Gastric Plication - Results

[meve3681 35]

An update:

Its now been 8 months since my surgery and I am only 2 pounds away from my goal weight. I have lost a total of 73 pounds as of today. I went from a tight size 16 to a size 8. I do not regret having this surgery at all.

My eating habits have changed. I did not have the surgery as a pass to eat whatever I want. I am using my surgery as a tool to improve my health and life. If you are struggling with your weight loss, be honest about what you are eating. I keep a food log and am very honest with myself. I knew having this surgery would force me to look at my relationship with food and have been using these last 8 months to work through it. I do not turn to food for comfort, or entertainment anymore. It's been hard but it has been the biggest gift I could give myself.

My doctor says that my weight loss is comparable to a patient who has had Gastric Bypass.

I eat a high Protein low carb diet most of the time. This has been what works for me.

Edited December 30, 2015 by meve3681

[Mountaingal 322]

Thanks for the update meve3681. Good to hear you have done so well. Congratulations.

[Felicia2016 3]

Hello all,

This is my first post here. Really happy to find some place to read about the experiences of others with plication. I'm exactly two weeks out today and down 19 lbs - without a pre-op diet period. The surgery itself was amazingly simple. I was an out patient and I was basically comfortable.

Although I feel like there have been some challenging times so far, they have been brief and I know its still early. So all things considered, I think Im doing pretty well. Im currently trying to figure out what, when and how much I should try to eat - I'm on soft liquids - I can have smoothies and Protein shakes. I'm even getting a very small amount of cream of wheat in the mornings.

Im finding that I am exhausted all the time. I've never felt like such a slug and have been so unproductive before. I just want to crawl in bed all the time.

Anyway...wanted to say hello and share what some of the things that I'm experiencing are.

so far so good.

[meve3681 35]

@@Felicia2016 How are you doing so far? Any complications? How is your eating going?

[2Anne 10]

Was this procedure done under a local or general anaesthetic?

I have been offered an Endoscopic sleeve which sounds similar as about 85% of the stomach is stitched up. This leaves a small sleeve stomach. It's done under full anaesthetic.

My surgeon won't to any procedure on me that requires excision so the gastric sleeve and bypass are out.

The cost of the procedure is the same as the bypass which I'm surprised about. I am self funding and the U.K. Cost is approx $15000 which is cheaper than the US but will leave a hole in my pocket. I'm 68.

Thanks for any info.

[meve3681 35]

Was this procedure done under a local or general anaesthetic?

I have been offered an Endoscopic sleeve which sounds similar as about 85% of the stomach is stitched up. This leaves a small sleeve stomach. It's done under full anaesthetic.

My surgeon won't to any procedure on me that requires excision so the gastric sleeve and bypass are out.

The cost of the procedure is the same as the bypass which I'm surprised about. I am self funding and the U.K. Cost is approx $15000 which is cheaper than the US but will leave a hole in my pocket. I'm 68.

Thanks for any info.

The procedure is done while under anesthesia however, it is considered an outpatient surgery. I was home within hours of my surgery. I have 4 small incision scars that are very faint at a year post op. I was self funded too, my surgery cost about $18,000 USD. Still one of the cheaper options in the USA compared to bypass and sleeve.

[Stefistan 20]

I'm waiting for endoscopic plication to become available. Last Monday I went in for a sleeve in Mexico and came out of anesthesia to find that the surgeon wasn't able to safely complete the procedure because my organs are all backwards as are my great vessels. Yes- all the pain and none of the benefit sucks every bit as much as it sounds like.

I hope to be back down there doing the endoscopic procedure by fall and I'm trying to keep losing on my own until that time. (Why waste time?) but if anyone else has it done before then I would really love to hear about recovery.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[butterflyvan 6]

Wish I'd done plication. I did POSE. Lost 8 kilos around16lb then nothing more. Don't have any restrictions just feel I can eat same as before. Don't waste your money. Now I have to start a diet again just like I did before. It's supposed to reduce your appetite by staples in the fundus but nope. Just the same

[meve3681 35]

I am 15 months post op and have hit my goal weight. I still feel a lot of restriction and still have to force myself to eat some days. I know that a lot of people do not have this same experience with the gastric plication. This surgery was successful for me and I do not regret it one bit. I am very happy with my WLS choice and only wish I had done it a lot sooner.

[Mountaingal 322]

meve3681 So nice to hear of your success. I had plication last July . I have lost 60 lbs (always been a slow loser) and do still have restriction. I am very happy with my surgery. I just didn't want something as invasive as some of the others rae and really had no desire at my age to get really thin.

I wish plication would become more popular as it deserves more consideration. In Europe it is very popular.

Stefistan...I was hoping for POSE or endoscopic plication as well but finally gave up waiting. Neither of those options

were legally approved in Mexico when I had my surgery last year. Both were hard to find and very expensive in the US.

My ins did not cover anything at all in the WLS line so Mexico was my only option.

Butterflyvan. I wonder if your POSE could be revised to plication. Where did you have your surgery done?

[Mountaingal 322]

2ANN...did you have your surgery and if so how are you doing?

[meve3681 35]

Just wanted to update on this topic as I know Gastric Plication is one of the cheaper and less used options for Weight Loss Surgery.

I am now two years post op and have remained at my goal weight since reaching it at almost one year post op.

My relationship with food has completely changed. I still do the things that helped me reach my goal weight such as keeping a food log, weighing my food and sticking to a high protein/low carb diet.

I know a lot of people have not had the same experience as I have had with this surgery. I do not know why my experience is different than most others. I still meal plan, and carefully watch what I eat 80% of the time.

As time has gone on, I am able to eat more as my surgeon had cautioned that I would. I want to mention that I have done a lot of work in regards to understanding why I became so obese in the first place. Surgery will not be a fix to the emotional aspect of obesity and if you are not putting in the work to understand yourself better, no amount of surgery will keep the weight off. I am sure we all know someone who has had WLS and has gained weight back. As I was self funded for my surgery, I wanted to make sure it would provide me with long lasting results. I had to dig deep within myself and really be truthful. I used food as comfort, as entertainment, as a way to soothe myself. I ate out of boredom, out of sorrow, out of happiness. These were behaviors that I had to unlearn. I also was eating more processed food than should be allowed. I now cook more often than I don't, so I have better control of what I am eating. I no longer drink soda or alcohol. Yes, doing those things are hard, but being fat and unhappy was harder. Choose your hard and get real with yourself. This journey should be about more than vanity. It should be about longevity and health. When times get rough and you feel like giving up, you will need a reason that is strong enough to keep you going. My family and being healthy to participate in life like I want to are what keep me going.

With that being said, my life is completely different, healthier and more fulfilling than it was two years ago.

I do not regret my Gastric Plication surgery at all. It has given me everything that I knew I deserved. I have worked hard to lose the weight and have had to strengthen my discipline and willpower. I put in the work everyday to keep the weight off and will have to everyday for the rest of my life.

Surgery alone will not keep you thin. I cannot stress this enough.

I went from 240 pounds (size 16) and have maintained a weight of 160 pounds (size 8) for over a year.

[FatToPhat 83]

Meve3681,

I haven't been on this site for quite some time but just happened to stumble back onto it today. It was encouraging to read your successful journey over the past couple of years. Congratulations! Unfortunately my plication journey was not as successful, however. Between pre and post op, I did lose about 50 lbs but after approximately 4 months my restriction started to lesson and my will power weakened. Your posts reminded me that it is not really about the surgery, but about maintaining good eating and exercising habits and changing our lifestyle over time. I am still struggling daily with trying to lose weight but am at a more peaceful place about it all. I am more worried about being healthy and it continues to be a daily struggle, but your posts remind me that it is still possible!

Much continued luck and success to you!

Robin

[Mary0110 1]

Just wanted to update on this topic as I know Gastric Plication is one of the cheaper and less used options for Weight Loss Surgery.
I am now two years post op and have remained at my goal weight since reaching it at almost one year post op.
My relationship with food has completely changed. I still do the things that helped me reach my goal weight such as keeping a food log, weighing my food and sticking to a high protein/low carb diet.
I know a lot of people have not had the same experience as I have had with this surgery. I do not know why my experience is different than most others. I still meal plan, and carefully watch what I eat 80% of the time.
As time has gone on, I am able to eat more as my surgeon had cautioned that I would. I want to mention that I have done a lot of work in regards to understanding why I became so obese in the first place. Surgery will not be a fix to the emotional aspect of obesity and if you are not putting in the work to understand yourself better, no amount of surgery will keep the weight off. I am sure we all know someone who has had WLS and has gained weight back. As I was self funded for my surgery, I wanted to make sure it would provide me with long lasting results. I had to dig deep within myself and really be truthful. I used food as comfort, as entertainment, as a way to soothe myself. I ate out of boredom, out of sorrow, out of happiness. These were behaviors that I had to unlearn. I also was eating more processed food than should be allowed. I now cook more often than I don't, so I have better control of what I am eating. I no longer drink soda or alcohol. Yes, doing those things are hard, but being fat and unhappy was harder. Choose your hard and get real with yourself. This journey should be about more than vanity. It should be about longevity and health. When times get rough and you feel like giving up, you will need a reason that is strong enough to keep you going. My family and being healthy to participate in life like I want to are what keep me going.
With that being said, my life is completely different, healthier and more fulfilling than it was two years ago.
I do not regret my Gastric Plication surgery at all. It has given me everything that I knew I deserved. I have worked hard to lose the weight and have had to strengthen my discipline and willpower. I put in the work everyday to keep the weight off and will have to everyday for the rest of my life.
Surgery alone will not keep you thin. I cannot stress this enough.
I went from 240 pounds (size 16) and have maintained a weight of 160 pounds (size 8) for over a year.

Wow what great results. How was the scaring? Can you eat pizza if you want to? Or have a beer? Or is that just impossible?

[meve3681 35]

6 hours ago, Mary0110 said:

Wow what great results. How was the scaring? Can you eat pizza if you want to? Or have a beer? Or is that just impossible?

Hi Mary,

The scarring is very minimal, at 2 1/2 years post op my scars are hardly visible. I do eat pizza on occasion, though I can only eat 1-2 slices now, before surgery I could easily eat a whole medium pizza to myself. I don't drink beer, so I'm not sure how that would work out. I want to emphasize that I did not have surgery to continue with my old way of living, so while I am still able to eat things such as pizza and French fries, they aren't staples of my diet as they were before surgery. When I do choose to eat those things, it's treated as a "treat" and then back to eating clean.