Non-surgical weight loss treatment now available at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital
Posted May 27, 2026 1:42 pm.
Last Updated May 27, 2026 8:41 pm.
A non-surgical weight loss option for Albertans with obesity is now available at a hospital in Edmonton.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, a procedure described as minimally invasive, reduces the stomach size by suturing it internally. It makes patients feel full with less food, leading to weight loss and a reduction in conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
Medical professionals are calling it a “significant advancement” in weight-loss surgery.
“Especially for patients who don’t qualify for traditional bariatric surgery or prefer a less invasive option,” said Dr. Noah Switzer, an upper gastrointestinal and bariatric surgeon, in a Wednesday news release.
“Rather than having a complex surgery requiring extensive recovery, patients have access to technology that requires no cuts or incisions that allows them to go home the same or next day.”
The Royal Alex is the only facility in Alberta where the procedure is performed. Eight have been completed since December.
Mary-Ann Thurber, 65, had the procedure done in February.
“I am sleeping better, I have more energy and ultimately feel better equipped and motivated to manage my weight without the help of appetite suppression medication,” she said.
