Losing weight helps improve or eliminate many health issues like acid reflux, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Non-surgical methods can be the perfect way to start your weight loss journey.
When your surgery is more aesthetic, insurance companies can be challenging, and surgical treatments can be quite expensive. You can achieve your objective more quickly using non-surgical solutions since they are less expensive.
Less Downtime
Invasive surgical procedures generally involve a lot of downtime. You must deal with the recovery process and likely miss work and other important activities. Non-surgical weight loss procedures are much easier to schedule and take up far less time than a surgical procedures.
Patients can often return to work and other daily activities immediately after a non-surgical weight loss treatment. They can also avoid the risks of a surgical procedure, such as infection, scarring, and other issues that could impact their health and well-being.
You won’t have to worry about a drawn-out recuperation with these endoscopic procedures. Because of this, they might appeal to those who want to drop a significant amount of weight and return to normal as soon as feasible.
Non-surgical weight loss procedures are also a great way to reset your metabolism. This will help you sustain the results of your weight loss. Studies have shown that bariatric surgery patients can maintain their results for 12 years or more! That’s a long-term benefit that many patients don’t expect. Patients who have lost a significant amount of weight often find that they can enjoy more physical activity and live their life to the fullest without feeling discomfort from things like arthritis or fibromyalgia.
Less Risk
The risk for complications from non-surgical weight loss procedures is significantly lower than surgical options. This is because these procedures do not involve cutting your body open, and the recovery time is typically much faster. Many patients can return to their regular lives within a few weeks after their procedure.
For example, gastric balloon procedures (Obalon Balloon System, Orbera, ReShape, and others) involve placing a saline-filled balloon into your stomach so you feel full more quickly. However, these doctor-monitored procedures require a change in behavior and dietary restrictions.
Sleeve gastroplasty and gastric plication surgeries are endoscopic techniques that decrease the size of your stomach. Both are less invasive than traditional bariatric surgery because they do not cut the stomach and involve no sutures.
Another possibility is a biliopancreatic diversion, which involves removing a part of the stomach and connecting it to the duodenum to reduce appetite and enhance blood sugar regulation. Although less invasive than gastric bypass, this treatment presents certain hazards, including dumping syndrome and vitamin and mineral shortages.
Researchers have found that surgical and non-surgical weight loss procedures can help you live longer. This is because weight loss reduces comorbidities that can shorten lifespans and helps you maintain your lifestyle. Weight loss can even prevent certain types of cancer, increasing your survival rate if you’ve been diagnosed with one of these diseases.
Less Expensive
Obesity is a costly disease. In addition to health risks such as GERD, high blood pressure, and obstructive sleep apnea, it increases costs in many areas, such as clothing, medical bills, and food. Weight loss procedures can help to decrease these expenses, but they are not inexpensive. Thankfully, non-surgical weight loss solutions are significantly less expensive than bariatric surgery.
For example, the silicone balloon procedure is a relatively low-cost option. It doesn’t permanently alter your gastrointestinal system and can be removed in six months if you don’t see the desired results. Plus, it can be paired with prescription weight loss medications that were originally used to treat type 2 diabetes and have been proven effective in clinical trials.
Considering that surgical weight loss costs as much as $4,800 annually for obese women and more than $2,500 for obese men, these affordable solutions have become a great alternative. You can also pay for most non-surgical weight loss procedures with your healthcare benefits, such as a health savings or flexible spending account.
If you’re struggling with obesity and want to try a different approach, it’s time to talk with a weight loss doctor near you. Schedule a consultation with a bariatric specialist and learn more about the non-surgical options that may be right for you.
More Accessible
If you haven’t been able to lose the weight you need through diet and exercise alone, a non-surgical weight loss procedure may help. With more options , finding a procedure that works for you is easier than ever. And because they don’t require anesthetic, you can schedule your procedure when convenient for you and won’t interfere with your work or family life. Endoscopic bariatric treatments, including the gastric balloon or endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), are as successful as surgical methods for helping patients shed pounds and treat diseases like type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. These are typically less intrusive than surgery since no scars or incisions are made. The greatest method to guarantee long-term success is to get a non-surgical treatment to support your eating plan and workout schedule.
