Endoscopic visceral fat removal

Question

Having spent time researching visceral fat removal, I believe there have been trials on mice, to remove visceral fat using an endoscope. Will this treatment ever be trialed on humans and if so, how safe and effective could it be?

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Far more important than the technique is the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon. Choose your surgeon rather than the technique and let them explain why one technique may be better than another. See the below link on some suggestions on finding the most qualified Plastic Surgeon for you. Always insist on a board certified plastic surgeon.

Erik Miles, MD, FACS · Answer

Visceral fat surrounds the blood supply to your intestines and other organs. It is not easily removed, even if a surgeon had direct visualization of the abdomen.  Weight loss is the only reliable method to remove visceral fat. Discuss your concerns with a weight-loss specialist or bariatric surgeon. Best wishes to you.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Diet and exercise remain the best way to remove visceral fat. Liposuction can sometimes make this worse. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a bariatric doctor or dietitian. Best, Dr. Emer

Jeremy S. Hurren, BSc, MBBS, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Visceral fat is sadly not something that current technology allows us to remove surgically. Diet and exercise or life style change remains the standard advice for reducing it.The prospect of removing this fat laparoscopically is fascinating. Needless to say the risks of fat removal from around the bowel is considerable. Damage to the bowel will result in peritonitis and damage to the blood vessels that supply the bowel could result in catastrophic death of part or large parts of the bowel. Most plastic surgeons are not trained in laparoscopic surgery so it would be a general surgeon who potentially could consider this type of operation. I am not aware of anyone doing this at present and as I have suggested the risks are considerably greater than for liposuction.I suspect that the most surgeons would take the view that the risk benefits do not justify the surgery. It is possible that a fat dissolving drug may be developed that could be injected laparoscopically. Although these are now being used for fat under the skin I think we are a long way off injecting them into a potentially critical area such as around the bowel.In short I suspect we will develop more effective drugs that we can take by mouth to control visceral fat before we develop the surgery to remove it (which will then be unnecessary anyway).It remains a fascinating possibility but I doubt it will happen in the near future if ever.After thought.Removal of the greater omentum, which is largely fat and contributes to intra-abdominal fat, would be  relatively simple for a laparoscopic surgeon. However, I suspect that large amounts of  fat would remain in the mesentery of the bowel and in the retroperitoneal area such that the results would be modest and the risk benefits not favourable.Congratulations on a great question!Best wishes

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

There is nothing on the horizon of that nature. Bariatric surgery would be the answer if diet and exercise cannot or have not helped.

Endoscopic visceral fat removal

Answers (5)

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