What Is a Gastric Injection?
A gastric injection is an endoscopic procedure in which botulinum toxin is injected into specific areas of the stomach muscle to temporarily block the nerve signals. This reduces gastric motility, especially for solid foods, thereby increasing satiety, delaying hunger, and decreasing appetite. It does not directly cause weight loss; rather, it improves adherence to a healthy diet by helping individuals feel fuller for longer.
How Is Gastric Injection Performed?
- Location & Anesthesia: The procedure is carried out in an endoscopy suite, under light sedation (referred to as “sedation”), ensuring the process is painless.
- Endoscopic Assessment: First, an endoscope is used to carefully examine the inside of the stomach.
- Injection Sites: Next, 20 selected points (mostly around the gastric fundus near the appetite center and the pylorus region where the stomach has dense muscle tissue) are injected with the medical solution containing botulinum toxin at an appropriate dosage.
- Duration: The entire process takes about 15 minutes, and no hospital stay is required.
- Onset of Action: Full effect typically develops within 7–10 days and lasts about 4–6 months.
Advantages of Gastric Injection
- Minimal Lifestyle Disruption: The procedure usually has minimal impact on daily life. Post-endoscopy, patients may experience mild bloating or cramps for the remainder of the day, but can often resume normal activities within a few hours.
- Rapid Recovery: About an hour after the procedure, you can begin consuming liquids. For the first 3 days, a mainly liquid diet is recommended to optimize the injection’s effect.
- Supportive Follow-Up: Throughout the entire program, our dietitian provides dietary guidelines to help you adjust your eating habits for optimal results.
Who Is a Suitable Candidate?
Endoscopic gastric injection suits individuals seeking to lose weight and improve adherence to a healthy diet more comfortably. Before the procedure:
- Endoscopic Evaluation: If you have reflux, gastritis, or ulcer complaints, these must be assessed via endoscopy. If an active problem requires treatment, the injection may be postponed until after medical clearance.
- Prior Stomach Surgery: People who have had stomach procedures that bypass the pylorus (lower stomach outlet) are generally not suitable candidates.
- Final Decision: Suitability is determined after a thorough consultation with our medical team and dietitian.
How Much Weight Can One Lose?
With the gastric injection method:
- Patients can lose about 10% of their starting weight over a 6-month program.
- Success depends significantly on patient adherence: those who attend regular check-ups and follow dietary advice typically achieve better results.
- Throughout the program, Dr. Güven Görkem and our team will provide the support and guidance you need for the best possible outcome.
Gastric Injection Pricing and More Information
For detailed information about pricing or to see if you are a suitable candidate, please fill out the contact form or get in touch with our clinic.
