GASTRIC BALLOON

GASTRIC BALLOON FOR WEIGHT LOSS

In this article we are going to talk about and educate you on what Gastric Balloon is and its

importance as a weight loss procedure. As we all know gastric balloon is driven from the word

gastric and the balloon is as to how the silicon looks like. To be specific we have two types of gastric

balloons and they are all inserted into the stomach, one is a removable intragastric balloon and the

second one is a sswallowable intragastric balloon.

What is an intragastric balloon?

It’s a smooth, soft, and durable balloon made up of silicon rubber which is designed to be placed in

the stomach through the mouth, in order to reduce capacity and help you feel full with less food

being eaten. It is composed of saline solution which occupies enough space in the stomach, leaving

less room for food consumption. The main idea of the balloon is to help you lose weight by limiting

how much you eat. You will eat a smaller amount of food compared to your regular eating habits

and you will feel fuller for a longer period of time. With this procedure, the balloon will be in the

stomach for a maximum of 12 months and later removed by our doctor’s recommendation or

replaced for the satisfaction of the patient if desirable weight hasn’t been reached.

How it is done

It is a minimally invasive procedure done at an endoscopy center. To place the balloon in the

stomach, the doctor uses a flexible, narrow tube-like camera device, equipped with lights, that is

called an endoscope. The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You will be sedated, so you feel

very sleepy, relaxed and comfortable. Once the sedation kicks in, you lie on your side while the

doctor performs the procedure.

After the procedure you may experience the following side effects:

 Nausea

 Vomiting

 Diarrhea

 Abdominal pain

Based on a summary of currently available treatments, loss of about 7% to 15% of body weight is

typical during the first six months after the procedure, the total excess weight loss ranges from 30%

to 47%. And the balloon is later removed when the final result is achieved.

What is a swallowable gastric balloon?

This is a non- surgical and non- endoscopic solution for patients who want to lose a moderate

amount of weight. This type of balloon consists of a soft, expandable, placement tube and a filling

system. It is compressed into the form of a smaller swallowable pill, that is connected to a long thin

tube which is used to introduce the solution into the pill once the balloon is sitting in the patient’s

stomach. No sedation is required for this procedure. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to be done. The

doctor performs an x- ray before the procedure to ensure the pill goes straight into the stomach and

after, to ensure the balloon remains in the appropriate area it requires to be.

Just like the intragastric balloon, this procedure also gives you:

 A faster feeling of satiety

 Less cravings.

 Keeps you full for a longer time.

In this case the balloon remains in the patient’s stomach for up to 6 months and later dissolves on its

own. The time-activated release valve on the balloon will open, allowing it to empty and pass

naturally through the gastrointestinal tract without the need of going back to the clinic for a removal

procedure.

How it is done

In this procedure, the compressed pill is administered orally with the use of a long thin tube. X-rays

are done before and after the procedure for safety purposes as it’s a non- surgical, non- endoscopic

procedure.

Patients suitable for the Gastric Balloon procedure

 Patients with a body mass index of between 30 to 40. A body mass index of 30 and aboveis a

sign of obesity.

 Patients who are not able to lose weight due to medication or lifestyle.

 Patients who want a non-surgical treatment option for weight loss.

Benefits of gastric balloon

The general benefit of gastric balloon is mainly weight loss but due to the its being in the stomach

for some reasonable time it helps lower the risks of potentially serious weight related problems such

as:

 Type 2 diabetes

 High blood pressure

 Stroke

 Gastroesophageal reflux

 And some related heart diseases

Is gastric balloon safe and effective?

Yes, gastric balloons are effective and safe for weight loss when combined with a good, healthy

balanced diet and regular exercise.

In conclusion both procedures are quite similar. The only differences are that the swallowable one

dissolves on its own and is excreted out of the body as a waste product within 6 months and the

intragastric balloon needs to be inserted and removed from the stomach in 12 months. Apart from

that they both have the same functionality regarding weight loss and other related health benefits

to the body as stated above.