A gastric balloon is a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical tool used in the treatment of obesity. In conjunction with a supervised diet it can help you achieve the health and aesthetic benefits associated with weight loss.
What Is a Gastric Balloon?
The gastric balloon system consists of a soft, expandable balloon, a placement tube and a filling system. The surgeon inserts the balloon orally and then expands it with sterile saline fluid, once it is placed in your stomach. When full, the balloon is too large to pass into the bowel and this makes you feel fuller with less food in your stomach. Overall, gastric ballon treatment can significantly reduce your portion sizes and help you reach your long-term weight loss goals.
Is Gastric Balloon Suitable For Me?
If your Body Mass Index (BMI) score is over 32, a gastric balloon may help you to achieve long-term weight loss, and the management of other medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
The gastric balloon procedure may be particularly useful for people considered too overweight to undergo vital surgery. The use of the balloon to successfully reduce weight prior to surgery can also help to reduce the risks associated with surgical procedures on overweight patients.
Your consultant will confirm your BMI score and carry out a detailed assessment, before deciding if a gastric balloon is suitable for you.
What Are the Benefits of a Gastric Balloon?
Günümüzde ameliyatsız mide balonu yöntemi, kilo verme amacıyla sıklıkla tercih edilen bir uygulamadır. Verilen fazla kilolar sayesinde kişideki tansiyon, kolesterol, şeker gibi sağlık sorunları da otomatik olarak düzeliyor. Yemekten sonra gelen halsizlik ve uyku gibi problemleri de bu yöntemle çözülüyor.
If the operation is a success, you should be able to achieve long-term weight loss. However this depends on your ability to keep to your new lifestyle.
Long-term weight loss should improve any obesity-related health problems you may have, such as:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension (raised blood pressure)
- Sleep apnoea
- Mobility
- Self-esteem.
However for most people the attraction of having a gastric balloon procedure is that it is minimally invasive, does not involve surgery and it can be done as a day case procedure, meaning a minimal interruption to daily life.
How Long Is The Gastric Balloon Left in Place?
Mide balonu takılması işlemi sonrasında verilen kilo hastanın genel tıbbi durumuna, geçmişteki kilosuna ve birçok diğer faktöre bağlı olarak değişiklik göstermektedir. Ortalama bir değer vermek gerekirse mide balonu takılan kişilerin 10-25 kg arasında zayıfladıklarını söyleyebiliriz.
- The balloon may remain in place for six months
- Over time the acidic content of the stomach will weaken the balloon material and cause the balloon to deflate so longer periods of use are not recommended
- Should your surgeon recommend use of the balloon for longer than six months, it is necessary that the balloon be replaced with a new one when the six-month interval has been met
- While the balloon is in place, your surgeon may prescribe a course of oral medication to reduce your stomach acid, (this may reduce the possibility of stomach irritation and damage to the balloon).
Gastric Balloon Removal
- The balloon is normally removed in the same way it was placed, via the mouth
- As with the placement of the balloon your surgeon will introduce a catheter through your mouth and into your stomach
- They will then puncture and deflate the balloon
- Once the balloon is deflated it can be grasped and removed.
How Soon Will I Recover From the Gastric Balloon Procedure?
- You should usually be able to go home the same day assuming your have no serious adverse reaction to the balloon
- In the first few weeks you will only be able to take liquids, progressing to soft food and then to solid food
- You should be able to return to work after one to two days depending on how you stomach adjusts to having a foreign object present
- Sometimes the balloon causes nausea but this will normally subside in a day or two.