AspireAssist
AspireAssist is a weight loss procedure recently approved by the FDA. The procedure allows for removal of food from your stomach through a special implanted device in order to reduce your calorie intake. The procedure is minimally invasive and can be easily reversed if necessary.
What is Obesity?
Obesity is an abnormal, unhealthy condition of having excessive body fat or weight than is necessary for a particular height.
Besides genetic and hormonal influences, obesity occurs from excessive intake of calories – more than what is required for the body. Your body converts calories into energy for the body to use and the excess calories are converted into fatty substances, triggering obesity.
Indications
When obesity cannot be managed through non-surgical methods such as diet and exercise, one has to consider other weight loss options such as bariatric surgery. For those who do not wish to undergo major surgery, the AspireAssist offers a simple and affordable alternative.
Surgical procedure
The AspireAssist device is placed during an outpatient procedure under light sedation to keep you relaxed and pain-free.
A thin tube is passed through a small incision in the abdomen into your stomach pouch. The other end of the tube is connected to a small button that is fixed on the outside of your abdomen. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and you may return home in about 1-2 hours.
You will be provided with a hand-held device which can be connected to the button to aspirate the stomach’s contents through the thin tube. Your doctor will instruct you to wait about 20-30 minutes following a meal before performing the aspiration. This allows enough time for your stomach to signal your brain that it is full after the meal. You are also advised to chew your food slowly and thoroughly. Aspiration of the food is done in the privacy of a bathroom. The hand-held device is connected to the abdominal button and about 30% of the meal is aspirated and discarded into the toilet. The device is cleaned and then returned to a storage pouch to be used again.
Following placement of the AspireAssist device you will begin weight-loss counseling involving one-on-one and group sessions to help you make healthy lifestyle changes in terms of diet, exercise and behavioral control that are necessary for long-term success.
Postoperative Care
The procedure requires minimal downtime enabling you to quickly return to your activities. You will be instructed on how to care for the aspiration device and button site on your abdomen. A medical team will monitor your progress and health on a periodic basis.
Advantages
The AspireAssist has been shown to help obese individuals lose 3 times more weight than they normally would through diet and exercise.
Unlike bariatric surgery, AspireAssist does not alter your digestive process or anatomy.
Should you decide to have the device removed once reaching your weight-loss goals or for any other reason, it can be easily performed through a minor 10-minute procedure under light sedation.
Risks and Complications
The AspireAssist procedure is a minimally invasive procedure with few associated risks and complications. Some patients may experience some abdominal discomfort or irritation at the button site. Infection and ulceration rarely occur and can be managed by medications.