Dr. Manoel Galvao Neto

Bariatric Surgeon specializing in Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty

Dr. Manoel Galvao Neto is one of the forefathers of Bariatric Endoscopy. A field he has helped create and been crafting for the last 20 years that now is one of the essential fields in obesity medicine.

On this journey, he published hundreds of scientific articles in the most important medical journals, books in three different languages, and thousands of presentations in medical meetings worldwide. He also helped develop devices and methods currently used in the clinical practice of bariatric endoscopy, like intragastric balloons and the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (Endo Sleeve).

He also helped create the most used methods to endoscopically treat bariatric surgery complications sparing the patients from needing further surgery.

Not just developing those methods, Dr. Galvao Neto has treated thousands of patients and trained hundreds of doctors all over the world

You can check his biography published in Obesity Surgery, one of the most important journals in weight loss surgery.

Professional Experience & Education

  • Head of Bariatric Endoscopy service at EOC, Mexico
  • Clinical professor of gastroenterology and surgery at SAIMS University, Indore, India
  • Affiliate Professor of Surgery at ABC College of Medicine, Santo Andre, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Head of Bariatric Endoscopy service at Mohak Bariatric Center, Indore, India
  • Scientific Director at Endovitta Institute Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Director of Innovation at International Bariatric Club – IBC, Oxford, England
  • “Surgical Innovation Award” Recipient by ASBMS in 2015, USA
  • International Committee member at ASGE, USA
  • Flexible Endoscopy Committee member at SAGES, USA
  • Bariatric (Endoscopy) Committee member at AFS, USA
  • Editorial Board member of Obesity Surgery, Surgical Laparoscopy Endoscopy & Percutaneous Technique, Bariatric Times and Archives of Gastroenterology
  • International Fellow of ASMBS – FASMBS
  • International Fellow of ASGE – FASGE
  • First Chairman of Bariatric Endoscopy Committee at International Federation for Surgery of Obesity – IFSO at its creation
  • Past Advisory Board Member of Association of Bariatric Endoscopy –ABE (ASGE division) at its creation
  • Past Chairman of Bariatric Endoscopy Nucleus at Brazilian society of Endoscopy and Brazilian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery – IFSO

Certifications

  • MD from Bahia Medical School in Brazil
  • Master in Digestive Surgery from Sao Pauli University, Brazil
  • Board-certified (Brazilian) specialist in Digestive Surgery (CBCD),
  • Gastroenterology (FBG), and Digestive Endoscopy (SOBED)

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty FAQ

Learn about the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) and if it’s the right procedure to help you reach your weight loss goals.

What is the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)?

The Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is a new weight loss procedure done by endoscopy where a flexible device called an endoscope with a high-definition camera is introduced into the patient’s mouth throughout the esophagus until it reaches the stomach. Once in the stomach, the surgeon will apply stitches to it by using an attached endoscopic suturing machine, significantly reducing the stomach’s size and volume by 50% or more.

There are no incisions or cuts and the stomach will not be cut or bypassed. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and lasts around 30 to 50 minutes (the procedure itself) plus the anesthesia induction and recovery time.

How much does this procedure cost?

See our pricing page.

Who can have this procedure?

Qualifications for this surgery should be discussed with one of our coordinators. Please contact us to see if you qualify.

Exceptionally, and under individual evaluation it can be used in very high BMI to bridge the patient to a safer BMI to have surgery or in patients with conditions that prevent surgery. 

How does the pre-op diet / preparation differ from other surgeries?

The pre-op diet and preparation is shorter and less restrictive consisting of 24 hours of liquid diet, two weeks of protein pump inhibitors (Like Omeprazole), and 8 hours fasting on the day prior to the procedure.

The use of blood thinners, compression socks, and other medications or measures follow specific guidelines and will be informed individually.

What should I expect on the day of the procedure?

You will spend one night in the hospital. Some mild pain and nausea are expected and last around 6 to 18 hours but you will be on medication. When discharged, the patient will go to the EOC hotel to complete the recovery. Full recovery is expected in one week, but patients can safely travel in 3-4 days.

How does the post-op diet differ from the other surgeries?

You will follow the same post-op diet we recommend for all weight loss surgery options.

How much weight loss should I expect?

The results we achieve with our patients show a loss of around 15 to 20% of the total weight that can be translated into around 50-60% loss of excess weight.

As with any other weight loss procedures, there are responders and not responders. In one of our studies, we show a responder rate of 84% in the two-year follow-up. A recent publication had also shown less weight loss but non-inferiority when compared to sleeve gastrectomy up to three years follow-up.

Is Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty a surgery?

Yes. Though less invasive than a traditional incision based surgery, it is surgery via the mouth without incision or cutting the stomach.

How long has this surgery been performed?

Dr. Manoel Galvao and other pioneers of Endoscopic Gastroplasty started performing it in 2012. The endoscopic suture itself has been in use since 2010.

What are the complications?

Endoscopic procedures are even less invasive than laparoscopic procedures with less number of complications. The overall complication rate among all studies published ranges around 2 to 2.5%. In EOC, our own publications show less than 1%.

Any procedures that involve suture can have bleeding and perforations but these complications are rare and can most of the time be solved by endoscopy itself and in even rarer cases by laparoscopy.