The balloon placed in the stomach is made of silicone and is an FDA-approved balloon.
Gastric balloon surgery is an alternative to gastric surgery for obese people. The most suitable patients for the gastric balloon are patients with a body mass index of 27-32.
A gastric balloon can also be used to give patients with a body mass index over 50 (super obese) the opportunity to lose weight while preparing for surgery.
You must also be at least 18 years old and under 65 years old.
You shouldn't have any mental disorders or consume drugs and alcohol.
If you are in purpose to lose weight and need help with this, a gastric balloon can be a good option.
It's not a surgical method. The procedure is done with endoscopy after the patient is given general anesthesia. First, the inside of the stomach is examined. After it is determined that there is no obstruction to the placement of the balloon in the stomach, the balloon is placed with the help of an endoscope. The balloon is inflated to some degree with liquid and methylene blue (blue dye) depending on the patient's weight.
You should stop eating 12 hours before the procedure and stop drinking fluids 6 hours before the procedure. It is extremelyimportant to adhere to this rule as the patient may feel nauseous after inflating the balloon. The process takes about 20 minutes. After the procedure, you will be monitored for 1-2 hours and can go to the hotel then. Although the gastric balloon does not enable to lose weight as much as in surgical methods, it is ideal for effective weight loss.
The gastric balloon covers a certain part of the internal stomach volume and helps you to eat less and get the feeling of satiety earlier. You cannot eat the maximum amount that you could eat before the balloon.
Another benefit of the gastric balloon is that it slows down the passage of food out of the stomach and leaves you feeling full longer.
The gastric balloon remains in the stomach for 1 year. If necessary, it can be inflated more and the liquid in it can be removed. The balloon is then blown out under anesthesia and removed with the help of endoscopy.
This is up to you, but you can lose between 10 and 25 kg with the balloon. The weight you lose will depend on your starting weight and your ability to follow a new diet and exercise program. It is essential importance to continue a certain diet and exercise program after the gastric balloon has been removed.
Studies have shown that an average of 15-20% of the total body weight can be lost with the balloon.
You may feel a little uncomfortable for the first few days after inserting the balloon. Some patients may feel nausea. Vomiting may occur from time to time.
These symptoms go away after the first week. The feeling of hunger is suppressed in the first week. In the second week, the feeling of hunger gradually returns, but the feeling of satiety can be felt quickly with little food intake.
Your stomach will fully adjust to the balloon and you can eat more food between 3-6 weeks. In this process, you should try to improve your eating habits. You shouldn't eat quickly; you should stop eating when you feel full. If symptoms such as nausea and hiccups occur after meals during this process, it means that you are eating too much or too quickly. Changes in your lifestyle (exercise and proper eating habits) are extremely important so that you can continue to lose weight in the following weeks.
As with all other treatments, there may be side effects. However, these belong to the milder category and are mainly vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Therefore, medications are also prescribed for these complications.
It is not dangerous if the balloon bursts. The balloon is filled with salt water that contains dye. As a result, if the balloon bursts, your urine will become discolored. In this case, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
You can fly the day after the gastric balloon is inserted.
