Do you suffer from weight gain that does not need complex surgery, but at the same time you fail to stick to strict diets? You are not alone in this struggle.

Many people are looking for a middle ground, safe, and effective solution to control an open appetite without the need for surgical operating rooms.

Here comes the role of the gastric Botox for weight loss as one of the latest and most important non-surgical medical solutions available today.

In this complete guide, we will take you on a detailed journey to learn everything about this new procedure, so you can make your decision with full confidence and book your appointment with consultant in bariatric and laparoscopic surgery for a new, healthier, and fitter life.

What is the Gastric Botox for Weight Loss?

Although many people call it a surgery, it is actually a non-surgical procedure done completely using a stomach endoscope (a thin camera tube) through the mouth.

The idea simply relies on injecting Botox (botulinum toxin)—which is the same safe material used in beauty clinics to relax muscles—into the stomach wall; this injection works to relax the stomach muscles responsible for squeezing and pushing food into the intestines.

This slows down the digestion process and keeps food inside the stomach for a longer time, which leads to feeling full for very long periods with small amounts of food.

Medical uses for gastric Botox

The use of gastric Botox is not just limited to weight loss as a cosmetic goal, but it also has important medical uses aimed at improving the quality of life, including:

  • Helping first-degree obesity patients lose weight before their condition gets worse and turns into severe obesity.
  • Reducing the chances of getting diseases linked to weight gain, like joint pain, high blood pressure, and early stages of diabetes.
  • Breaking the weight plateau (when weight stops dropping) for people who are following diets and have reached a stage where weight loss has completely stopped.

Stages and steps of the gastric Botox procedure

This technique is known for being fast and easy, as the session does not take more than 15 to 25 minutes, and it is done in the following steps:

Preparation and anesthesia:

The patient is given a simple calming medicine or a local numbing spray in the throat to ensure they do not feel any discomfort.

Inserting the endoscope:

The doctor inserts a thin medical endoscope equipped with a camera through the mouth down to the stomach.

Finding injection points:

The inside of the stomach is checked carefully, and strategic points in the stomach wall are chosen (mostly in the bottom of the stomach and part of its body).

Injection:

The Botox material is injected into those specific points to reduce muscle movement and limit the release of the hunger hormone.

Finishing and waking up:

The endoscope is pulled out, and the patient wakes up right away to go home on the same day and live their life completely normally.

The right person for the gastric Botox procedure

To ensure you get the best results and do not waste your time and money, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sayegh in his clinic in Riyadh makes sure to evaluate each case carefully.

This procedure suits you if you:

  • Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 27 and 35 (extra weight ranging between 10 to 20 kilograms above the ideal weight).
  • Do not suffer from chronic stomach diseases like active ulcers or severe stomach inflammation.
  • Have failed to lose weight using traditional ways and exercise.
  • Do not want or are not suited for major obesity surgeries like the gastric sleeve or bypass.

Required preparations before the gastric Botox procedure

Preparing for this procedure is very simple and does not require staying in the hospital.

The instructions are limited to:

  • Completely fasting from eating and drinking for 8 to 12 hours before the endoscopy appointment.
  • Telling the doctor about all the medicines you take, especially blood thinners (which the doctor might ask you to stop taking days before the procedure to avoid any bleeding).
  • Doing some simple routine blood tests to check your general health condition.

When does the effect of gastric Botox start?

After leaving the clinic, you will not feel an immediate loss of appetite at that exact moment; the effect of Botox starts to show gradually after 3 to 7 days from the injection.

You will notice that you reach the feeling of fullness after eating very small amounts of food and that your feeling of hunger between meals has dropped significantly and noticeably.

This effective result lasts for a period ranging from 4 to 6 months, which is enough time to fix your eating habits and lose the target weight.

What are the expectations from the gastric Botox procedure?

Expectations must be realistic to ensure you are happy with the results.

Gastric Botox for weight loss helps you lose between 10% to 15% of your total weight during the six months (the period the material is active).

Meaning, if your weight is 90 kilograms, you are expected to lose about 10 to 15 kilograms.

To reach the maximum of these expectations, you must consider Botox a strong helping tool and use the period of blocked appetite to stick to a healthy diet prepared for you by the doctor.

What should you pay attention to and consider after the gastric Botox procedure?

The success of the procedure relies heavily on what you do after leaving the clinic.

Here are the most important instructions:

In the first days:

Rely on liquids and mashed or very soft foods to avoid tiring the stomach.

Avoid very hot liquids:

In the first week, it is better to avoid very hot drinks because they might negatively affect the Botox material's effectiveness.

Type of food:

Stay away from liquid sugars (like sweetened juices and soft drinks) and high-fat fast food, because they pass easily from the stomach and give the body high calories that cancel the procedure's effect.

Drinking water:

Keep the body hydrated by drinking enough amounts of water between meals.

Does gastric Botox need general anesthesia?

The clear answer is no.

One of the most important features that push many people to choose this procedure is not needing general anesthesia (being put completely to sleep).

The procedure is done using what is known as "conscious sedation" or a light IV calming medicine, along with a local numbing spray for the throat.

The patient is completely relaxed and does not feel pain but breathes normally and does not need breathing machines, which makes it very safe.

Risks and side effects of gastric Botox

The procedure is highly safe and medically approved, but like any medical procedure, there are minor and temporary side effects that might happen to some patients, such as:

  • A mild feeling of nausea in the first days.
  • Mild stomach pain or light cramps that go away with normal painkillers.

In very rare cases, a small bleed or scratch in the stomach wall might happen because of the endoscope. But with an experienced and careful doctor, these risks are almost zero.

The difference between gastric sleeve and gastric Botox

Patients often hesitate and ask about the difference between the two choices.

The comparison here relies on the nature of the procedure and its goal:

Gastric Sleeve:

It is a permanent surgical procedure where about 80% of the stomach size is surgically removed using a laparoscope.

It is used in cases of severe obesity (body mass index above 35 or 40).

The patient needs a recovery period and must stick to taking vitamins, but it guarantees a very large weight loss (more than 60% of extra weight).

Gastric Botox:

It is a non-surgical and temporary procedure (lasts for 6 months), with no removal or change in the stomach's shape; it is used for average weights and mild weight gain.

The patient does not need a recovery period or to take vitamins continuously by force.

Which is better: gastric sleeve or gastric Botox?

There is no absolute best choice; rather, there is the most suitable choice for your condition.

If your weight is over 100 kilos and you suffer from chronic diseases, the sleeve is your final solution.

But if you suffer from just a 15-kilo weight gain and fail at doing diets, Botox is the magical and safe solution for you.

The smartest step you can take now is not to leave yourself confused. Book your consultation with Dr.

Abdulrahman Al-Sayegh so he can evaluate your body mass index, your medical history, and your lifestyle. He will guide you with complete medical honesty toward the procedure that will change your life and achieve your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can the stomach be injected with Botox again?

Yes, absolutely.

Since the effect of Botox fades away after about 6 months, the patient can have a second or third injection if they need more time to reach their ideal weight, provided there is a proper time gap decided by the doctor.

2. Does the Botox injection cause complete paralysis of the stomach?

No, not at all.

The Botox material is injected in very carefully measured amounts and into specific muscles.

It works to reduce squeezing and slow down emptying, but it does not stop the stomach's work or digestion completely in any way.

3. Is there pain after finishing the injection using the endoscope?

The procedure is painless.

The patient might only feel mild dryness or a slight sore throat as a result of the endoscope passing through.

This feeling disappears within a few hours by drinking warm drinks.

In the end, we can say that using gastric Botox for weight loss has changed the rules of the game in the world of obesity treatment for average weights.

It offers you a golden chance to control your appetite and build healthy eating habits without pain, without surgery, and without a recovery period that gets in the way of your daily life.

If you are ready to say goodbye to failed diets and start seeing a real change in your size and health, do not hesitate.

Contact us today to book your appointment with Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sayegh in Riyadh, and let us help you draw your path toward fitness with total safety and professionalism.