Gastric Plication

What is gastric plication?

Gastric plication, Also called gastric imbrication and greater curvature plication, is one of many weight loss or bariatric surgeries. It is a restrictive procedure that reduces the size of the stomach by about 70%.
Gastric plication is based on decreasing the stomach size by folding the largest part of the stomach (fundus & body) inside, without affecting absorption capacity or removing any part of the stomach, which means feeling full with a small portion of food.

How is it performed?

During the 30 to 60-minute procedure, the patient is given general, regional, or local anesthesia.
Using a laparoscope, the surgeon makes 5 small incisions in the patient's abdomen, avoiding open surgery.
About two-thirds of the stomach is folded inward and sutured with non-dissolving sutures.

The size and capacity of the stomach decrease by about 70%, which makes you feel full more quickly and with less food.

After the operation, the patient stays in the hospital for one day to check on his health and ensure his condition is stable.

Why to choose gastric plication?

Here’s why gastric imbrication is considered one of the best bariatric surgeries: 

• This operation does not need using external or foreign materials and does not require implantation of anything inside the stomach.
• Low cost for such efficient results.
• No need to remove any part of the stomach.
• It helps the patient recover from many overweight-related diseases.
• The most important feature is that it can be reversed at any time to remove the folds and turn them back the way they were previously.
• The patient does not need to take any specific vitamins.
• It does not result in GERD.
• The recovery period is short, and the patient can be discharged from the hospital after the operation on the same day.
• It has no possibility of complications of the infusion, as there are no stomach wounds.
• It does not affect the absorption capacity, nor the functionality of the stomach.

Gastric plication FAQs

Is gastric plication suitable for me?

Gastric plication is the best weight loss surgery for you, if:

• You are not addicted to sweets.
• Your weight is 10 to 30 kg more than the ideal weight.
• You are willing to avoid high calories and lead a healthy life.
• You suffer from GERD with little weight gain.
• You tried to lose weight by following a diet, doing sports, or taking medications to increase the fat-burning rate.

How to get prepared for the surgery?

You can contact us via our website or by phone, to schedule an appointment to meet the medical team and make the necessary examination.

The clinical nutrition consultant will make all the required medical examination to find out more about the cause of weight gain, and health history.

You will meet Dr. Ahmed Shabana to explain to you the most suitable solutions for your health condition.

If gastric plication is chosen as a better procedure for you, you will start getting more medical examinations that will be later presented to Dr. Ahmed Shabana, the anesthesiologist, and the medical team.

You will follow the preparation system for the operation (you can contact us now to know it).

There is no need to bring an escort to the hospital on the day of the operation.

You will be examined a second time by the medical team led by Dr. Ahmed Shabana, then you will enter the operating room to have the operation, using a laparoscope (we are proud of having the most advanced laparoscope in the world).

After that, you will be taken to the recovery room and from there to your private room.

Two hours after the operation, we will help you to leave the bed, move around and drink a glass of water.

6 hours later, you will be able to leave the hospital to your house.

Is gastric plication a bad choice?

Contrary to what is rumored about gastric plication as a recent or failed medical operation, it was actually invented around 1970, and many international studies were conducted on it and led to excellent results.

Gastric Plication has been adopted by the obesity surgery community and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), after much research on its effectiveness and safety for health, read more here.

As long as the doctor chooses the right type of surgical intervention for the patient's condition, the success of the operation will be certain, and the patient will regain his health and wellness.

Therefore, Dr. Ahmed Shabana advises to always consult specialists, research, and find out the necessary procedure and choose it very carefully.

Does gastric plication procedure have any health risks?

The operation does not pose any danger to the patient, as it is physiologically the closest to the nature of the body among obesity surgeries.

The side effects of surgery are almost non-existent and are not dangerous.

What happens after the operation?

You will have to stay home from 24 to 48 hours.
After 48 hours, you will be able to return to work.
For the first week, you will be having fluids, then pureed food, then solid food.
You will be able to walk immediately after the operation, and do all kinds of sports after one month.
You will not have to take any kind of treatments or vitamins.
It will be okay to have any type of food, but you have to avoid sweets and soft drinks.
A gradual weight loss will be noticed within 4 to 6 months until you reach your ideal weight.

If you are considering a gastric balloon or programmed stomach capsule that helps to lose a little weight, we recommend that you rethink the matter, as it is a temporary procedure that does not exceed 6 months, unlike the gastric plication that will help you lose weight throughout your life.