Gastric botox is the endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin into the muscle layer of the stomach. By temporarily slowing muscular contraction it delays gastric emptying, so the feeling of fullness lasts longer. The effect lasts 4 to 6 months and is not permanent. It is generally considered in patients with a body mass index between 27 and 35 who have not reached the surgical threshold. It is meaningful only alongside nutritional follow-up, not on its own.
Gastric botox is one of the most misunderstood procedures in obesity treatment. Some take it for a "sleeve without surgery", others say it does nothing at all. The truth sits between the two: it works in the right patient and wastes time in the wrong one. You can work out your own body mass index on the BMI calculator page.
What Is Gastric Botox?
Botulinum toxin temporarily blocks the nerve signal that causes muscle contraction. In gastric botox this substance is injected endoscopically into the muscle layer of the stomach, usually at several points in the lower part known as the antrum.
The aim is to reduce the force of gastric contraction. As contraction slows, the stomach empties later and food stays in it longer. The result is a longer-lasting feeling of fullness and less hunger between meals.
How Is It Performed?
The procedure resembles a gastroscopy. Under light sedation, an endoscope passed through the mouth allows the inside of the stomach to be seen and the injections to be made with a special needle. No incision is made and no stitches are placed. It usually takes 15 to 20 minutes and the patient goes home the same day.
The effect is not immediate; it is generally felt from the first week and is most marked around the third week.
Who Is It For?
- Patients with a body mass index between 27 and 35, below the surgical threshold
- Patients who start a diet but cannot sustain it and struggle with portion control
- Patients who are eligible for surgery but are not considering it
- Patients whose comorbidities make operative risk high
It is not used where there is an active gastric ulcer or gastritis, previous stomach surgery, muscular disease, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Suitability is determined after examination and endoscopic assessment.
How Much Weight Is Lost?
Realistic expectations matter. Over the four to six months the effect lasts, an average loss of 8 to 15 kilograms is expected. That is lower than with a gastric balloon and markedly lower than with surgery.
More importantly, botox does not shed weight by itself. What it does is make it easier to cut portions and settle into a meal routine. If that easing is not combined with nutritional follow-up, four months later the patient is back where they started.
How It Differs from the Gastric Balloon?
Both are endoscopic and reversible, but they work differently:
- The gastric balloon physically occupies space in the stomach and reduces its volume directly. Its effect is stronger, averaging 15 to 25 kilograms. A second endoscopy is needed to remove it.
- Gastric botox does not change volume; it slows emptying. Its effect is milder, but there is none of the nausea and vomiting of the balloon's first days. No removal procedure is needed, as the effect wears off on its own.
Botox comes to the fore in patients wary of struggling to tolerate a device and wanting a gentler start; the balloon in those aiming for a more marked result.
What Happens Afterwards?
For a few days after the procedure there may be bloating, mild nausea and a feeling of fullness; these usually pass quickly. Nutrition is liquid on the first day and returns to normal gradually.
The effect ends on its own after 4 to 6 months. If the habits gained during that period are not kept up, the weight returns. The procedure can be repeated where appropriate, but a recurring need for botox usually signals that more durable options should be reconsidered.
Choosing the Right Patient for Endoscopic Procedures
Alongside bariatric and metabolic surgery, Op. Dr. Ersan Semerci also performs endoscopic weight-loss procedures. Gastric botox and the gastric balloon are options he considers in patients who have not reached the surgical threshold or who are not suitable candidates for an operation.
The real question here is not the procedure itself but who it will actually help. Having performed more than 3,000 bariatric surgery cases over his career, Dr. Semerci draws on that background to distinguish patients for whom an endoscopic procedure will suffice from those who should be directed towards surgery. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are a regular part of his practice.
Op. Dr. Ersan Semerci has practised in Mersin since 2010 and currently works at VM Medicalpark Mersin Hospital. The procedure and the nutritional follow-up that goes with it are carried out at this hospital.
Op. Dr. Ersan Semerci has practised in Mersin since 2010 and currently works at VM Medicalpark Mersin Hospital. Consultations and operations in Gastric Botox are carried out at this hospital. Patients travelling from Mersin and neighbouring provinces can book via WhatsApp.
Book on WhatsAppIs gastric botox an operation?
No. It is an endoscopic procedure with no incision and no stitches. It is therefore not classed as surgery and requires no recovery period.
How long does the effect last?
Generally 4 to 6 months. The effect of botulinum toxin is not permanent; once it wears off the stomach muscles return to their previous pattern.
Is the procedure painful?
It is performed under light sedation, so no pain is felt during it. Bloating and mild nausea may follow for a few days.
Which is more effective, botox or the balloon?
The gastric balloon produces more weight loss on average because it physically occupies space in the stomach. Botox has a milder effect but avoids the early adjustment problems. The choice follows the patient's goal and expectations.
Is it covered by insurance?
Gastric botox generally falls outside state health insurance cover in Turkey and is paid for by the patient. It is best to confirm the current position with the hospital.
The timeline from liquids to normal food, the protein target, the rule on fluids, lifelong supplements, and how to avoid regaining weight.
Answers to the most common questions about appointments, the hospital, treatment scope and surgical experience are in the FAQ section on the home page.
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For Obesity and related symptoms you can book an appointment at VM Medicalpark Mersin Hospital. Mezitli / Mersin, Turkey, weekdays 09:00-17:00.
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