Gastric plication surgery (also called laparoscopic greater curviture plication, gastric imbrication, or pseudo sleeve surgery):
- Is still considered investigational/experimental
- Is similar to gastric sleeve in that it creates a smaller stomach
- Is different from gastric sleeve in that it sews the stomach in on itself rather than removing part of the stomach our gastric plication surgery cost will depend
- Causes patients to feel full sooner while eating
- Has the benefit of meaningful weight loss without removing part of the stomach or rearranging the small intestine
- Results in less weight loss and health improvement than the more established gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and LAP-BAND®
- Has mixed reviews regarding failure anOne study suggests up to ad complication rates
Read the sections below for everything you need to know about the procedure.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Click on any of the topics below to jump directly to that section
- How It Works
- Weight Loss & Health
- How to Qualify
- Cost
- Recovery
- Diet & Life After
- Downsides
- Compare Other Procedures
- Patient Community & Expert Advice
- Find a Weight Loss Surgeon
SECTION SUMMARY:
- Gastric plication is NOT covered by insurance
- The surgery costs $15,000, on average
- If you take out a medical loan to pay for surgery, the average monthly cost is $334
- Discounts & tax savings are usually available to help offset the costs of the surgery
Your gastric plication surgery cost will depend on a number of factors including which surgeon and hospital you choose and in what part of the country or world you receive the procedure.
A limited number of surgeons are performing the procedure, so average cost information is not available. However, given the less invasive nature of the procedure, it is likely to be in the cost range of gastric band surgery (lap band): around $15,000 (USD).
Click here to see our cost data for lap band surgery by region which should give you a general idea of what gastric plication will cost.
Since gastric plication is still considered investigational, it will probably not be covered by insurance. However, many surgeons offer affordable “self-pay” options, including payment plans, and there are other financing arrangements that can make the procedure more affordable.
SECTION SUMMARY:
- You'll go on a restricted diet with supplementation (details below)
- You'll have to make exercise a part of your life
- Your personal relationships may change in ways you haven't considered
Weight loss after gastric plication surgery often takes center stage for new patients. It’s also important to consider what day-to-day life will be like.
Your surgery is only a tool. Long-term success requires diligence and sometimes difficult change in other areas.
The following sections give you an idea about what to expect before and after surgery. Every surgeon is different, and every patient is different. Please talk with your surgeon before acting on any of the following advice.
Food & Drink: Your New Diet
Following your recovery diet, you will slowly begin to introduce new foods in increasing quantities until about 6 months after surgery when your new bariatric diet will be in full swing. All weight loss surgery procedures require a complete change in diet for your procedure to continue to be effective, and gastric plication is no different.
See our Bariatric Diet (what you eat) and Bariatric Eating (how you eat) pages for all of the details.
Assuming you follow the diet and exercise guidelines of your surgical team, all indications are that weight loss and health improvement following gastric plication surgery may be permanent. However, as with gastric sleeve surgery, some patients are likely to experience weight regain as a result of your stomach stretching over time.
Relationships After Weight Loss
Over time, many patients experience a significant improvement in the quality of their sex life after weight loss surgery (1). This improvement is related largely to changes in the way a patient perceives their body and the resulting increases in self-confidence.
Relationship changes are another great reason to participate in a bariatric surgery support group. These support groups can provide insight and encouragement throughout your weight loss journey.
See our Relationships After Weight Loss page for real stories about relationships after weight loss… and please share your advice and experiences as well.
SECTION SUMMARY:
- Gastric plication results in less weight loss & fewer health improvements than sleeve, bypass, DS, or band
- Gastric plications results in more weight loss than the AspireAssist Device or the gastric balloon
- Gastric plication is still considered "investigational"
Gastric plication surgery is most similar to gastric sleeve surgery in that both reduce the size of the stomach into a banana shape that connects the esophagus with the small intestines. While gastric sleeve surgery accomplishes this by removing part of the stomach and stapling the remaining part closed, gastric placation does so by folding the stomach in on itself and holding the folds in place with sutures (stitches).
At a high level, gastric plication surgery appears to carry the benefits of the more established procedures:
- Substantial weight loss, but not as effective as gastric sleeve surgery (2)
- Improvements and/or remission in comorbidities like Type 2 Diabetes (3)
…and fewer of the downsides:
- No rerouting of the intestines like gastric bypass or duodenal switch
- No implanted device left in the body like gastric banding
- No removal of part of the stomach like gastric sleeve (and, in theory, the lack of a staple line should reduce the risk of leakage after the surgery)
So far, the primary downsides reported as compared to other procedures include:
- Less short-term weight loss
- Higher risk of postoperative nausea/vomiting (which, if it occurs, usually subsides within a few days)
- One study suggests up to 38% experience severe symptoms
The procedure also appears to be more effective for patients with a lower body mass index (BMI). For example, one study found that the percentage of excess weight loss was significantly higher for patients with a BMI below 45, while another study reported greater weight loss for patients with
BMI under 40.
