Spire Bushey Hospital now offers an incision-free weight loss procedure called Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal (POSE).
What is POSE?
POSE is a new form of weight loss surgery which is performed through the mouth and inside the stomach, not through cuts in to the abdomen. This procedure has been successfully performed in a small number of pioneering centres around the world, mainly in the United States.
About the POSE procedure
An experienced specialist bariatric consultant surgeon at Spire Bushey Hospital will perform the procedure which takes around 60 to 90 minutes under general anaesthetic. He will use special tools to create folds in your stomach to reduce the volume and the amount of food it can hold so you feel fuller faster.
The length of your stay at the hospital will be determined by your consultant surgeon - typically, this type of procedure requires an overnight stay.
It is important that you are committed to following the diet and exercise programmes provided by the weight loss team at Spire Bushey Hospital to help achieve the full benefit of the procedure. The success of the procedure also relies on individuals being able to stop eating, once they feel full, so this will be a factor in considering whether this is a suitable procedure for you.
A potential benefit of POSE over other weight loss procedures is that it causes no external scarring because the entire surgery is conducted via the mouth (endoscopically). The procedure is also reversible, should you experience any problems.
What is recovery like after the POSE procedure?
Most patients should be able to return to work within a few days to a week, depending on the nature of their work. However, at first, you may experience a sore throat, bloating and some nausea, which should settle quickly.
Following this procedure, you will be restricted to a liquid only diet for the first 2 days i.e.: water, juice, milk, thin soup etc and then gradually returning to a normal diet over a short period of time. Gradually, your ability to tolerate most types of food should improve, although the volume of food you are able to consume should be considerably reduced. Your bariatric consultant surgeon and his team, which include specialist bariatric nurses and dietitians will support you through this process and your treatment includes 6 - 8 follow up appointments with them.
What risks are associated with POSE?
You should be aware that the procedure can cause temporary sore throat and nausea.
All surgical procedures, no matter how expertly or carefully they are performed, carry risks and the importance of a full evaluation and consultation to discuss your understanding and expectations in relation to these risks cannot be over emphasised. Your consultant surgeon will spend plenty of time with you discussing these aspects of your treatment.
How do I find out if I am a suitable candidate for POSE?
Spire Bushey Hospital's specialist weight loss team will carry out a full evaluation of your individual needs and circumstances and provide you with a comprehensive verbal and written explanation of any recommended treatment. This procedure is generally offered to patients seeking weight loss surgery who have a BMI between 28 and 40. Patients are assessed on an individual basis but this procedure may not be suitable for people that have already had complicated upper abdominal surgery.
About the Surgeon
Mr Pratik Sufi performs the procedure at Spire Bushey Hospital and is very experienced and an expert in a range of procedures offered for treatment of obesity. See Mr Sufi's full profile.
How do I find out more?
The consultant bariatric surgeon(s) that currently offer this procedure at Spire Bushey Hospital are displayed on the top right of this page. To organise a consultation please contact us on 020 8901 5505 or email info@spirebushey.com.
Click here to download our POSE information leaflet 