Noted bariatric surgeon and pioneer of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, Dr. Paul Cirangle of the bariatric surgical practice Laparosopic Associates of San Francisco, is the first in San Francisco to perform StomaphyX™, incisionless weight loss surgery. The StomaphyX™ is a fastening device approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early 2007 that is inserted down the esophagus to the decrease the size of the stomach pouch.

StomaphyX™is for patients that have undergone either gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy or the duodenal switch and have not reached their goal weight due to setbacks ranging from an expanded pouch to post-operative complications. It is already gaining popularity due to its advantages.