Gastric Balloon

What is the Gastric Balloon?

A gastric balloon is a procedure used for weight loss purposes. The balloon fills the stomach up to a degree causing the person to experience a feeling of fullness. This procedure helps control the portion size the person intakes and with a healthy diet and some exercise leads to weight loss.

The gastric Balloon is a soft silicone balloon that is positioned into the stomach and filled with a sterile saline solution. It is a non-surgical procedure performed by a surgeon. The procedure is performed under sedation and therefore does not require a general anaesthetic, which can put a person who is overweight at risk.

Is the Gastric Balloon Right for Everyone?

If you have heart or lung problems you probable will not be able to have this procedure done. Anyone will a condition, illness or disease should consult their doctor before considering this procedure.

Who is suitable for this procedure?

  • Individuals who are at least 40% higher than their ideal weight
  • People who have tried to lose weight and failed to achieve their weight loss goal
  • Patients who have tried numerous weight loss methods.
  • Patients who are 18 years or older
  • Patients who are considered too overweight or at increased risk for surgery
  • Patients who are willing to go to the doctors for regular medical follow up visits as an out patient You don't have any psychological illnesses that will stop surgeons from completing the procedure successfully
  • Understand that this is not permanent. After the gastric balloon has been removed you have to continue to reduce your food intake, eat healthy and exercise regularly

The Gastric Balloon Procedure

The gastric balloon is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach. At first, the surgeon will look at the stomach through an endoscopic camera. If the surgeon finds no abnormalities, he will then continue with the placement of the balloon. The balloon is made of a soft and pliable elastomer material and is inserted while in a small, deflated form. The swallowing process is easier with the help of anaesthetic spray applied topically to numb the throat area.

Once the balloon is inside the stomach it is filled right away with between 400 to 700ml of sterile solution through a small filling tube called a catheter. This is attached to the balloon. Once filled, the catheter is removed by pulling on the external end. The balloon has a self-sealing valve.

You do not have to worry about the balloon passing through your bowels because once it is filled it becomes too large to pass into the bowel. Instead, it will glide without restraint inside the stomach. The procedure usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.

The Benefits of a Gastric Balloon

  • It is fully reversible which means the stomach returns to normal when gastric balloon is removed from your stomach.
  • The stomach does not need to be cut or stapled as it may do with some other weight loss procedures.
  • There's no overnight stay in the hospital and you can usually go home an hour after the procedure is completed.
  • There is no recovery time.
  • Even though it will take time to adjust to the feeling of fullness you should be able to resume your daily life immediately.
  • No malabsorption issues because no intestines are bypassed.
  • Experiencing a feeling of fullness, so you eat less.
  • They don't use general anaesthetic so there is less risk and complications.
  • Most patients notice a vast improvement in their emotional health.
  • Most patients notice that their sleeping habits improve so does their risk of developing other weight related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes.

The Complications of a Gastric Balloon.

  • You need to get used to eating less food. Many patients find it hard to break bad eating habits and some find it hard to convert to smaller portions because they are not used to it. This is going to take time to adjust to your new regimen. If you do not change your old eating habits, you may experience less weight loss than expected.
  • There is a possibility that the balloon can deflate and/or travel through the stomach and into the intestinal track. This can cause corrosion or cause the stomach not to function properly. If this occurs, urgent corrective surgery will occur immediately.
  • Bleeding or tears may occur during balloon insertion or removal. If this happens, corrective surgery will be performed immediately.

After Gastric Balloon Surgery?

The first few days you are properly going to experience some discomfort. This will stop once the stomach becomes used to the balloon. It is common for patients to experience the following symptoms:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhoea
  • Cramping

Following a procedure, all patients are limited to a liquid only diet for the first three days. Some of the liquids that patients can intake are the following:

  • Water
  • Juice
  • Milk
  • Diluted soup
  • Jelly

Slowly the patient will be able to endure the majority of food. Most patients will be discharged from the hospital the same day unless they are experience severe nausea.

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