The plication is similar to the very old stomach stapling. The outer curve of the stomach is imbricated (the middle is tucked in) and sutured to hold it there. The normal risks are associated with bleeding due to severing the blood supply to the outer stomach curve (it still has other blood supplies). I asked if there were higher risks of ulcers at the suture sites or problems with food getting stuck in the folds and was told no to both of those.
The plication is being done as a separate surgery. It is also being done as a combination surgery with the lap band. With the band, they are already doing a form of Plication when they surgeon pulls/folds part of the greater curve of the stomach up over the band and sutures to keep the band in place. In the band with Plication combination procedure, they go another step and fold the remainder of the outer curve of the stomach in, and suture. The end result is similar to a vertical gastric sleeve (without removing part of the stomach). The weight loss results are coming back to be higher than lapband alone (40-50% excess weight at 1-2 lbs per week), and more along the results of vertical sleeves (76% and a more rapid weight loss) (a higher % lost at a faster rate) than the band alone. It has the benefits of the vertical gastric sleeve without removing part of the stomach muscle.
Unlike the other surgeries, it is (somewhat) reversible in that the band can be removed and the sutures can be removed so that the stomach regains it's original size/shape.
How is everyone doing with the combination compared to lap band alone? Any info bad or good is welcome!
Randi