At Baptist Health, our team is always looking for new ways to help you lose weight and regain your sense of well-being. Even if you gain weight after surgery, we can help. We are one of few programs in Kentucky offering Apollo OverStitch™. This minimally invasive endoscopic procedure helps get your weight loss back on track using an incisionless approach.

Apollo OverStitch is a revisional bariatric procedure done after previous weight loss surgery. It uses an innovative device to reduce (revise) your pouch back to its previous size. 

What Is the Apollo OverStitch Procedure?

If your stomach pouch stretches out after weight loss surgery, Apollo OverStitch can help make it smaller. This treatment works by stitching your stomach pouch back to the size it was after your original weight loss surgery. 

Apollo OverStitch is different from other revision surgeries, such as gastric sleeve revision, because it requires no incisions. Instead, we access and revise your pouch by sliding a special device down your throat (endoscopy). Endoscopic techniques lower your risk for complications, such as infections, and help you return to daily activities in as little as 48 hours.

How does the Apollo Overstitch Procedure Work?

The apollo overstitch procedure is done by inserting a small endoscope with suturing devices through your mouth. The endoscope and devices are navigated into your stomach. Your doctors will then stitch the rim of your stomach outlet, reducing the diameter. A similar procedure can be performed to reduce the volume capacity of your stomach pouch. The apollo overstitch procedure is also called weight loss revision surgery.

Benefits of Apollo OverStitch weight loss revision surgery 

The benefits of Apollo OverStitch include: 

• No incisions: OverStitch uses an innovative device that allows us to access your stomach pouch without making any incisions. Instead, we slide the device along with a special camera down your throat. By avoiding incisions, you have a more comfortable recovery and quicker return to daily activities.
• Long-lasting results: The OverStitch device allows us to accurately place multiple rows of stitches through all layers of your intestines. Being able to secure pouch tissue in this manner reduces the risk of it stretching out again and gives you the best possible chances for continued weight loss. 

Risks and Disadvantages

As with any medical procedure, there are risks and disadvantages associated with Apollo OverStitch, which include:

• Having a medical condition that prevents you from having Apollo OverStitch: If you have medical conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or an abnormal narrowing in the tube connecting your throat and stomach (esophagus), you may not be able to have Apollo OverStitch. We use a simple test to make sure your esophagus is healthy enough for an endoscopic procedure.

Every medical procedure comes with certain risks and disadvantages, including Apollo Overstitch.

Risks and disadvantages include:

• Complications from surgery.
• Does not address underlying eating habits.
• Does not address underlying psychological weight issues.
• Unclear long-term results.
• General anesthesia can make some people sick.
• Pre-and-post-surgery food restrictions.
• Post-surgery weakness.
• Persistent feeling of fullness.

Another disadvantage is that it is possible to regain your weight in the future.

Apollo OverStitch at Baptist Health 

At Baptist Health, we’ve built our bariatric program around giving you everything you need to be successful. Even when things don’t go as planned, we offer specialized care and support that includes some of today’s most promising treatments. 

Highlights of our program include: 

• Surgical expertise: Weight loss revision surgery is more complex than standard weight loss surgery and requires a higher level of expertise. Through years of practice, our dedicated bariatric surgeons have earned excellent reputations for their attention to safety and superior results for advanced treatments like Apollo OverStitch.
• Outcomes: Living a healthy lifestyle after surgery requires changes that are sometimes hard to keep. Our commitment to helping you overcome challenges is one of the reasons our patients meet their weight loss goals.
• Complete care: We take extra steps to provide you with the information and encouragement you need to lose weight and improve your health. Your care includes personalized nutrition recommendations, access to our Baptist Health fitness centers and monthly support group meetings.

If Apollo OverStitch is for You, Here's What to Expect

1. We give you medicine to help you fall asleep and not feel any sensation during the procedure (general anesthesia). 
2. We pass a tube (endoscope) with a tiny, lighted camera at the tip down your throat. The camera provides real-time video monitoring of the surgical area and ensures a safe and accurate procedure.
3. The OverStitch endoscopic suturing system also attaches to the tip of the endoscope. 
4. Using the camera and the OverStitch device, we make the stomach pouch and the connection between the pouch and the lower part of your intestines smaller with rows of tiny stiches. 
5. After making your pouch smaller, we use the camera to make sure everything is accurate. 
6. We complete the procedure by removing the endoscope and OverStitch device.
7. During recovery, you receive regular follow-up care from our team. With each visit, we give you information and support toward healthy lifestyle habits. Learn more about education and support.
8. Having to pay out-of-pocket: Apollo OverStitch is often not covered by insurance. If you would like to receive this treatment, you will likely need to cover all of your medical costs. Baptist Health offers self-pay rates to help make this treatment more affordable.

Is Apollo OverStitch Right for Me?

If you have not been able to keep unwanted pounds off after weight loss surgery, a revision procedure such as Apollo OverStitch may be right for you. We work with you to learn about your challenges, circumstances and medical history, and decide together if OverStitch can help. 

We want you to feel confident in your decision, which is why we also ask you to consider the risks and benefits of Apollo OverStitch surgery. Our surgeon, nurses and other experts discuss this information with you in detail before your procedure.