Help now available after failed gastric bypass surgery

San Diego, CA

A new procedure, called a ROSE procedure, is now available for patients who have had gastric bypass, lost weight and then slowly put weight back on again as their stomach pouch stretched. One of the problems with surgeries that reduce the size of the stomach for weight loss is that the pouch size may not be permanent. Over time, the pouch can enlarge to the point where meals of significant size can be eaten.

Rose, or Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal, is an outpatient procedure where the surgeon inserts a tiny camera and special tools into the stomach by introducing them into the mouth and down through the esophagus. Remarkably, no incisions are made to reduce the size of the stomach opening and the actual stomach. The surgeon essentially makes folds in the tissue of the stomach from the inside, similar to creating pleats, then uses stitches to hold the folds in place.

The procedure is currently available at the Center For The Treatment of Obesity at UC San Diego Medical Center.

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New Weight-Loss Surgery Helps Keep It Off

Miami, FL

New Surgical Tools Allow Surgeons To Reduce The Size Of The Pouch And Stomach Through The Patient's Mouth Without Making Cuts

Each year 200,000 people have gastric bypass surgery, and while about 15 percent of them will regain the weight, there's a new procedure helping those patients get back on track.

Suyin Marti is 42 years old, and had gastric bypass surgery 12 years ago. Her weight has been a lifelong battle.

"I gained weight and I lost it so many times over. A hundred pounds I gained and lost three times. Each time I would gain all that weight back and more," admitted Marti.

The weight is back again, and Marti blames family tragedy and the medication she's taking for depression contributing to her gain.

"Everybody always has the license to tell you how heavy you are but they don't know what it is to have this disease," Marti tearfully proclaimed.

Dr. Nestor de la Cruz Munoz is helping patients like Marti take back control of their lives by introducing them to the Rose procedure.

"It's a new procedure that we're going through the mouth rather than having to go through the abdomen with a camera and a transport system that allows us to put stitches in from the inside instead of from the outside," explained Dr. de la Cruz Munoz.

The Rose procedure restores the patient's pouch and stomach to match original post surgery sizes. That's important because scar tissue in the abdomen could complicate surgery for these patients.

Patients will spend one night in the hospital and wake up with a sore throat but no abdominal pain. They can return to normal activities in a day or two. Still, the doctor said patients still need to exercise and attend support groups for the entire process to work.

"We know that none of the surgeries cure obesity. They're just tools that you have to use. So if you don't use the tools correctly they're not going to work for you long term," warned Dr. de la Cruz Munoz.

Marti is prepared to do what it takes to lose the weight and regain her health. "I'm hoping they can go ahead and do the revision and take out the band and fix the problem that I had originally and it will help me lose the weight," said Marti.

The procedure is not currently covered by insurance, and can cost up to $12,000.

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