Botox is a kind of toxin and temporarily inhibits contractions by blocking the muscles in the area where it is applied. When applied to the stomach, it acts on the striated muscles of the stomach and blocks contraction. In this way, it slows down the digestion in the stomach and, accordingly, provides a longer period of satiety. It is injected into the last part of the stomach and the top part called fundus. With the fundus injection, the signaling of the Ghrelin hormone secreted from this region is interrupted and it becomes easier to control the appetite after the procedure. In other words, after the procedure, appetite decreases and a feeling of fullness is experienced for a longer time.
Stomach botox is applied under sedation in the endoscopy unit without feeling any pain. The amount of botox applied to individuals varies between 500-1000 IU. The process takes about 15-20 minutes. It is possible to be discharged from the hospital on the same day.
After this application, which has very few side effects, it may be necessary to control several times. However, the successful results of the application generally depend on the patient’s will and healthy nutrition. It is certain that it has an effect on appetite, but it is not as appetite suppressant as sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass. It is more accurate to apply Botox not to extremely obese people, but to those with a body mass index of 27-35.
The effect of stomach botox starts 72 hours after the procedure and lasts for about 4-6 months. After Botox application, the period of weight loss is extended with regular nutrition and regular exercise. Weight loss is not as fast and intense as in surgical applications. Stomach botox motivates more people to eat more regularly.
Stomach botox can be easily applied to people who cannot achieve satisfactory results in previous diet attempts, who need new motivational resources to help diet, who have a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 and above, or who are in the obese class but do not prefer surgical interventions.
