Procedure reduces stomach size without surgery, giving patients another option for lasting weight loss.

BALTIMORE, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time at MedStar Health, patients struggling with obesity who may not want, or may not qualify for traditional bariatric surgery, have a new option for weight loss: endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG). The minimally invasive procedure, which reduces the size of the stomach without incisions, was performed by Christopher You, MD , a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, Aug. 21. The patient went home the same day.

During the 90-minute procedure while the patient is under mild sedation, Dr. You inserts a flexible tube with a tiny camera through the patient's mouth and into the stomach. Using a series of special sutures, he reduces the stomach's size and reshapes it into a smaller, tube-like pouch. Because the procedure is performed entirely through the mouth, there are no external cuts or scars. Unlike traditional weight-loss surgery, no part of the stomach is removed.

The procedure at MedStar Franklin Square represents an expansion of minimally invasive obesity treatments available through MedStar Health and reflects a commitment to bring innovative approaches to patients in the Baltimore region.

"Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty gives us another important tool in the treatment of obesity," said Dr. You. "For appropriately selected patients, it can provide meaningful weight loss without the incisions or scars and without removing any part of the stomach, as with traditional bariatric surgery. It allows us to approach obesity treatment in a less invasive way while helping patients feel full sooner and eat less."

Obesity affects more than one billion people worldwide according to the World Obesity Foundation. It's associated with numerous serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and sleep apnea. While bariatric surgery remains an effective treatment for many patients, some people may not want or are not candidates for traditional weight loss surgery.

ESG is designed to help address that treatment gap.

Because there are no external incisions, most patients can return home the same day, with many able to resume routine activities within several days.

"Obesity is a complex, chronic disease, and there is no single treatment that is right for everyone," said Dr. You. "The addition of ESG expands the range of evidence-based options we can offer patients. It gives us another way to personalize treatment based on a patient's health, goals, and preferences.

Dr. You stressed that ESG is not experimental. A recently published study in the journal The Lancet found patients who had ESG lost an average of 14 percent of their body weight in one year and kept it off for two years. Patients in the study on diet and exercise alone lost almost nothing. 

Patients considering ESG must undergo an evaluation to determine whether the procedure is appropriate for them. Treatment is typically accompanied by nutritional counseling and lifestyle support.

The Center for Bariatric Surgery at MedStar Franklin Square is a MBSAQIP®-accredited center, meeting national standards for quality and safety in bariatric surgery. The program is a collaborative effort of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

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SOURCE MedStar Health