Intragastric Balloon  

IntragastricBalloonGraphic

The FDA approved intragastric balloon has been developed as a possible alternative solution for those who have been unsuccessful trying to lose weight and:

  • Don’t qualify for bariatric surgery .
  • Need or want to lose a significant amount of weight but have a serious concern about having surgery.

Is this procedure right for you?


Do you suffer from obesity?

Have you tried following supervised diet, exercise, and behavior modification programs, but still can’t lose the weight and keep it off?

If you’ve answered “yes,” the intragastric balloon might work for you. At your individual consultation, our surgeon will ask you about your medical history and conduct a physical examination to determine whether this procedure will be the best option for you.

What’s involved in having this procedure?


The first step of this two-part 12-month program begins with a non-surgical procedure typically done under sedation. A thin, deflated balloon is placed into the stomach and then filled with saline until it’s about the size of a grapefruit. The procedure normally takes about 20-30 minutes and people generally go home the same day.

Orbera balloon procedure steps

The balloon remains in your stomach for six months and enforces portion control by making you feel full. This helps you eat smaller meals and learn proper portion control. Our team will be supporting you in learning new eating habits and lifestyle changes for long-term success. To be successful you will have to keep making these healthy lifestyle choices.

The second step begins once the balloon is removed. You will need to continue to follow a six-month diet and exercise plan after the balloon is removed. Our team of experts will help you reach your weight loss goals by retraining your appetite, advising on healthy nutritional choices, controlling portion sizes, and developing an exercise routine.

Adopting and maintaining these healthy habits will ensure that you succeed.

What kind of results can be expected?


Results vary, but people lost an average of 3.1 x the weight patients lost with diet and exercise alone.

Will I experience any discomfort with this procedure?

testimonial

Angela had the Orbera balloon procedure.

In the first few days after the balloon has been placed, you may experience nausea or vomiting. In some patients this may last up to two weeks. We will work with you to prescribe medication that will proactively manage these symptoms and help you adjust to the balloon.

While the stomach balloon procedure is considered a safe and effective weight loss solution with over 220,000 placements worldwide, complications that may result include the risks associated with any endoscopic procedure and those

associated with the medications and methods used in this procedure, as well as your ability to tolerate a foreign object placed in your stomach.

Possible complications include: partial or complete blockage of the bowel by the balloon, insufficient or no weight loss, adverse health consequences resulting from weight loss, stomach discomfort, continuing nausea and vomiting, abdominal or back pain, acid reflux, influence on digestion of food, blockage of food entering the stomach, bacterial growth in the fluid filling the balloon which can lead to infection, injury to the lining of the digestive tract, stomach or esophagus, and balloon deflation.

Images and content with permission from Apollo Endoscopy.