How the gastric balloon works to lose weight

The gastric balloon, also known as intra-bariatric balloon or endoscopic treatment of obesity, is a technique that consists of placing a balloon inside the stomach to occupy some of the space and cause the person to eat less, facilitating weight loss.

To place the balloon, an endoscopy is usually done where the balloon is placed in the stomach and then filled with saline. This procedure is very quick and done with sedation, so it is not necessary to be hospitalized.

The gastric balloon must be removed after 6 months, but in that time, it can lead to the loss of around 13% of weight, being indicated for people with a BMI greater than 27 and with associated diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes, for example.

Gastric balloon price

The cost of surgery for balloon placement costs an average of 8, 500 reais, and can be done in private clinics. However, the price of gastric balloon removal can be added to the initial value.

Generally, surgery for intra-bariatric balloon placement is not done free of charge in SUS, only in special situations, when the level of obesity brings a high risk of serious problems.

At what age can you put

There is no age from which an intragastric balloon can be placed and, therefore, the technique can be considered as a form of treatment when the degree of obesity is very high.

However, in the case of children it is always advisable to wait for the end of the growth phase, since the degree of obesity can decrease over the time of growth.

How is the surgery done to place the balloon

The placement of the intragastric balloon takes, on average, 30 minutes and the person does not need to be hospitalized, he / she should only rest two to three hours in the recovery room before being discharged and returning home.

This technique includes several steps:

A remedy is used to make the person fall asleep, causing a light sleep that allows to reduce anxiety and facilitate the whole procedure; Flexible tubes are introduced through the mouth to the stomach that carry a micro chamber at the tip that allows the inside of the stomach to be observed; The balloon it is introduced through an empty mouth and then filled into the stomach with serum and a blue liquid, which serves to make urine or faeces blue or green if the balloon ruptures.

To guarantee weight loss and results, while using the balloon it is very important to follow a diet guided by a nutritionist, with few calories and which must be adapted in the first month after the procedure. Learn more about what the diet should look like after surgery.

In addition, it is also important to have a regular physical exercise program, which, along with the diet, should be maintained after removing the balloon, to prevent you from gaining weight again.

When and how to remove the balloon

The gastric balloon is removed, usually, 6 months after its placement, and the procedure is similar to the placement, with the liquid being aspirated and the balloon removed through sedation endoscopy. The balloon must be removed as the balloon material is degraded with stomach acids.

After removal, it is possible to place another balloon 2 months later, however, it is often not necessary, since if the person adopts a healthy lifestyle they can keep losing weight without using the balloon.

Risks of balloon placement

The placement of an intragastric balloon to lose weight can cause nausea, vomiting and pain in the belly during the first week, while the body adapts to the presence of the balloon.

In rarer cases, the balloon may burst and go to the intestine, causing it to become blocked and causing symptoms such as swollen belly, constipation and greenish urine. In these cases, you should immediately go to the hospital to remove the balloon.

Advantages of gastric balloon to lose weight

The placement of an intragastric balloon in addition to helping to lose weight, has other advantages, such as:

It does not cause changes in the stomach or intestine, because there are no cuts; It has few risks because it is not an invasive method ; It is a reversible procedure, as it easily deflates and removes the balloon.

In addition, the placement of the balloon tricks the brain, as the presence of the balloon in the stomach sends information to the brain to be permanently full, even if the patient has not eaten.

Find out what other surgery options help you lose weight.