Heartburn Relief Surgery & TIF Specialist
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SkyLex Health
Carson Liu, MD, FACS
Weight Loss Physician & General Surgeon located in Marina Del Rey, CA & Orange County, Tustin, CA
When chronic heartburn, or GERD. cannot be controlled with medication and other approaches, Dr. Liu can perform heartburn relief surgery to eliminate symptoms and protect the esophagus. As a leading Santa Monica and Los Angeles, CA, area doctor, Dr. Liu is skilled in state-of-the-art surgical techniques for patients with stubborn GERD.
Heartburn Relief Surgery & TIF Q & A
What causes heartburn symptoms?
Heartburn symptoms occur when stomach acid flows backward into your esophagus, causing painful burning sensations. When it occurs chronically, it's called gastrointestinal reflux disease, or GERD. Normally, stomach acid is kept in the stomach by the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), an opening located between the esophagus and the stomach. But sometimes, stomach acid flows backward. Many factors can trigger heartburn symptoms, including spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, pregnancy and obesity. People who have a medical condition called hiatal hernia can also develop GERD and studies have shown smoking can relax the LES and make GERD more likely.
Is GERD dangerous?
While some people can control their heartburn symptoms using medication and lifestyle changes like avoiding foods that cause heartburn, in others, GERD can cause problems like scarring and narrowing of the esophagus, or result in tissue changes in the lining of the esophagus. This is a condition called Barrett's esophagus, and it can be a precursor to esophageal cancer. The best way to know if your chronic heartburn is causing serious issues in your esophagus is by having an endoscopic exam that allows the doctor to look at your esophagus and stomach using a flexible tube inserted through your mouth while you're sedated.
What types of GERD surgery does Dr. Liu offer?
When surgery is needed, Dr. Liu uses one of two procedures – Toupet fundoplication or transoral incisions fundoplication (TIF). In Toupet fundoplication, a portion of the stomach is repositioned to “wrap around” the esophagus, preventing stomach acid from traveling backward through the opening called the lower esophageal sphincter. The procedure can be performed laparoscopically through a small incision in the abdomen. In TIF, the fundoplication procedure is performed through the mouth using a special flexible instrument called an endoscope -- no incisions are needed.
ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos
Dr. Carson Liu on Good Morning America: Health explains a new non-invasive surgery to treat acid reflux and heartburn.
Words from our patients
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"There are no words really...you are saving my life."
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“Dr. Liu has always been caring and very thorough in his explanations. He is never short or unwilling to listen to my concerns.”
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“Dr. Liu is a phenomenal weight loss surgeon, who has helped me on my way to a healthy weight loss of 50 pounds and counting. Thank you Dr. Liu!”
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“I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dr. Liu and his staff. Thank you for giving me a new beginning.”
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“Dr. Carson Liu...Wow! The best comment I can give him is that I would let him work on my two daughters who I love extremely.”
