People have and are still constantly looking for faster and easier ways to lose weight. Over the years, people have tried crazy fad diets, starvation, hypnosis, and other unconventional ways to shed their excess pounds.

In the early 1950s, doctors began experimenting with early bariatric surgery techniques, and weight loss procedures have advanced from there. Today, the most often performed surgery for weight loss in the world is the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), more commonly known as the gastric sleeve. More than 150,000 VSG procedures are completed each year in the U.S., representing more than half of all the annual bariatric surgeries performed in the nation.

While this surgery often results in significant weight loss, it also comes with several risks and some chronic side effects. Today, we would like to tell you about a newer, safer, and lower-risk option called Suture Sculpt endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) and provide you with an ESG vs. VSG comparison.

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What Is VSG And How Is It Done?

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) is a surgical procedure that is done to help limit the amount of food a patient can eat at one time. It involves removing a significant portion of the stomach to reduce its capacity by forming a narrower, elongated stomach pouch. A basic outline of the surgery is as follows:

1. The patient is put under general anesthesia.
2. 4 or 5 small cuts are made in their abdomen, which will be used to allow surgical instruments and a camera (laparoscope) to access the stomach.
3. The surgeon will use these special tools to cut off and remove almost 80% of the patient's stomach tissue.
4. Next, the surgeon will shape the remaining stomach tissue into a thin, narrow pouch-like shape and place surgical staples to close the edges together.
5. The tools are removed, and the abdominal incisions closed with stitches or surgical tape or glue.
6. The patient is then monitored for a few hours in an observation area and given pain medication until they are moved to their hospital room. Usually, VSG patients remain in the hospital for a day or two before being discharged home to recover over the next four to six weeks.

What Is Suture Sculpt ESG And How Is It Done?

ESG (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty) is a non-surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach using sutures that are placed from within the patient's stomach. There are no cuts or incisions created, and the procedure is not performed by a surgeon but by a specially trained gastroenterologist. The procedure offers similar weight loss results when comparing ESG vs. VSG, but without all the associated risks of surgery. The typical steps of the ESG procedure are as follows:

1. The patient is sedated.
2. The doctor places a special tool called an endoscope down through the patient's mouth and throat and into their stomach. (This tool is hollow and flexible and is equipped with a light and a camera.) The camera provides the doctor with a real-time view of the procedure as it streams live video to a nearby screen.
3. Next, a special FDA-approved suturing device is lowered down the middle of the endoscope until it reaches the inside of the stomach.
4. The doctor reshapes the patient's stomach into a much smaller and thinner tube-like shape and strategically positions sutures to hold it securely in place. Once the stitches have been administered, the usable portion of the patient's stomach is about 25% of its original size.
5. The endoscope is removed, and the patient is taken to a recovery area. After a few hours of observation, they are discharged to go home and begin their short recovery time of about a week.

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The Advantages Of ESG vs. VSG

When looking at the ESG vs. VSG chart below, you can clearly see that non-surgical ESG has considerably more advantages than VSG. It offers comparable weight loss potential without all the drawbacks of surgery. The fast recovery allows you to get back to your normal routine faster and gives you the ability to be physically active right away and jumpstart your weight loss. You can be out playing golf, swimming, or even water skiing while the VSG patients are still laying on their couches.

<table class="iksweb"><caption>ESG vs. VSG Comparison Chart</caption><tbody><tr><th></th><th>VSG</th><th>ESG</th></tr><tr><td>Type Of Procedure</td><td>Invasive Surgery</td><td>Minimally invasive and non-surgical</td></tr><tr><td>Process</td><td>Between 75% and 80% of the stomach tissue is cut away and permanently removed.</td><td>The stomach is reshaped and reduced in size by the doctor and secured in place with sutures.</td></tr><tr><td>Access Method</td><td>Laparoscopic surgery is performed through 4 or 5 small abdominal incisions.</td><td>No incisions are used. The procedure is performed through the patient’s mouth and throat using an endoscope, and the stitches are placed from the inside.</td></tr><tr><td>Length Of Surgery</td><td>Between 1 and 2 hours</td><td>Under an hour</td></tr><tr><td>Length Of Hospital Stay</td><td>Between 1 and 2 days</td><td>Zero days. ESG is an outpatient procedure.</td></tr><tr><td>Recovery Time Frame</td><td>4 to 6 weeks</td><td>A week or less</td></tr><tr><td>Risk Profile</td><td>12%</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Can This Procedure Be Reversed?</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Will There Be Resulting Scars</td><td>Yes, there will be between 4 and 5 small scars in the abdominal area.</td><td>No, ESG does not require any incisions, and the entire procedure is completed from inside the patient’s body.</td></tr><tr><td>Is Acid Reflux A Common Side Effect?</td><td>Yes, some individuals undergo another surgery (gastric bypass) to alleviate <a href="/blog/acid-reflux-after-gastric-sleeve/">chronic GERD after VSG</a>.</td><td>No, the reshaped stomach is positioned in such a way that GERD is rarely a concern.</td></tr><tr><td>Weight Loss Potential</td><td>An average of between 60% and 70% of excess weight*</td><td>An average of between 50% and 65% of excess weight*</td></tr></tbody></table>

*Excess weight is the number of pounds an individual needs to lose to bring them within a healthy weight range.

Suture Sculpt ESG Fills The Gap For Many Who Need Help

Research has shown us that individuals suffering from obesity have less than a 3% chance of losing enough weight to improve their circumstances without some form of medical help, yet only about 1% of them choose to undergo bariatric surgery. This conveyed a loud message that there needed to be another way to get help without having to jump through hoops or undergo invasive surgery. Suture Sculpt ESG fills this gap, and Dr. Batash at Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Center in NYC is an expert in performing this procedure.

Non-surgical Suture Sculpt (ESG) provides a safer alternative to bariatric surgery for individuals with obesity, allowing them to improve their health without significantly disrupting their daily lives. It is the perfect choice for people who cannot financially afford to take extended time off from their jobs or are sole caretakers of small children or elderly parents because the recovery time is much shorter. ESG vs. VSG has no post-procedure activity restrictions and such a short recovery time that some patients have their procedure done on Friday and return to work on Monday.

You Must Make Permanent Lifestyle Changes

Neither ESG nor VSG is a miracle solution for weight loss that will magically and forever manage your weight. Much of your success with either will depend on you and the lifestyle changes you make and stick to. The professional experts at Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Center will craft an individualized plan that will break through your previous challenges with weight loss.

Dr. Batash understands the intricate nuances of obesity and which strategies or solutions will be needed to overcome the underlying issues that make it impossibly hard to create enough of a calorie deficit that leads to sustainable weight loss. Together, he and his team will guide your weight loss journey and provide you with all the tools and knowledge you need to reach your goal of improved health.

Set up your appointment today to learn more about the advantages of Suture Sculpt ESG vs. VSG and how this innovative procedure can help you.

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