The smart gastric balloon: a reversible technique for quick weight loss
Anyone who has tried counting calories and ramping up their exercise levels to try and lose weight understands the disappointment and frustration when no progress is made. The gastric balloon is an affordable and effective procedure that doesn’t require surgery, providing that all important first step to a healthier lifestyle.
What is a gastric balloon?
Very simply, the FDA-approved Allurion gastric balloon is a silicone balloon that is placed in the stomach, and then inflated with saline (salt water). Occupying about 60% of the space, your new smaller stomach helps to reduce portion size, meaning you eat less and feel satisfied for longer.
How does it work?
Gastric balloon programs are temporary and used to help you “kick-start” that much sought-after weight loss.
The newest gastric balloon technology is the swallowable device which is tightly wrapped into a capsule, attached to a thin wire, and swallowed without the need for sedation.
Once the device is in your stomach cavity, your doctor will use the tube to inflate the balloon with saline to a natural shape and the agreed size.
The whole procedure takes about 20 minutes.
The balloon is kept in your stomach for four – six months, as part of a monitored portion-controlled diet and exercise program, and then passes naturally through your digestive system.
What are the health benefits of the Elipse weight loss balloon?
Being overweight increases the risk of several debilitating and deadly diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, as well as interfering with daily quality of life such as difficulty in breathing, mood swings, and lack of confidence in social interactions.
The good news is that losing as little as 5 – 10 % of your body weight can offer significant health benefits, which is where the gastric balloon can help:
- For people who have found it difficult to lose weight through diet or exercise, the gastric balloon gives patients access to quick weight loss, with an average reduction of 15% of your body weight, most of which happens in the first three months.
- Gastric balloon procedures offer individuals weight loss results that are three times those of using diet and exercise alone. Occupying about 60% of the space, your new smaller stomach helps to reduce portion size, helping you to feel satisfied for longer and ultimately eat less.
- A 10% loss in body weight will result in better blood pressure, improved heart health and cholesterol levels, decreased risk for diabetes, a better night’s sleep for those with breathing issues, decreased risk for many types of cancer, and noticeably increased energy.
The Elipse weight loss balloon helps control your food portion size and appetite two ways:
- Because your stomach size has been reduced, you feel full faster.
- Due to Delayed Gastric Emptying, it will take longer for your stomach to empty itself, keeping you feeling satisfied for longer.
This combination means the Allurion balloon is a simple, reversible route to weight loss.
The weight you lose will depend on your starting weight and how well you adapt to the new eating habits and commit to a lifestyle change of a low-calorie, healthy diet and exercise plan.
The more you stick to the plan, the more success you will have.
What are the risks of the gastric balloon?
In the hands of specialists, the gastric balloon is a very safe and effective procedure and serious complications are uncommon.
In some circumstances, rare, serious side effects may occur:
- Gastric pancreatitis, which occurs when the balloon is overfilled, irritating the cells of your pancreas and causing inflammation
- Reduction of balloon air inside the stomach, causing the balloon to move in the stomach and eventually lead to obstruction of the digestive system
- Other possible risks include ulcers or a hole (perforation) in the stomach wall
Call your doctor immediately if nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain occur any time after surgery. This may require an additional procedure or surgery to remove the device.
Gastric Balloon Cost and Finance
The final price of your gastric balloon will vary depending on any special treatment requirements that are identified at your consultation.
Al Moosa Clinics and Day Surgery Center offer packages at an average cost of AED 14,999.
The cost includes:
- 1 x swallowable Allurion gastric balloon that self-deflates and passes at 16 weeks
- Cost of procedure with X-Ray
- 4 consultations with our highly trained Doctors as part of a structured weight loss program
- Smart weighing scale and app to monitor the trend of weight loss
Aftercare
As the gastric balloon is a temporary procedure, the support you receive both whilst the balloon is in place and after it is removed is key to your success.
Al Moosa Clinics and Day Surgery Center provide a structured program with a friendly, caring team to help you make long-term changes to your diet and exercise habits, meaning you are less likely to regain weight once the balloon is removed.
This includes tips and help for your diet in those all-important first weeks after the surgery, helping you to adjust and achieve healthy weight loss:
- Week 1 – heavily restricted liquid diet so that your stomach can adapt to the balloon
- Week 2 – transition to soft food, such as soft fruit, tender meat such as lean chicken, yoghurt, thicker soups etc.
- Week 3 onwards – clean, nutritious food, avoiding anything too processed or high in sugar
Your team will help with a calorie count so you know what you should be aiming for per day, as well as recommending a suitable exercise program.
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FAQS
Who is the Gastric Balloon For?
If your Body Mass Index (BMI) score is over 32, a gastric balloon can help you to achieve long-term weight loss. The gastric balloon treatment is a safe weight loss treatment option for those patients who wish to improve their health but do not want to have surgery.
Is the gastric balloon effective?
Yes. The gastric balloon gives patients access to quick weight loss, with an average reduction of 15% of your body weight, most of which happens in the first three months.
Our team is on hand to monitor your progress and health carefully, to ensure that you achieve your weight loss goals and make that change to a new, healthier lifestyle.
What is the success rate of the gastric balloon?
At our clinics, gastric weight loss balloon patients typically lose about 10 percent to 15 percent of their total body weight during the first six months.
How long does it take to recover from a gastric balloon procedure?
In general, you will be able to return to work or normal daily activity within one week. Varying degrees of abdominal spasms and nausea may occur after balloon is placed, which typically lasts 1-7 days. After this time, you will be able to resume your normal routine.
Is Gastric Balloon a safe procedure to have?
The Allurion balloon is a simple, reversible route to weight loss, using a temporary balloon that passes naturally through the digestive system after 4 months. In the hands of our team of specialists, the gastric balloon is a very safe and effective procedure, and a great solution for effective weight loss without the need for surgery.
What are the side effects of having a gastric balloon?
Some of the side effects can be early nausea and sickness, or mild abdominal pain, and your doctor will help you manage this in the first few days.
In some circumstances, rare, serious side effects may occur after the gastric balloon insertion. Call your doctor immediately if nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain occur any time after surgery. This may require an additional procedure or surgery to safely remove the device.
Can the gastric balloon burst or leak?
Leaks are extremely rare occurrences. The Allurion Elipse Balloon is designed to pass naturally through your digestive system so rupture does not pose any health risk.
What are the complications of a gastric balloon?
The gastric balloon is a safe, temporary and reversible procedure. However, in some circumstances, rare, serious side effects may occur after the gastric balloon insertion:
- Gastric pancreatitis, which occurs when the balloon is overfilled, irritating the cells of your pancreas and causing inflammation.
- Reduction of balloon air inside the stomach, causing the balloon to move in the stomach and eventually lead to obstruction of the digestive system.
- Other possible risks include ulcers or a hole (perforation) in the stomach wall
Call your doctor immediately if nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain occur any time after surgery. This may require an additional procedure or surgery to safely remove the device.
How quickly can I have a procedure?
We know that when you decide to have a gastric balloon procedure, you want to start your journey as quickly as possible. Although the gastric balloon is a safe non-surgical procedure, it is still a treatment with strict medical eligibility criteria and requirements in place.
The starting point is a consultant with one of the specialist doctors at Al Moosa Clinics and Day Surgery Center, to provide all of the information you need, and to make sure that your medical history means you are eligible for the procedure.
