Laparoscopic Gastroplasty (Gastric Plication) in India

Laparoscopic gastroplasty, also called gastric plication, reduces stomach capacity by folding the stomach wall inward and securing it with sutures, rather than removing or stapling tissue as in sleeve gastrectomy. It is presented as a reversible, tissue-preserving alternative to sleeve gastrectomy, though it is a newer and far less studied procedure, with fewer long-term outcome studies to draw on than the more established bariatric options.

Procedures Available

Standard laparoscopic greater curvature plication folds the outer curve of the stomach, the same area removed in a sleeve gastrectomy, to reduce its volume. Because no stomach tissue is cut or stapled, the procedure is technically reversible, unlike sleeve gastrectomy. It is generally considered for patients with a moderately elevated BMI who want to avoid a permanent, irreversible procedure, rather than as a first-line recommendation for higher BMI or more significant metabolic disease.

Cost

The estimate covers pre-operative evaluation, the surgery, anaesthesia, and hospital stay through discharge. Given the more limited long-term data on this procedure compared to sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, it's worth discussing directly with the surgeon why gastroplasty is being recommended over those better-established options for your specific case.

How Long the Trip Takes

Most patients plan for 6 to 8 days in India, covering pre-operative evaluation, 1 to 2 days in hospital after surgery, and a short recovery period on a liquid-to-soft diet before flying home.

Choosing a Hospital

Given the more limited evidence base for this procedure, it is worth asking directly about the surgeon's own case volume and results with gastroplasty specifically, and how they compare to sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass for a patient with your BMI and health profile. A reputable bariatric surgeon should be willing to walk through why this option, rather than a more established one, fits your case.