A gastric balloon, also known as an “intragastric balloon” (IGB), sometimes a “stomach balloon”, is a medical tool that is inserted temporarily in the patient’s stomach to make the patient feels full with less food. In this way, weight loss is provided after the operation. A gastric balloon procedure is a non-surgical weight solution and a bariatric procedure.

A gastric balloon may be an option for you if you have tried diet and exercise for a long time but can not reach your goals in terms of losing weight.

On the other hand, even after having a gastric balloon operation, you should change your lifestyle permanently and keep dieting and exercising.

In this article, we mention the benefits of the gastric balloon which is a nonsurgical weight loss solution. We will also talk about how the gastric balloon works and the potential risks and side effects of the gastric balloon. Finally, you will learn who is eligible for a gastric balloon.

The gastric balloon is a non-surgical alternative to bariatric surgeries. It is a safe and effective procedure and is preferred by more people who don’t like to have surgery to lose weight and get a healthier life. It reduces the risks related to obesity.

After the procedure, patients living with gastric balloons, start eating less and receiving fewer calories which causes weight loss.

Generally, the benefits of the gastric balloon can be lined up as below:

• It provides significant weight loss after the procedure
• Its fast recovery time is a plus
• It is a safe way to lose weight
• It is a non-surgical alternative to weight loss surgeries; which means there are no incisions, stitches, or scars in the procedure

In addition to these items, patients after the gastric balloon procedure, are free to eat any kind of food and there are no restrictions on that.

You may ask “How does the gastric balloon work?” A gastric balloon is a medical tool, one of the bariatric procedures, inserted through the mouth to the stomach and it is one of the most known endoscopic procedures.

 The gastric balloon is filled with liquid or air. The procedure aims to help people by making them eat less but feel full faster. A gastric balloon is a temporary tool. It stays in about six months at most, and then easily removed. The gastric balloon procedure takes about 30 minutes and you can go home three hours after the procedure.

If you consider a gastric balloon procedure and aiming for weight loss, you should remember that it can not make you lose weight like a magician disappears from an object. You should choose a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet.

For more information on the gastric balloon procedure, feel free to contact our patient support staff. As Ekol Health Group and Ekol International Hospitals, we are ready to serve you at any time.

Post-placement care is as important as the procedure itself. After your gastric balloon procedure is finished, in the following week, you may feel discomfort.  Pain and nausea occur in about one-third of people who had gastric balloon procedures. These symptoms last a couple of days after the balloon is inserted. After going back home, you should follow a special diet to reduce the side effects of the gastric balloon.

You should try to avoid unnecessary physical activity in the first week after the gastric balloon is placed. When you get used to it, you can back to normal activities of your daily life. Your diet following the gastric balloon procedure starts with fluids, continues with soft food, and finally back to regular food. Water, low calory fruit squash, clear soup or broth, weak tea, or coffee can be some parts of your diet plan.

Another important point is that you should be careful eating and drinking slowly, as you now become full up much quicker than before the procedure.

All surgical procedures have potential risks and side effects. The best thing to do before any surgery is to learn about them and not be surprised if you experience some of them after having surgery. If your surgeon considers you as a good candidate, there are still some risks and side effects. However as general anesthesia is not used in gastric balloon procedures, the risk of complications is reduced.

One potential risk of gastric balloon is balloon deflation. If that happens, the balloon moves through your digestive system. The surgeon may decide then, additional procedures, including surgery. Some other potential risks of the procedure of gastric balloon are acute pancreatitis, overinflation, ulcer, or a hole in the stomach wall. Nausea, vomiting, and back pain are some of the common side effects of the gastric balloon.

Who should choose a gastric balloon is the question you answer if you consider having this procedure. 

First of all, you should know that as is with any other procedure, the gastric balloon is not for everyone. A gastric balloon may be suitable for you, if:

• Your body mass index (BMI) is between 25 and 32
• You have not had any stomach or esophageal surgery before
• You feel ready to commit to a healthy lifestyle
• You are between 18 and 70 years old
• You have a multiple diet history but have not achieved the weight loss you aimed
• You do not want to have surgery to gain a weight loss

Even if you are overweight, the gastric balloon is not for everyone who is overweight. The patient eligible for the procedure is decided by a medical expert. Your medical expert will give the final decision, on if the gastric balloon is beneficial for you, after monitoring you before the procedure.