having ESG.

Day 1 - Procedure Day

Patients will rest for about 3 hours in the recovery room after their Suture Sculpt ESG surgery is finished for observation as they come out of general anesthesia.

To prevent dangerous blood clots, a nurse will help the patient get up and start walking around the room and the halls as soon as he or she is able. In addition, the patient can have clear, sugar-free liquids to drink.

The use of general anesthesia during endoscopic gastric sleeve surgery can cause some patients to feel nauseous after the procedure.

The patient will be released to a caretaker after they are able to walk around unaided and drink without any issues.

Patients undergoing ESG are not given the same two-week driving restrictions as those undergoing gastric sleeve surgery; however, they still cannot drive for at least 24 hours following their procedure.

Days 2-7 after Endoscopic Sleeve

Most patients report having no pain after an ESG procedure. Some reported some mild discomfort due to excess gas, but it was only temporary and had fully subsided after a few days.

Some patients reported experiencing mild nausea, which is a common side effect of general anesthesia.

Diet

Patients begin their temporary liquid diet. After having the ESG procedure, patients must work their way back up to eating solid foods. Their stomach needs a little time to adjust to its new size, and their throat may also be irritated for about a week post-procedure. Patients begin reacclimating their stomachs with a , then progress to full liquids, purees, soft foods, and finally solids. It takes most patients three to four weeks to adjust to solids.

It is important that patients stay on their clear diet this week and avoid sugar and anything carbonated. The stomach needs time to heal, and the newly formed sutures need time to stabilize.

Medications

Patients may find it difficult to swallow pills or capsules in the initial week of their procedure, which may require that tablets be crushed and capsules opened and taken with water. The surgeon will give instructions for specific medications, such as those used to manage high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol, among other conditions.

Driving

Most patients will have an appointment with their doctor to check in and follow up on their progress since the procedure. They may be able to drive themselves to their follow-up appointment as long as they are not taking any prescription pain medication.

Activity

There are no activity restrictions after ESG, so patients can go about their normal routine or return to work as long as they are feeling up to it. Going up or down stairs, doing some housework, doing some light exercises, showering, and moving around are encouraged.

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Days 7-14 Post ESG

Diet

Starting with week two and continuing for the next few weeks, the diet consists mostly of soft meals, low-sugar foods, and low-fat foods. Patients who have undergone gastric sleeve surgery, on the other hand, are still required to drink only liquids at this stage. Patients must continue to avoid carbonation for about a month following ESG.

Patients must refrain from eating excessively following ESG since doing so might compromise the stitches and reverse the restrictive nature of the procedure.

Many weight-loss procedures make it harder for the body to absorb vitamins and nutrients. After the first week, patients should start taking a multivitamin with folic acid as recommended by their doctor.

Medications

All prescribed medications can be administered in tablet or capsule form.

Driving

As long as you are not on pain medication, you have the green light to drive if you feel up to it!

Activity

By this stage, most people have resumed their daily work and home routines.

Day 15 and Beyond

Diet

It is essential to adhere to the dietary plan and limitations as new food items are introduced. It is recommended that meal portions be measured out prior to eating to avoid overeating and stretching your sutures or stomach.

Activity

Patients are feeling great by this stage and are back to their routine, as well as feeling more energetic. The weight is coming off, and many are beginning to see benefits, including improvements in some weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. As patients' energy levels improve, they are urged to increase their exercise and activity levels.

Suture Sculpt ESG is an amazing tool that has helped countless individuals lose weight and keep it off. It will not do all the work for you, but with some perseverance, time, lifestyle changes, and patience, it can help you too.

Listen to what some of our patients are saying after their ESG procedures. More importantly, look at how they look only a day or two after their procedure! You would never know they even had anything done!

Recovery After Suture Sculpt ESG - Patients' Testimonials

One Day Post-ESG Follow-Up with Dr. Batash

Four Days After Suture Sculpt ESG

When you partner with Batash Medical on your weight loss journey, you are never alone to try to "figure it out" on your own; we are there to support you every step of the way. Our team of experts is here to help you with everything from nutritional education and dietary advice to guidance with exercise and lifestyle changes that promote long-term weight loss.

Contact Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Center to learn more about ESG and find out how Dr. Batash and his amazing team of professionals can help you. Book your consultation today!

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