Laparoscopic Gastric Plication (LGP) 

Overview

Laparoscopic gastric plication is a weight-loss procedure where your surgeon folds your stomach inward to make it smaller. This helps you eat less and feel full faster. 

Candidates

Patients often consider LGP because it costs less than similar surgeries like Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and produces noticeable short-term weight loss, with patients losing 35% to 77.1% of their excess weight in the first year.

Is this procedure effective?  

While weight loss results might seem promising, there are several issues associated with this procedure that must be considered. 

Less durability:  LGP produces less durable weight loss than other bariatric procedures. Excess weight loss drops from approximately 70% at one year to just 40% after ten years. 

Weight Regain and Reoperation: ~30% of patients regain significant weight over time, and 10.2% require a second operation. 

No effect on Diabetes Type 2: Diabetic patients who got LGP showed no significant improvement after the procedure

How Does it Work?  

The stomach is folded inward and stitched in place through small incisions in your abdomen. This reduces your stomach's size, so you feel full faster and eat less. Unlike other weight loss surgeries, this procedure does not involve removing any part of your stomach or rerouting your intestines. 

Common Misconceptions

LGP is the same as endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.  

While they are similar in concept, LGP folds the stomach from the outside and includes making surgical cuts on the abdomen. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, on the other hand, is done entirely through the mouth and the stomach is folded from the inside. 

LGP is a definitive solution for obesity.   

The procedure does not provide long-term weight loss, and weight regain is high.  

It replaces healthy habits.  

LGP is not enough alone. Long‑term success still depends on diet, exercise and behavioral therapy.  

Risks

Gastric plication carries a higher complication rate than similar weight-loss surgeries. About 1 in 3 patients (32%) experience some form of complication. 

Most complications are mild (~29%). You may experience nausea, vomiting, excess drooling, or minor bleeding. These typically resolve within a few days without intervention. 

Serious complications are less common (~7%) but may require further intervention. These include stomach blockage, the folded stomach wall slipping out of place, or severe bleeding.