Gastric plication is a type of surgery which is designed for weight loss. Gastric plication treatment is an effective method for those individuals who could not lose weight through diet, exercises, and medications. Obesity is one of the common health concerns around the world. And it leads to various health concerns like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleeping problems, etc. Therefore, this type of treatment actually helps patients to lose weight more efficiently.

Hence, in the quest for effective weight loss solutions, gastric plication has emerged as a promising option for patients and doctors. This is typically a new procedure that offers an alternative to more traditional bariatric surgeries. Although there are several types of weight loss surgeries, including Gastric plication, gastric balloon treatment, gastric band surgery, and many more.

What is Gastric Plication?

In the gastric plication procedure, doctors reduce the stomach’s size and induce weight loss by altering its structure without the need for permanent alterations or removals. The stomach’s size is decreased to limit the food intake so it can contribute to the weight loss journey of an individual. The surgery does not involve removing any part of the stomach or affecting how it absorbs food. It only involves folding the largest part of the stomach called the fundus and body, inward. This makes an individual feel full more quickly, so they eat less food. During the procedure, the surgeon uses a laparoscope to make five small incisions in the patient’s abdomen, avoiding the need for open surgery.

Reasons To Go For Gastric Plication

There are several reasons available to go for this procedure these are as follows:

It does not involve insertion of any external material inside the stomach.
It is a pocket-friendly treatment method compared to other weight loss surgeries.
The treatment does not require to removal any part of the stomach
It helps individuals to recover from other obesity-related health problems.
It doesn’t require medication support after surgery.
It is an outpatient procedure, so you can go home on the same day.
Lower risks of complications, faster recovery.

Cost of Gastric Plication

Gastric plication surgery cost ranges from 2,00,000 to 6,00,000 Indian Rupees. However, it can vary based on various factors, including surgeon expertise, type of hospital, patient’s overall condition, surgeons’ fees, complexity of the case, and many more. Although the surgery is beneficial for those patients who could not lose weight through lifestyle changes, diet, medications, yoga, and other surgery procedures.

Age Criteria For Gastric Plication

Following are the age criteria for gastric plication:

An individual age should be 18 years old to go for the surgery.
The surgery is not recommended to those who are above 65 years of age.
Individuals must have body mass between 30 and 40.
Individuals should be mentally strong for long-term evaluation and ready for lifestyle changes as well.

Gastric Plication Side Effects

Following are the gastric plication side effects and complications:

Abdominal pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Infection
Internal bleeding
Malnutrition
Diarrhea
Bowel syndrome
Separation of stomach folds

Gastric Plication Treatment Procedure

The procedure involve following steps:

Firstly, you need to consult with a healthcare provider to discuss the risks, benefits, and complications.
After that, the doctors will evaluate your medical history, medications details, and pre-existing conditions.
Once the evaluation is done, you need to lie down on the table for anesthesia.
After giving anesthesia to you, the surgeon will make 5-6 incisions on the abdomen.
Then insert a tiny camera laparoscope and surgical tools through these incisions.
After that, the surgeon folds the stomach into smaller sections, creating pleats. These folds are stitched in place, reducing the stomach size.
The overall procedure takes 1-2 hours.
Once the procedure is done, the surgeon closes the incisions.
A liquid diet you need to follow for a week.
Regular check-up and lifestyle changes are also required for surgery success.