Gastric Balloon
What is a gastric balloon?
An intragastric balloon is an endoscopic procedure, so not a surgical procedure but still requiring an anaesthetic and short admission to hospital. Under a light anaesthetic, the balloon is placed through a patient’s mouth into their stomach using a flexible endoscope and inflated to fill up the mid-part of the stomach, in the same way a large meal would fill it. The device is left in place for up to six (and sometimes 12) months.
How the gastric balloon causes weight loss
Very similar to a gastric band, it is designed to slow you down when eating and suppress your appetite so you can stop eating after a very small amount of food. The balloon itself does not make you lose weight – you have to make the choice to stop eating on your own, the gastric balloon causes weight loss by suppressing appetite and causing fullness after a few mouthfuls of food.
Effectiveness of the gastric balloon in causing weight loss
Because the balloon is removed after six months, its effect is not permanent. It is hoped that the intensive retraining that occurs after balloon placement can help the patient keep weight off in the long term. Of the patients who undergo this treatment, 25% will maintain their weight loss.
Am I a candidate for a gastric balloon?
This gastric balloon procedure is ideal for people who:
- are perhaps not heavy enough to be considered for regular bariatric surgery
- are heavy enough to undergo regular bariatric surgery but do not wish to commit to something permanent.
- need to lose weight quickly for medical reasons (such as for a joint replacement) but find it hard to do so.
Advantages of the gastric balloon
- Very low risk of long-term complications.
- Rapid initial weight loss for most patients.
Drawbacks of the gastric balloon
- Between 2 – 5% of people do not tolerate the balloon and need to have it removed before it has had any useful effect.
- Nausea is common for the first few days.
- Average weight loss (10-20 kg) is less than that achieved through surgery, and the risk of weight gain is high unless significant lifestyle changes can be maintained after balloon removal. More than 75% of people will regain weight by 2 years post-procedure. Heavier people can find it especially hard to maintain weight loss after the balloon has been removed.
Download our
information booklet
