There's an entirely new way to think about weight loss surgery on the horizon-- one that promises less pain, faster healing, and fewer to no incisions.
Doctors are now doing weight loss surgery through your mouth.
We've done stories on endoscopic procedures that go down the esophagus and through the stomach to get to other organs, but this time it's the stomach that doctors have their sights set on.
"I got to a point where I got so big I tried and tried on my own and couldn't do it."
For people like Cindy Babylon, a lifetime of added weight really took its toll until she enrolled in a study for an experimental weight loss procedure and lost 15 pounds right away.
She's part of the new wave in bariatric surgery, one Dr. Emma Patterson at the Legacy Weight Management Institute is looking forward to.
"The wave will be endoscopic where we do more things down the mouth," said Dr. Patterson.
The FDA already approved a few procedures that work without a single outside incision. Others doctors are still testing, like one called "POSE".
While you're under anesthesia, doctors maneuver a special device down the esophagus into the stomach. Inside, there is a camera and series of special tools that grab and fold stomach tissue. Special mesh plugs permanently pinch together the stomach in about a dozen spots, like gathering fabric. It makes a smaller stomach and seems to interrupt powerful hormones that would normally send hunger signals to the brain to keep you eating.
Other similar procedures use balloons inflated once inside the stomach or sleeves that block food from getting absorbed in either the stomach or intestine.
And one other important thing to note, says Dr. Patterson, "Right now you have to be 75 pounds overweight with a medical problem like diabetes or high blood pressure, or 100 pounds overweight and the trend seems to be toward-- and the evidence would support-- offering weight loss surgery to somewhat smaller patients."
"It just kept coming off because your stomach is smaller. You're eating a third of what you are normally eating," said Cindy Babylon.
Finally she found something that works, as others look to the future of weight loss surgery and what it might do for them.
By the way, Dr. Patterson is doing some studies herself. To learn more visit the Oregon Weight Loss Web site.
