Bariatric Endoscopy - Mayo Clinic in Florida

At Mayo Clinic in Florida, you’ll find a team of recognized experts in bariatric endoscopy, a specialized field of non-surgical procedures designed to help people lose weight. We focus on helping you maintain a lifelong commitment to managing overweight and obesity and associated health conditions.

Bariatric endoscopy may be an option if:

You don’t meet criteria for invasive bariatric surgery.
You are unable to safely undergo invasive bariatric surgery.
You don’t want bariatric surgery but need more comprehensive weight-loss interventions.
You’re experiencing issues after bariatric surgery such as leaks, fistulas, or stenosis.
You’re experiencing weight regain and dumping syndrome after certain bariatric surgeries, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG). This reversible, non-surgical, restrictive endoluminal procedure reduces stomach volume by more than 70%. An endoscopic suturing apparatus is used to delay stomach contents from emptying into the intestine. This results in early satiety, decreased hunger, and reduced food intake. ESG is performed with general anesthesia. Our patients typically go home the same day or have the option to stay at an onsite hotel for overnight care.

ESG has gained significant global adoption, and level 1 evidence has shown it is a safe intervention that results in significant and sustainable weight loss, in addition to improving metabolic comorbidities.

Fundus ablation also cuts down levels of our hunger hormone, ghrelin, which is made in the surface lining of the fundus. Ghrelin is a potent appetite stimulator that rises during periods of fasting, stress, or sleep deprivation. Our bodies also adapt to weight loss by increasing ghrelin to maintain or increase body weight. By reducing ghrelin, we can help decrease the intensity of hunger and cravings, which supports weight loss.

In early trials with this combination of fundus ablation and ESG (GFMA-ESG), patients lost around 23–24% of their body weight within 12 months. GFMA-ESG is still investigational, and the procedure, which takes about 90 minutes, should only be performed by experienced interventional gastroenterologists.

Intragastric balloon (IGB) therapy. A balloon filled with fluid or air is placed in the stomach for a period of time to create a feeling of fullness and early satiety, and to delay stomach contents from emptying into the intestine. This can result in decreased food intake and decreased hunger. The balloon is placed and removed with a quick outpatient upper endoscopy. Clinical trial data has shown that a combination of IGB therapy and lifestyle modification resulted in three times more weight loss compared to lifestyle modification alone.

Small bowel therapies: The small intestine plays an important role in regulating how we absorb nutrients from meals and how blood sugar is regulated, so it has been a target for emerging procedures in patients with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. Our program offers various outpatient endoscopic procedures (e.g., bypass liners and ablation treatments) to patients with these conditions through clinical trials. If you have type 2 diabetes and would like to learn more about your options for small bowel therapies, contact us to request an appointment.

Our internationally recognized physicians have extensive clinical and research experience in obesity and metabolic disease. Mayo Clinic’s bariatric endoscopy physicians are board certified in obesity medicine and are diplomates of the American Board of Obesity Medicine (D-ABOM).

Our experts conduct ongoing clinical studies to evaluate new and upcoming interventions to help manage weight and associated metabolic comorbidities. This includes gastric fundal mucosal ablation (GFMA) and interventions of the small intestine for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Bariatric endoscopy expertise at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

Innovative non-surgical procedures.

Recognized expertise and research.

Active clinical trials.

Comprehensive team care.

Most insurance plans accepted.

“To be able to sit down and eat a meal, and feel full — that’s one of the best feelings.”

“It feels good to be in control of my body, to not be in pain, and not have anxiety over whether or not I will get sick.”

“I was thrilled that there was another option other than surgery.”

Contact us to request an appointment.