Lose 60% excess weight with the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)

Here is a rather detailed description of the ESG procedure. Please call if you have any questions about it. 

The ESG is an endoluminal procedure that is performed under general anaesthesia.  It is intended to mimic the sleeve gastrectomy, reducing the gastric lumen (stomach capacity) by 80% using a series of stitch plications along the length of the stomach from the incisura up to and including a portion of the fundus. The procedure involves placement of full thickness stitches using a Helix device.

The suture is carried across from the posterior wall back to the anterior wall and the stitch pattern is repeated, gathered, then ‘cinched’ (stitched).  Stitches on the anterior and posterior gastric walls are commonly placed at approximately mid-wall and 6-8 plications in total are usually made. The stitching approach may vary slightly from surgeon to surgeon. Your operating surgeon can provide more detail on this at your consultation. At the completion of the procedure the “sleeve” lumen is usually 1-1.5 cm in diameter. 

We offer the ESG at Southampton with Mr Kelly. We were the first centre in the UK to offer this procedure. In time, we expect the procedure to be rolled out to other Healthier Weight centres. Mr Kelly is happy to offer consultations over the telephone or by Zoom but patients would travel to Southampton for pre-operative assessment and for their procedure. 

The procedure was developed in the United States some years ago and trials have been conducted in the US, South America and Europe. The procedure was launched in the UK in January 2016.

It’s impossible to predict accurately because weight loss results vary by patients. The studies we have available show patients, on average, achieving 50-60% excess weight loss. Of course, there are some patients who lose nearly all of their excess and others who lose little. This is true of all weight loss procedures. For optimal results you will need to make changes to your diet and eating behaviours, and the procedure will support you to make these changes. We would say exactly the same to patients having a gastric band, sleeve or bypass procedure.

We’ve partnered with Humm Finance to enable our patients to spread the cost of their procedure with manageable monthly payments.*

The application process is simple and patients can borrow at a competitive rate of 17.99% over a period up to 5 years.

The surgeon is Mr Jamie Kelly. Mr Kelly is a consultant surgeon at Southampton NHS Trust and has his NHS practice at Southampton General Hospital. He is a very experienced bariatric (weight loss) surgeon. He does his private ESG procedures at the local Spire Hospital. Mr Kelly was selected to be the first surgeon for ESG in the UK because of his skill and experience with invasive endoscopic surgery, a field in which he specialises.

What is right for you will depend on your personal circumstances. We will be pleased to talk you through the pros and cons of each procedure in order that you can decide on the option that is best for you. Also, when you come in for consultation we can answer your questions and make sure you are clear on the route that is best for your personally.  

All weight loss procedures carry an element of risk and ESG is no exception. Early complications of ESG include haemorrhage, anaesthetic reaction, pneumoperitoneum, pneumo thorax, fever, peritonitis and abdominal pain. Beyond 4 days they include pneumoperitoneum and pulmonary embolus/deep vein thrombophlebitis and ‘later’ complications might include pulmonary embolus, abscess and seroma. It’s important to remember that all hospital procedures carry an element of unpredictability, also that over time the complications associated with a procedure, especially a new procedure such as the ESG, may change.