LA JOLLA — University of California, San Diego (UCSD) surgeons recently completed what is believed to be the nation’s first stomach reduction surgery via the mouth. The procedure, known as a sleeve gastrectomy, is a weight loss strategy by which patients will have the size of their stomach reduced by 80 percent. This will enable individuals to reduce their caloric intake and feel full more quickly. The Aug. 3 operation was the first time in the U.S. that this procedure was completed through the mouth instead of via a large incision. The procedure utilizes a hybrid laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. It is a minimally invasive option for weight loss reduction surgery and offers patients an option that will leave few scars, according to the university’s website. The sleeve gastrectomy is approximately a one-hour procedure. Five small incisions are made in the abdomen to allow for cameras and instruments to enter the stomach. However, the recovery time is much less than if a large incision was made and the post-surgery pain is also significantly reduced, according to the university.