Surgeons in region leading the way with revolution in weight-loss operations

The first operations are due to take place in January on severely obese patients using an approach to fit a "sleeve" which modifies the structure of the stomach to give people a feeling they are full after a smaller meal. Unlike other obesity surgery, the sleeve is fitted through the mouth, making it "incision-free".

Patients have no scarring and have a lower risk of complications as well as spending less time in hospital.

Evidence from pilot studies suggests patients undergoing the TOGA (trans-oral gastro-plasty) procedure lose up to 40 per cent of their excess weight within the first year.

Weight-loss surgeon Abeezar Sarela, of the Nuffield Hospital in Leeds, said: "We believe that there are many patients who are interested in pursuing a weight-loss procedure, but feel that existing interventions are too extreme – the TOGA procedure offers these patients a scar-free, less invasive alternative.

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All surgical procedures carried a risk of complications but with incisionless procedures the risks were "very small".

Initially patients would stay overnight in hospital but it was hoped they could leave the same day once the service was up and running.

In the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in bariatric surgery on severely-obese patients.

But there are fears the operation could be among the first victims of NHS spending cuts, even though it is cost-effective in tackling obesity-related complications as well as improving quality of life and life expectancy.

Matt Capehorn, clinical director at the National Obesity Forum and clinical manager at the Rotherham Institute for Obesity, said: "I can see that the TOGA procedure will be attractive to patients considering bariatric surgery as the 'incisionless' aspect means that the patient is left with no external scars.

"Initial clinical trials have also indicated that patients experience less pain and a more rapid recovery, which is significant when you consider the risks and complications that surgery poses for dangerously overweight individuals."

The procedure is suitable for overweight people with a body mass index of over 40 or over 35 if they have an obesity-related condition such as diabetes.