Gastric Balloon
How Does It Work?
The Gastric Balloon is a non-surgical weight loss procedure for patients who are looking for an average of 20 to 30 pounds in 6 months to 1 year. The gastric balloon is inserted endoscopically through the patient's mouth and is swallowed. Once the deflated balloon reaches the stomach, it is inflated with either saline or gas.
Types of Gastric Balloons
There are many types of gastric balloon;
- ORBERA Managed Weight Loss System (Approved by the FDA)
- Spatz3 Adjustable Balloon System
- Obalon Intragastric Balloon (Approved by the FDA)
- ReShape Duo (Approved by the FDA)
Who Gets Gastric Balloon
To qualify for gastric balloon, patients generally need;
- BMI of 30+
- Commitment to lifestyle changes and adopting healthy habits
- Need to lose a small amount of weight for a more impacting procedure (like gastric sleeve or bypass)
Results
Gastric Balloon Procedures do not generally provide patients with significant weight loss. On average, patients lose 15 to 40 pounds over the period of time the gastric balloon is in the stomach.
The balloon gives patients a short period of time to create and maintain healthy habits, to help those habits carry over once the balloon is removed.