What is Stomach Botox?
Stomach botox is a procedure in which botulinum toxin (Botox®) is injected into the muscle layer of the stomach wall using an endoscopic method. Theoretically, this procedure aims to reduce the contraction of the stomach muscles, delay stomach emptying, and thereby extend the feeling of fullness to promote weight loss.
However, botulinum toxin is primarily a neurotoxin, and there is insufficient scientific data supporting its effectiveness for weight loss. International health authorities and scientific guidelines do not recognize stomach botox as an approved weight loss method.
Is Stomach Botox Scientifically Approved?
No.
In the European Union and the United States, stomach botox is not an accepted method for obesity treatment.
International guidelines, such as those from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), do not include this procedure.
Additionally, the product brochures of commercial botox products used in the stomach do not include indications for obesity treatment.
Is Stomach Botox Performed at Our Clinic?
No.
Stomach botox is not performed at our clinic.
In 2005, I published an experimental study in the scientific journal “Obesity Surgery,” reporting findings that stomach botox might be effective. However, subsequent human studies have shown that it does not provide long-term effects and its reliability is questionable. Therefore, stomach botox is considered a procedure lacking scientific foundation.
In 2024, I published a new study detailing the adverse outcomes following stomach botox in Turkey.
You can access the articles from the links below.
Statement from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey on Stomach Botox
On March 11, 2023, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey issued a press release regarding stomach botox procedures.
In the statement;
- Although the products used in these procedures are “import approval,”
- Injecting them into the stomach is considered an off-label use,
- And it has been stated that the complication rates associated with these procedures are increasing.
Therefore, patients are advised to be aware and cautious about such procedures that lack scientific validity and to seek support from clinics that offer approaches aligned with scientific guidelines.
