If you''re obese, diet and exercise haven''t helped you lose weight, and you still want to, then a gastric balloon may be the solution.
Let us know the following about the most important information and details about the gastric balloon:
What is a gastric balloon?
The gastric balloon is a new type of weight loss procedure, in which a silicone balloon filled with saline is placed in your stomach, which helps you lose weight by limiting the amount of food you can eat and makes you feel full faster.
Like other weight loss procedures, the stomach balloon requires adherence to a healthy lifestyle, as you need to:
Make permanent healthy changes to your diet.
Do regular exercise.
This is to help ensure the long-term success of the gastric balloon procedure.
People eligible for the gastric balloon procedure
As with other procedures for losing weight, so does the gastric balloon. It has conditions that must be met by those who wish to undergo it. The following characteristics must be available for you to perform it:
Your body mass index (BMI) is between 30 and 40.
Be willing to commit to healthy lifestyle changes and regular medical follow-up, in addition to participating in behavioral therapy.
You have not had any previous stomach or esophageal surgery.
How is the gastric balloon performed?
The gastric balloon is performed in the endoscopy unit as an outpatient procedure, where you will be sedated for this procedure, and during the operation the following steps are taken:
The doctor s a thin tube (catheter), and a balloon is placed on it, down your throat and into your stomach.
The doctor s an endoscope — a flexible tube with a camera attached — down your throat and into your stomach. A tiny camera allows your doctor to see the balloon as they fill it with saline.
The operation takes about half an hour, and you can usually go home several hours after the procedure.
How to behave after the gastric balloon operation
Acting after the gastric balloon operation is according to your following instructions
Get small amounts of fluids starting six hours after the operation.
Continuing the liquid diet in general until the beginning of the second week, after which you can start eating soft foods.
Start eating regularly 3 weeks after the balloon is ed through the stomach.
Go to frequent reviews with the medical team, such as: nutritionist and psychologist.
It is worth mentioning that the balloon is left inside the stomach for up to 6 months, then it is removed using an endoscope.
The results of the gastric balloon procedure
The balloon can make you feel full faster, which means you will eat less, for two reasons
A gastric balloon inside the stomach slows the time it takes for the stomach to empty.
The gastric balloon changes levels of hormones that control appetite.
The amount of weight you lose also depends on how much you can change your lifestyle habits.
Losing about 10% to 15% of your weight is typical over the next six months after the gastric balloon is ed.
As with other procedures and surgeries that result in significant weight loss, the gastric balloon may improve or resolve conditions often associated with weight gain, including:
heart disease or stroke
high blood pressure.
Severe sleep apnea.
Type 2 diabetes.
It is possible not to lose weight or gain weight back after any type of weight loss procedure or surgery, even if the procedure itself is working properly.
This can happen if you do not follow the recommended lifestyle changes.
Risks of gastric balloon surgery
Serious risks after placing the balloon inside the stomach and removing it are rare, but they are possible and include:
balloon deflation.
The balloon moves in the digestive tract, and this happens if the balloon is deflated.
Obstruction that requires another procedure.
Other possible risks of the gastric balloon include
ulcer.
A hole in the stomach that may require surgery to repair.
Complications of the gastric balloon procedure
Pain and nausea affect about a third of people soon after a balloon is ed into the stomach. However, these symptoms usually only last for a few days after balloon placement, and can be treated with oral therapy.
