What is Gastric Plication?
Gastric plication is a bariatric (weight loss) surgery that decreases the size of your stomach so you eat less and feel full quicker. This type of bariatric surgery does not affect the absorption of nutrients or hinder the digestion process. It can be performed by minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.
Surgical Procedure
Your surgeon makes 5 to 6 small incisions on your abdomen to insert a laparoscope (a small tube connected to a camera and light source at one end to help visualization of the internal organs) and other surgical instruments. One or more of the stomach folds are stitched together reducing your abdominal capacity by 70%. This surgery takes about 2 hours to complete.
This procedure is advantageous as it is reversible and does not involve rerouting of the intestine or implantation of banding devices around the stomach, which could cause damage.
Complications
As with all surgeries, gastric plication may be associated with certain complications such as nausea, separation, and leakage from the sutured folds (requiring revisional surgery), and allergic reactions to general anesthesia.
