What is a gastric balloon?
A gastric balloon is a soft, smooth, durable balloon made of silicone rubber. It is designed to be placed in the stomach to reduce its capacity and help you feel full with less food.
The deflated balloon is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach by a doctor using an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube).
The balloon is then filled with saline solution (saltwater) to occupy space in the stomach, leaving less room for large amounts of food and drink. The idea is to help you feel full faster after eating smaller meals, and maintain that feeling of fullness longer so you are less hungry between meals.
Who may be a candidate for a stomach balloon?
A gastric balloon procedure may be a weight loss option for some adults who:
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 40 — BMI reflects the relationship between a person’s weight and height. A BMI of 30 or above is a sign of obesity. The procedure may be recommended for people with a BMI higher or lower than 30 to 40 in some circumstances.
- Have not been able to lose weight with diet, lifestyle modifications and medications
- Prefer a less invasive alternative to anatomy-changing bariatric surgery
If your doctor recommends losing weight before a planned surgery, such as joint replacement, or to assist with fertility, a gastric balloon can help you achieve the desired weight in a relatively short period of time.
What happens during the gastric balloon procedure?
The minimally invasive, outpatient procedure to insert the gastric balloon with an endoscope takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and is performed in an endoscopy center.
To place the balloon in the stomach, the doctor uses a flexible, narrow tube-like camera device, equipped with lights, that is called an endoscope.
You are sedated, so you are very sleepy and comfortable. Once you are under sedation, you lie on your side while the doctor performs the procedure.
- The doctor inserts the endoscope into the mouth and carefully examines your esophagus, stomach and small bowel to ensure there is nothing that would make having a gastric balloon unsafe, such as a large hiatal hernia or stomach ulcer.
- If everything looks normal, a narrow tube called a catheter is inserted alongside the endoscope. The deflated balloon is attached to the end of the catheter.
- The endoscope guides the catheter through the esophagus and into the stomach.
- Once the balloon is in place, it is filled with saline through the catheter until the balloon is about the size of a grapefruit.
- The doctor uses the endoscope to detach the catheter from the balloon, which seals itself with a valve.
- The doctor withdraws the endoscope and catheter, leaving the filled balloon behind in the stomach.
How much does a gastric balloon procedure costs?
The average cost of a gastric balloon procedure in Europe is €2,000. But the prices in Iran and Turkey are much lower than USA and Europe and even lower than India. To see the price, visit the Treatment-Prices.