Gastric Balloon
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Tijuana, Mexico
A gastric balloon is a device that can help you feel more full after consuming smaller meals, which reduces incessant feelings of hunger. The gastric balloon is an effective method for achieving significant weight loss.
Undergoing a gastric balloon procedure can be a life-changing experience for many patients struggling with obesity and its related conditions. If you are looking to get premium quality care from a highly accomplished doctor, consider booking a consultation with our board-certified bariatric surgeons. At Cosmetic & Bariatric Surgery Center, you can expect a comprehensive treatment that will involve an evaluation of your medical history and thorough explanations of the pros and cons of this particular procedure.
From the moment you book your appointment to your recovery, our team will support your weight loss goals with professionalism and empathy. To get started today, call our Tijuana office at (619) 572-8981 (if calling from the United States) or (664) 607 33 77 (if calling from Mexico) or inquire online. We look forward to helping you every step of the way.
Contents
About Gastric Balloons
For this procedure, a surgeon inserts an endoscope—a type of surgical camera—to place a soft, deflated balloon through the mouth and into the stomach. Once within the stomach, the surgeon inflates the balloon with saline, a completely body-safe saltwater solution.
The gastric balloon leaves plenty of room for food and drink, but it limits how much you can consume. This device is a temporary bariatric treatment that will last about six months before requiring removal. (1) The procedure is minimally invasive and only takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Unlike the gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy, this bariatric treatment does not require any incisions or general anesthesia.
Benefits of Gastric Balloons
When patients receive a gastric balloon from our bariatric surgeons, they typically benefit from:
- Non-surgical treatment: The gastric balloon is considered a less invasive alternative to traditional bariatric surgery, eliminating the need for incisions or long hospital stays.
- Significant weight loss: Patients can expect substantial weight loss, with studies showing average losses ranging from 20 to 50 pounds.
- Appetite suppression: By occupying space within the stomach, the gastric balloon decreases hunger levels, making it easier to adhere to dietary changes.
- Non-permanent modification: The gastric balloon remains in place for a limited time, usually six months to one year, allowing patients to transition toward long-lasting healthy habits without permanent alterations to their anatomy.
- Quick recovery: Most patients can return home the same day as the procedure with minimal discomfort, enhancing convenience.
- Weight loss motivation: The presence of the balloon can boost motivation to make necessary lifestyle modifications, thus encouraging healthy eating habits and regular exercise.
- Improved well-being: Along with weight loss, many patients report increased energy levels, better mood, and improved overall mental health.
Candidates
Ideal candidates for this procedure include patients with a BMI less than 35 who need to lose less than 50 lbs. Patients with more severe obesity should investigate a more comprehensive and permanent bariatric surgery. Patients should also be in relatively good health, not smoke, and be willing to form healthy exercise and dieting habits to assist in their weight loss journey.
Personal Consultation
The first step in your gastric balloon treatment is a consultation with our certified bariatric surgeons. This appointment will allow you to discuss your goals and your weight gain and loss history while exploring the benefits of a gastric balloon. With this information collected, our bariatric surgeons will develop a plan that helps you achieve your goals. Gastric balloons are minimally invasive procedures, but we will still review your medical history to prevent any complications.
Endoscopic Gastric Balloon Procedure Steps
For a gastric balloon procedure, patients are lightly sedated so they are completely pain- and anxiety-free for its duration. Since it is a relatively minor procedure, there are no incisions required and you will be able to go home the same day. The bariatric surgeon will utilize an endoscope, a long, thin tube equipped with a camera to view the inner workings of your stomach. They will ensure that your stomach is completely healthy and empty before inserting the balloon. Next, they will insert the deflated balloon through the mouth and guide it into the stomach. It will remain attached to a different thin tube that will precisely guide it through the esophagus.
After proper insertion, he will use the endoscope to view the entirety of the tube and the balloon, ensuring a good placement and that there is some space for food and drink to enter and exit. After this, he will connect the tube to a sterile saline bag, slowly filling up the balloon to its appropriate size. They will detach the tube, and the device will self-seal to contain all of the saline within its silicone shell. They will then remove the tube and the endoscope to finish the procedure. After six months, the bariatric surgeon will remove the saline from the device endoscopically and by needle aspiration. He will then use a grasping device to remove the balloon.
How Exactly Does the Balloon Help?
The balloon device slows down gastric emptying, allowing patients to feel fuller for longer periods. Although the average human’s gastric capacity is roughly 1200 ml, obesity and overeating can physically stretch the stomach. A balloon volume of 400 ml or more is enough to take up this extra space, provide satiation, and encourage healthier eating habits. (2) The Orbera balloon, the most popular type, can hold around 450 to 700 ml, so our bariatric surgeon can fill it to a customized volume per your unique stomach capacity. (3) Over 6 months, patients can use the satiation provided by the balloon to re-train themselves to eat smaller portions and form habits that will remain even after the balloon is removed.
Recovery & Results
You will be able to return home after your procedure. Over the next few days, you may feel some discomfort and unwanted fullness, so you should avoid any strenuous exercise or activities. Most patients will experience some degree of nausea, but it should subside quickly. It will take some time for your stomach to fully adjust, but after the first week, you should be able to exercise and resume your normal routines. Activity and proper nutrition are essential for weight loss, and you should view the balloon as a vital tool for this journey toward greater health.
Our team of bariatric surgeons will ensure that you meet with a nutritionist at least once per month during the six months that you have the balloon. After removal, you will meet with them at least three times throughout the following six months to maintain long-term success. It is important to realize that your mentality toward achieving weight loss will determine your overall outcome. If you have binge eating behaviors, you must address the psychological aspects of your health so that you can promote the best results possible without risking weight regain.
If you adhere to your weight loss plan, you can see significant results with the assistance of a gastric balloon. On average, individuals can lose approximately 15% to 25% of their excess body weight within six months.
Cost of the Gastric Balloon in Tijuana
The cost of a gastric balloon procedure is not usually covered by medical insurance. You will receive a price quote for your treatment at your consultation with our certified bariatric surgeons. This price includes the cost of balloon implant, placement and removal, clinical follow-up, anesthesia fee, and the facility fee.
Our practice provides several financing options for those looking for a more affordable means of covering the costs. If you are ready to begin a healthier lifestyle and make steps in your weight loss journey, then do not hesitate to schedule a consultation or contact our Tijuana office. We will provide you with thorough details concerning the nature of the procedure and the pros and cons of other surgeries he has performed for countless patients.
FAQ
Unlike other weight loss surgeries, the gastric balloon will not require any incisions or general anesthesia. The procedure only takes about half an hour and does not require an in-patient stay at the hospital.
In a small number of cases, patients may not be able to tolerate the balloon for the full six (6) month period due to the possible side effects of nausea and vomiting, which may worsen over time. These side effects may warrant an early removal of the gastric balloon. For many patients, however, these symptoms clear within a few days. Anti-nausea medication can combat these effects. Staying hydrated will help mitigate nausea and prevent dehydration.
It is not necessarily better or more effective than other bariatric surgeries, but it requires a much less invasive surgery. Still, this particular procedure is meant to be a temporary tool for weight loss, not a permanent fix. Other procedures, such as the roux-en-y gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy, can provide more permanent changes to your appetite levels. Those procedures can also change how your body absorbs nutrients.
The Orbera gastric balloon is equipped with a self-sealing valve, and leakage is highly unlikely to occur. Leakage rates of fluid-filled gastric balloons are less than 1%. (4) Still, if a rupture does occur, it will not pose any risk to your body since the stomach can easily digest the saline solution without side effects. You will only feel less full after eating. An X-ray will confirm whether or not your balloon ruptured.
References
- Sharroufna M, Hassan A, Alabdrabalmeer M, Alshomimi S. Laparoscopic removal of gastric balloon after failure of endoscopic retrieval. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 2019;55:210-212. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2019.01.043
- Crossan K, Sheer AJ. Intragastric Balloon. PubMed. Published 2023. Accessed January 2, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK578184/#:~:text=The%20balloon%20serves%20as%20a
- Kim SH, Chun HJ, Choi HS, Kim ES, Keum B, Jeen YT. Current status of intragastric balloon for obesity treatment. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2016;22(24):5495-5504. doi:https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v22.i24.5495
- Fittipaldi-Fernandez RJ, Zotarelli-Filho IJ, Diestel CF, et al. Intragastric Balloon: a Retrospective Evaluation of 5874 Patients on Tolerance, Complications, and Efficacy in Different Degrees of Overweight. Obesity Surgery. 2020;30(12):4892-4898. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04985-4