Gastric Plication

Gastric plication is a form of bariatric, or weight loss, surgery. This treatment option is appropriate for obese people who have not been able to experience sufficient weight loss on their own. Gastric plication is successfully used on obese individuals to decrease the size of the stomach.

Plication is defined as the act or process of folding. Therefore, as its name implies, in a gastric plication procedure the surgeon sews folds into the walls of the stomach to decrease its volume by approximately 70 percent. As a result, the stomach is unable to contain as much food as it did prior to the procedure so the patient will no longer be able to eat as much.

This is considered a minimally invasive technique because it requires no cutting or stapling of the stomach and no gastrointestinal rerouting as is common in several other forms of bariatric surgery. Gastric plication is a reversible procedure since it does not involve any serious alterations to intestinal organs.

This procedure has advantages in addition to the lack of cutting over some of the other weight loss surgeries in that no device is implanted and no subsequent adjustments need to be made.

By limiting the size of the stomach so much, it tremendously reduces the amount of food you can consume. Your body will still absorb nutrients and all of the food you eat will still pass through your entire digestive tract. The difference is that you will experience a feeling of fullness after eating only a small portion of food. Your appetite may be diminished in general and when you do eat, the feeling of fullness should last longer.

This procedure typically takes place in a hospital setting with the patient under general anesthesia. Gastric plication surgery usually lasts between one and two hours. A stay in the hospital is generally required for one to two days after the surgery to monitor recovery. Most patients who undergo gastric plication lose somewhere between 40 and 70 percent of the excess weight they have been carrying within a year after the procedure. This also lessens their risk factors for many serious illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Gastric plication can provide an overall better quality of life as well as improve self-confidence and appearance.

Benefits of Gastric Plication

Most patients who undergo gastric plication lose somewhere between 40 and 70 percent of the excess weight they have been carrying within a year after the procedure. This also lessens their risk factors for many serious illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Gastric plication can provide an overall better quality of life as well as improve self-confidence and appearance.

Post Surgery Diet

After undergoing gastric plication, a proper balanced diet is required to help lose weight in a healthy way and keep it off. The weight loss will be much more dramatic and successful if the patient follows the surgeon’s instructions and eats to optimize nutrition and health.

Risks of Gastric Plication

Complications are unusual for this type of procedure, but all surgery is associated with some form of risk. The risks of gastric plication include infection, bleeding, organ damage or developing some seepage from the stomach sutures. Your doctor will discuss all possible complications with you when determining whether gastric plication is the best option for your particular needs.