Non-surgical weight loss option now available to Albertans

“This procedure is a significant advancement in the field of weight-loss surgery, especially for patients who don’t qualify for traditional bariatric surgery or prefer a less invasive option,” says Dr. Noah Switzer, upper gastrointestinal and bariatric surgeon.

“Rather than having a complex surgery requiring extensive recovery, patients have access to technology that requires no cuts or incisions, which allows them to go home the same or next day.”

Like bariatric surgery, AHS explains, the new procedure makes patients feel full with less food, leading to weight loss and improvement in weight-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

“Unlike a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, where upwards of 80 per cent of the stomach is removed, ESG uses an endoscopic suturing device to fold and stitch the stomach tissue into a smaller shape, keeping the entire organ in place,” says Dr. Kirles Bishay, gastroenterologist at the hospital.

“Thanks to new technology, we can reduce the size of the stomach without removing any part of the stomach, meaning ESG patients have a lower risk of surgery and quicker recovery.”

The endoscopic device, which allows surgeons to suture the stomach from the inside, was approved by Health Canada in February 2024, AHS notes.

A referral to the Edmonton Adult Bariatric Specialty Surgery Clinic at the Royal Alex by a physician, nurse practitioner, or specialist is required for adults who struggle with obesity and meet clinic criteria.

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by Josh Hall

Non-surgical weight loss option now available to Albertans

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