Gastric plication in Iran is a newer minimally invasive weight-loss surgery technique that reduces the size of the stomach capacity to approximately three ounces.
The procedure does not involve the use of an implanted device (such as gastric banding). Also, unlike the gastric sleeve procedure, gastric plication may be reversible because a portion of the stomach is not removed. Also, unlike gastric bypass, gastric plication in Iran does not involve rerouting and reconnecting the intestines.
It is a restrictive weight-loss surgery, meaning that it restricts the amount of food the stomach can hold. You will feel full sooner so you won’t want to eat as much.
How does the procedure of gastric plication in Iran works
Gastric plication in Iran is performed as a laparoscopic procedure. This involves making five or six small incisions in the abdomen and performing the procedure using a video camera (laparoscope) and long instruments that are placed through these small incisions.
Laparoscopic gastric plication involves sewing one or more large folds in your stomach. During the laparoscopic gastric plication, the stomach volume is reduced by about 70% which makes the stomach able to hold less and may help you eat less. There is no cutting, stapling, or removal of the stomach or intestines during the gastric plication in Iran. The gastric plication may potentially be reversed or converted to another procedure if needed. The gastric plication procedure is minimally invasive and takes approximately one to two hours to complete. Most patients stay in the hospital for 1-2 days after the procedure.
How does gastric plication in Iran cause weight-loss?
Gastric plication in Iran is a restrictive procedure. It greatly reduces the size of your stomach and limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. It does not cause decreased absorption of nutrients or bypass your intestines. After eating a small amount of food, you will feel full very quickly and continue to feel full for several hours. The operation of gastric plication in Iran may also cause a decrease in appetite.
Who is gastric plication in Iran for?
Gastric plication is not for everyone. People who are severely overweight, more than 150 pounds, are not advised to undergo gastric plication. Gastric plication is only meant for people who are 50 to 100 pounds overweight. Studies have shown that the average BMI suitable to perform a gastric plication in Iran is only 35 – indicating this is meant for people who are on the lower end of the obesity scale.
Gastric plication pros and cons
The benefits of gastric plication in Iran include:
- No rerouting of intestines as with gastric bypass
- Does not involve implanting a banding device around a portion of the stomach
- No adjustments are needed as with gastric banding
- The procedure may be reversible, unlike sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass
- It may be a safer weight loss surgery: In a study with 66 patients who’ve undergone gastric sleeve plication, there were no major postoperative complications reported.
- It’s less costly than standard weight-loss surgerie
- Fast recovery time
The disadvantages and risks of gastric plication may include:
Studies did not report any death due to gastric plication. There is a relatively low risk of complications associated with the procedure, affecting 1 to 9% of the patients. The most significant side-effects reported include nausea and vomiting, which usually last about a week after the surgery. Other risks are the standard ones related to any surgery and general anesthesia, as well as the separation of stitched areas and leaks from sutured areas, which may require surgery of gastric plication revision.
Since gastric plication is a new procedure, there is still not enough information about the long-term effects of the surgery. A financial disadvantage is that insurance coverage is not available yet as well.
The required preparations for this surgery
The detailed requirements of preparations before the surgery will be shared with before the procedure by the medical team. But there are some general pre-operation tips that you need to know about and follow them:
- Do not eat anything 12 hours before the surgery
- Do not drink anything 6 hours before the surgery
- Consult a nutrition specialist
- Discuss the medications you’re currently taking with your doctor
- Stop drinking alcohol six weeks before surgery
- Quit smoking at a few weeks before the procedure of gastric plication in Iran
- Make sure that you are psychologically and mentally prepared for the surgery.
The recovery
Your gastric plication recovery begins the moment your surgery is completed. Many people stay in the hospital for up to two days afterward. The recovery may be less involved than other weight-loss surgeries such as the gastric sleeve surgery because there is no stapling, cutting or removing any part of the stomach.
The real challenge is getting used to eating again after gastric plication in Iran. Start slowly, with a liquid-only diet for the first two weeks. Water, milk, fruit juice, and sherbet are usually fair game in the two weeks following the surgery. You will be allowed to consume thicker liquids within two or three weeks. These may include yogurt and soup with some vegetables. Discuss all foods and liquids with your bariatric surgeon before trying them. Your surgeon should provide you with a list of acceptable foods for the various phases of your gastric plication recovery.
Life after gastric plication in Iran
Within one month, you will be able to eat all foods in small amounts. How small? Most experts suggest about four spoonfuls per meal. Weight loss after gastric plication occurs gradually during the first year and a half. Be patient.
Gastric plication in Iran may also be more low-maintenance than other weight-loss surgeries. Yes, you must watch what you eat and how much of it you eat for the rest of your life, but unlike banding, there are no fills required. What’s more, this is not a malabsorptive procedure, so the risk of nutritional deficiencies may not be as pronounced as with other bariatric surgeries. The research is still in its infancy, so long-term monitoring is essential to identify and address any shortfalls. You may still need to take vitamins or minerals after your surgery because you won’t be eating as much as you have in the past.
The price of gastric plication in Iran
The cost of gastric plication surgery depends on various factors including the country and the city where your surgery is carried out the surgeon and their experience and reputation, and the hospital in which the gastric plication is performed. Performing gastric plication in countries like the United States can cost anywhere between $10.000 to $20.000 which is considered rather expensive.
The cost of gastric plication in Iran, on the other hand, is much more reasonable. Performing a procedure of gastric plication in Iran costs around $2.500 to $4.000. Considering the board-certified and well-experienced specialists along with the advanced hospitals in Iran, performing such surgery in this country is considered a wise decision.
MedoTrip is also ready to plan your trip to perform a gastric plication in Iran. all you need to do is to contact us and we will handle the procedure for you.
