Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) in Tijuana
Incisionless Apollo OverStitch ESG at Obesity Control Center — reduce stomach volume by approximately 70–80% without incisions, scars, or permanent removal for significant, sustained weight loss.
~17%
Total Body Weight Loss at 12 months¹
~49%
Excess Weight Loss at 12 months²
0
Incisions or external scars
<24h
Typical hospital stay
Understanding ESG: incisionless. reversible. proven.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty uses the Apollo Endosurgery OverStitch system to place full-thickness sutures along the stomach wall — reshaping it into a narrow sleeve without removing any tissue. The entire procedure is performed through the mouth, under sedation, in 45–90 minutes.
Zero incisions, zero external scars
Performed entirely through an endoscope via the mouth.
FDA-authorized for BMI 30–50
Apollo ESG System cleared July 2022 (K213708).⁷
Outpatient · same-day discharge
Most patients return to desk work within 2–3 days.
Reversible · no stapling
No tissue is removed; anatomy is preserved.
Peer-reviewed evidence at 12 months and beyond
ESG has been studied across multiple randomized trials and large meta-analyses. The numbers below summarize the most-cited outcomes — full citations are listed in the References section.
Weight Loss Trajectory
% Total Body Weight Loss (mean, published cohorts)
Sources: MERIT Trial (Lancet 2022)¹, Hedjoudje meta-analysis (CGH 2020)², Sharaiha 5-yr (CGH 2021)³. Results vary.
Comorbidity Improvement
Patients showing meaningful clinical improvement at 12 months
Type 2 Diabetes improvement
80%
Significant HbA1c reduction in ESG cohorts³
Hypertension improvement
75%
Mean SBP reductions of 7–10 mmHg reported⁴
Dyslipidemia improvement
65%
Improved triglycerides and LDL profiles⁴
Sleep apnea improvement
70%
Reductions in AHI alongside weight loss⁵
~1–2.6%
Serious adverse event rate (MERIT, meta-analysis)
0
Procedure-related deaths in major published ESG cohorts
94%
Patients meeting ≥5% TBWL at 12 months¹
How does ESG compare?
ESG sits between lifestyle/medication therapy and surgical bariatric procedures — offering meaningful, durable weight loss without the anatomical commitment of surgery or the lifelong cost of GLP-1s.
| Feature | ESG (Apollo) | Sleeve Gastrectomy | GLP-1 Medications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incisions / Scars | None (endoscopic) | 5–6 small incisions | Daily/weekly injection |
| Stomach Anatomy | Preserved, reversible | ~80% permanently removed | Unchanged |
| Avg. % Total Body Weight Loss (12 mo) | ~13–17%¹ | ~25–30% | ~15% (semaglutide)⁶ |
| Procedure Time | 45–90 min | 60–120 min | N/A |
| Hospital Stay | Outpatient / <24h | 1–2 nights | N/A |
| Return to Work | 2–3 days | 1–2 weeks | Same day |
| Major Complication Rate | ~1–2.6%¹ | ~2–5% | GI side effects common |
| Lifetime Cost | One-time | One-time | $10–15k+ per year⁶ |
| Ideal BMI Range | 30–50 | 35+ | 27+ |
Comparison reflects published averages; individual results vary. See References.
World-class care at 60–75% lower cost
Obesity Control Center's all-inclusive ESG package covers the procedure, hospital fees, surgeon and anesthesia, pre-op labs, hotel coordination, transport, and 5-year follow-up via MyProgressMD.
ESG in United States
Often not covered by insurance
$15,000 – $22,000
Bariatric Surgery (US, self-pay)
Plus follow-up
$20,000 – $35,000
GLP-1 Medication (5 yr)
Lifelong therapy⁶
$50,000 – $75,000
ESG at OCC Tijuana (all-inclusive)
Procedure + hospital + follow-up
$5,500 – $7,500
Prices are estimates as of 2025. Final pricing confirmed after evaluation.
Average savings: $10k–$50k+
vs. equivalent US ESG, surgery, or 5-year GLP-1 therapy.
Get my personalized quoteWhy patients choose Obesity Control Center
Dr. Ariel Ortiz
Pioneer in bariatric endoscopy with 25,000+ weight-loss procedures and global teaching faculty for Apollo Endosurgery.
JCI Accredited Hospital
Joint Commission International accreditation — the gold standard for global hospital quality and safety.
MyProgressMD Integration
Mobile follow-up platform for 5 years post-procedure: nutrition, mental health, milestones.
Combine with Magnetic
Option to upgrade or pair ESG with OCC's proprietary Magnetic procedure for synergistic outcomes.
From evaluation to lifelong follow-up
Free Online Evaluation
Submit your medical history and goals. Our team reviews candidacy within 24 hours.
Personal Care Coordinator
Dedicated bilingual coordinator handles logistics, transport, and accommodations.
Pre-Op Workup in Tijuana
Labs, endoscopy assessment, nutrition consult — all on arrival day.
ESG Procedure
Apollo OverStitch ESG performed under sedation. 45–90 min. Outpatient.
Recovery & Discharge
Liquid diet protocol, same-day or next-morning discharge. Return to work in 2–3 days.
5-Year Follow-Up
Integrated MyProgressMD support, nutrition, and check-ins for sustained results.
Generalized outcomes from our patient community
Names and locations changed for privacy. Individual results vary based on adherence to nutrition and lifestyle protocols.
"I lost 52 lbs in the first year with ESG at OCC. No scars, back to work in 3 days. The care team felt like family."
Maria L.
Texas, USA
"After years of yo-yo dieting, ESG gave me a real tool. Down 41 lbs at 9 months and my A1c is back in range."
James R.
California, USA
"The all-inclusive package was less than half what I was quoted at home. Dr. Ortiz and the JCI facility were world-class."
Sandra P.
Ontario, Canada
Everything you want to know about ESG
Educational answers grounded in peer-reviewed literature. Still curious? Tap the AI Assistant in the corner — or book a free consult.
Book a Free ConsultationESG is a minimally invasive, incisionless weight-loss procedure performed entirely through the mouth using an endoscope. The Apollo OverStitch suturing system places full-thickness sutures along the greater curvature of the stomach, reducing its volume by approximately 70–80% and reshaping it into a tube. No part of the stomach is removed.
Peer-reviewed sources
All clinical claims on this page are drawn from the following published studies, regulatory documents, and meta-analyses.
- 1.Abu Dayyeh BK, et al. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for treatment of class 1 and 2 obesity (MERIT): a prospective, multicentre, randomised trial. The Lancet. 2022;400(10350):441-451. View source ↗
- 2.Hedjoudje A, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;18(5):1043-1053. View source ↗
- 3.Sharaiha RZ, et al. Five-Year Outcomes of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty for the Treatment of Obesity. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;19(5):1051-1057. View source ↗
- 4.Lopez-Nava G, et al. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty for Obesity: A Multicenter Study of 1000 Consecutive Patients. Obes Surg. 2021. View source ↗
- 5.Jirapinyo P, et al. Effect of Endoscopic Bariatric and Metabolic Therapies on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022. View source ↗
- 6.Wilding JPH, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1). NEJM. 2021;384:989-1002. View source ↗
- 7.U.S. FDA. 510(k) Premarket Notification K213708 — Apollo ESG System. July 2022. View source ↗
Take the first step toward sustained, scar-free weight loss.
Submit the form and a patient coordinator at Obesity Control Center will personally review your candidacy for Apollo ESG within 24 hours.
+1 (619) 270-8823
info@obesitycontrolcenter.com
JCI Accredited · Tijuana, México