Three Things Patients Love About Gastric Balloon For Weight Loss
If you’ve been thinking about weight loss surgery but are concerned about recovery time or the short- and long-term implications of surgery, you may want to consider gastric balloon for weight loss.
Gastric balloon surgery is not really “surgery” but a noninvasive, nonsurgical option that involves placement of a small, smooth balloon filled with saline solution into your stomach. Gastric balloons have been safely used in obesity surgery for decades.
What people love about gastric balloon for weight loss
With the gastric balloon approach, you’ll be opting for a 12-month program that involves insertion of the balloon for six months. During the first six months, the balloon makes you feel full more quickly while you simultaneously work closely with a dietitian to develop healthy eating behaviors and disrupt old patterns of thinking and eating.
Here are three key things patients love about gastric balloon surgery:
1. It’s a nonsurgical weight loss procedure that takes only about 15 minutes.
There are no incisions, stitches or scars, and there is very little down time. Your bariatric surgeon will insert the gastric balloon orally through your esophagus and place it in your stomach. You don’t have to worry about changes to your internal organ structure like other weight loss procedures. The gastric balloon is a temporary measure and a way to kickstart your weight loss journey.
2. It encourages lifelong success and weight loss maintenance.
For the first six months you’ll lose weight with little effort while learning how to eat right for your body and develop long-term, healthy weight loss and maintenance habits. This is all done while working with a dietitian who can help you identify what to eat and what not to eat. In the meantime, your body is learning new habits while the things that usually sidetrack weight loss, such as hunger, cravings and progress, are no longer an issue.
After six months, the gastric balloon is removed, and you’ll continue for the next six months working closely with your bariatric team to continue maintaining and solidifying the results you’ve achieved.
3. Gastric balloon costs less than other bariatric procedures.
Although not covered by insurance, gastric balloon for weight loss is often an attractive and more affordable option for patients who wish to lose 20 to 50 pounds but have been unable to do so through diet and exercise alone. You may be surprised to learn that gastric balloon can cost as little as $150 per month. Your bariatric team can work with you to set up a payment program, if needed.
Gastric balloon for weight loss: What’s involved
There are four basic phases to the year-long gastric balloon program. These include:
- Placing the balloon
- Developing healthy habits (first six months)
- Removing the balloon
- Ongoing coaching and support from your bariatric team (next six months)
Gastric balloon placement
Before your procedure, you’ll have a diagnostic endoscopy. This involves running a thin, lighted tube down your esophagus to make sure there are no underlying health issues to be aware of. You will be mildly sedated (awake but feeling nothing) during this time.
After the endoscopy, your bariatric surgeon will insert a deflated gastric balloon into your mouth and down through your esophagus into your stomach. Your doctor then uses a syringe, filling the balloon to about the size of a grapefruit. The entire process takes only 15 to 20 minutes.
Developing healthy habits
Once the gastric balloon has been placed, you’ll notice an immediate feeling of fullness when you start eating. This helps retrain your brain and kicks new eating patterns and behaviors into high gear. You’ll meet regularly with your bariatric team to identify any challenges and answer questions you might have, and you’ll follow a healthy eating plan based on your body’s needs and your lifestyle.
Your body may need a few days to adjust to the balloon and you may feel some nausea for the first few days. If this happens, be sure to get in touch with your bariatric team to help manage your symptoms.
During the first six months patients often lose up to 50 pounds, depending on how closely they’re following the eating and exercise program as designed. Much of the weight loss happens right away, during the first three months.
Your results are entirely up to you so keep in mind that the gastric balloon is a weight loss tool—not a weight loss solution by itself. It’s important to embrace a behavior modification program that will serve you for the long term. Gastric balloon removal After six months, you’ll visit your bariatric surgeon and have the gastric balloon removed. The process is again very simple and only takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Ongoing coaching and support
Your bariatric team continues to work with you during the final six months of your program. Now that you’ve lost so much weight and developed health ways of eating, you’ll want to stick to the activities and habits that have gotten you this far. Your dietitian can help you if you’re feeling stuck or you’re tired of eating the same things.
By this time, because you’ve lost so much weight, you’ll probably feel more energized and motivated for exercise so it could be a great time to take on a new type of activity that you enjoy. Maybe it’s getting back on a bicycle or going to a Pilates class.
Wondering if gastric balloon for weight loss is right for you?
Let’s find out! Our bariatric team is here to answer your questions and help you take next steps towards long-term weight loss and maintenance. Call (941) 209-4646.