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A gastric balloon - also known as an intragastric balloon - is a short term non-surgical weight loss tool. It is sometimes used when the patient’s BMI is not high enough to require surgery.
It is a soft silicon balloon that is temporarily inserted into your stomach to partially fill it so that you feel full quicker after small amounts of food.
It reduces your hunger allowing you to control your portion sizes and can be used as a stepping stone on the path to weight loss success.
A gastric balloon works by taking up space in your stomach so that you feel full sooner and need to eat less. As you eat a smaller amount of food, you lose weight.
By using dietary advice, you can learn healthier eating habits and change your lifestyle so that you can keep the pounds off long-term.
When the gastric balloon is removed, you will need to continue your healthy eating to see ongoing results. You must be committed to a supervised gastric balloon diet and modified lifestyle both whilst the balloon is inserted and after it has been removed.
At Ramsay Health Care, the cost of a gastric balloon starts from £4,830. This includes 2 years aftercare, with follow up appointments with a bariatric nurse and dietitian.
Payment plans are also available to help find your treatment.
The benefits of a gastric balloon are that it offers a non-surgical reversible weight loss treatment that may help you to develop new long term eating habits.
As it only takes 15 minutes under a mild sedative, you can go home the same day. A gastric balloon is also typically less expensive than surgical options.
Patients with gastric balloons typically experience around 20 to 30% weight loss. However, the amount of weight lost by each patient will vary depending on individual circumstances.
Losing weight can also improve obesity-related health problems, such as:
Type 2 diabetes
Raised blood pressure (hypertension)
Mobility
Sleep apnoea
Joint pain
Depression
A gastric balloon is recommended for patients who:
Need to lose weight before an operation, including weight loss surgery, to reduce their surgical risk
Want a non-surgical treatment option for weight loss
Cannot lose a large amount of weight and keep it off by dieting, changing behaviour and exercising alone
Have serious health problems caused by obesity
The intragastric balloon is typically suitable if you have a BMI of 27 to 35 and you are prepared to make long term diet and lifestyle changes. You will be under the supervision of a weight loss consultant and will need to attend regular appointments.
You should be aware that weight loss with a gastric balloon will be less and slower compared with surgical weight loss options.
Your weight loss consultant will discuss the best option for your individual circumstances, looking at your BMI and any related health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, joint pain and depression.
A gastric balloon is typically not recommended for people with certain conditions, including:
Stomach ulcers
Hiatal hernia
Oesophageal conditions
Liver disease
Chron’s disease
Peptic ulcer disease
Blood clotting disorders
It also isn’t recommended if you’re pregnant or have had previous gastric surgery.
Before you have the procedure, your doctor may advise you to reduce your food intake and increase your exercise. Starting these changes before your procedure will help you change your lifestyle once the balloon has been fitted. This should help you achieve better results in the long run.
A gastric balloon procedure usually takes just 15 minutes. It is performed in an outpatient setting under a mild sedative or light anaesthetic. The procedure may be uncomfortable but is generally painless.
Your weight loss surgeon will insert a deflated gastric balloon through your mouth, down your oesophagus and into your stomach using a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on one end, called an endoscope.
The balloon is then immediately filled with sterile saline through a small filling tube (catheter) that is attached to the balloon. This creates artificial bulk in your stomach and fills part of your stomach, which should in turn make you feel full for longer.
Once the balloon is full, the surgeon will remove the catheter. The balloon has a self-sealing valve and will now be floating freely in your stomach.
After six months, the gastric balloon is deflated and removed endoscopically in the same way it was inserted.
You can go home the same day of your gastric balloon procedure and continue with your normal daily activities without any downtime.
After your gastric balloon insertion, you’ll have fluids only for a few days. You will then progress on to soft foods and then normal textured solid foods, within the first week of your gastric balloon.
You should also be able to return to work after around two days, depending on how your stomach adjusts to the balloon being in place.
Your weight loss surgeon or a dietitian will discuss the dietary and exercise changes you need to make to reach and maintain your weight loss targets. It’s important that you are committed to strictly following these recommendations.
When the gastric balloon is removed, your stomach will return to its original size. It is important to continue with your newly learnt gastric balloon diet and lifestyle to maintain your weight loss.
You will need to attend regular follow up appointments including diet advice and planning.
With Ramsay Health Care, aftercare is included within your treatment price and you will have access to a range of specialists and information to continue to support you in your weight loss journey.
You may experience some gastric balloon side effects such as gastric discomfort, nausea and vomiting, but they should only be short-term.
Most people don't experience any complications at all, but you should be aware of the risks. Possible complications from a gastric balloon procedure may include:
Gastric discomfort is common for the first few days of placement but rarely continue in the longer term
Feeling imbalanced, similar to sea sickness
Heavy feeling in your abdomen
Abdominal or back pain
Acid reflux or indigestion
Balloon leakage or rupture. This is rare and the balloon is usually expelled naturally
Injury during insertion or removal of the balloon
Your weight loss surgeon will discuss these in detail with you before you decide to have a gastric balloon inserted.
Your gastric balloon is deflated before being removed. It is then pulled through the mouth using an endoscopic tube.
When the gastric balloon is removed, your stomach will return to its normal size and shape.
There are some surgical alternatives to gastric balloons, but they are usually more invasive and require a hospital stay.
They include surgery that by-passes your stomach and part of your intestinal tract with a gastric bypass or gastric band to limit the amount of food you can eat. Another option includes a sleeve gastrectomy that shortens your digestive tract.
Compared to a gastric balloon, these are major surgical procedures and have a higher risk of complications and longer recovery.
A swallowable gastric balloon pill is a new type of gastric balloon. It is simply swallowed and when it reaches the top of your stomach it is inflated using gas through a thin tube attached to the balloon. The gastric balloon pill capsule does not require sedation. It also needs removing after six months.
Because the balloon has no lasting effects on the stomach, it is important that you create and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Without the gastric balloon taking up space in your stomach, you will be able to eat larger portions immediately once the balloon has gone. The success of the procedure is dependent on whether you carry on the same habits after the balloon is removed.
Ramsay Health Care offers you rapid access to appointments to advise on your suitability for a gastric balloon procedure at a time and convenient hospital location that suits you.
Gastric balloon procedures are performed by our experienced bariatric surgeons who are specialists in weight loss surgery.
Your weight loss specialists will discuss diet and lifestyle changes before and after your surgery and will implement the Ramsay Weight Loss aftercare programme. This will ensure you learn about and have the chance to get used to the changes in lifestyle and eating habits you will need to maximise your results.
When it comes to paying for your treatment, Ramsay offers an all-inclusive Total Care package. This involves a single one-off payment at a pre-agreed price to ensure you have access to the treatment you need. Alternatively, you can choose to spread the cost of your treatment with a 0% payment plan.
How long does a gastric balloon last?
After a gastric balloon procedure, the balloon will be in your stomach for six months. It is then deflated and removed endoscopically in the same way it was inserted. Once removed, your stomach goes back to the normal size. You must continue your healthy eating habits and lifestyle established whilst the balloon was in place.
How painful is a gastric balloon?
A gastric balloon is generally painless. You may feel a dull ache in your stomach and back in the first few days after the procedure, but you should be able to manage this with pain medication. The procedure itself is usually painless too, although you may have a sore throat afterwards due to the numbing throat spray.
Can you drink alcohol with a gastric balloon?
Yes, you can drink alcohol with a gastric balloon – alcohol in moderation won’t affect your gastric balloon. Although, you may want to monitor how much alcohol you drink, as it is usually high in calories.
Do you still feel hungry with a gastric balloon?
After eating, you should feel full quicker and less hungry. You may get hunger pangs in between meals as you adjust to your new diet and lifestyle changes, but this should pass with time.
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