It is one of the most preferred risk-free obesity treatments today. Another name is gastric balloon. It is not a surgical procedure, but the procedure is performed under light sedation, with the endoscopic method, within 15-20 minutes.
It is applied by inflating it after placing a balloon in the stomach. With this method, the feeling of fullness is provided in a shorter time due to the earlier filling of the stomach. However, it is a temporary method. The gastric balloon stays in the stomach for 6 to 12 months. After 6-12 months, the gastric balloon is removed from the patient’s stomach.
In studies with a gastric balloon, a significant regression was found in metabolic syndrome, diabetes, gout, and cholesterol-triglyceride levels after 6 months-1 year follow-up.
Who can have Gastric Balloon Treatment?
- Balloon application is a temporary treatment method for people who suffer from obesity and cannot lose weight by dieting. It can also be used for the treatment of many diseases from diabetes to joint disease that develops with weight.
- Gastric balloon therapy can be applied to patients with a body mass index of 25-35.
- Gastric balloon can be applied as a non-surgical method if the patient is not suitable for bariatric surgery. The surgical risk of morbidly obese patients can sometimes be high. In such cases, the patient’s weight loss before surgery reduces the risk. Gastric balloon treatment can be applied to patients in this situation before surgery.
- Gastric balloon application is an endoscopic procedure. It is a safe, comfortable, short-term procedure that is applied within minutes while the patient is asleep, called light sedation.
After Gastric Balloon Treatment
You should rest for at least 3 days after the gastric balloon application. Your body needs to get used to the balloon in order to return to your normal activities, and this time may vary from person to person. You should not do heavy activities in the first week.
After gastric balloon treatment, patients may have complaints such as nausea and vomiting. These complaints are controlled with medication.
Exercising after the gastric balloon is inserted will increase success. However, you should give your body time to get used to the balloon.
In order to accelerate the weight loss process, our patients are given a diet by our dieticians.
Since the gastric balloon will change the drug use and the effect time of the drugs, it is necessary to consult a specialist in this regard. Anti-inflammatory drugs should also be avoided.
After completing the period of use of the gastric balloon and after the patients lose weight, they are removed from the stomach by the endoscopic method in the same way.
Assoc. Dr. Hasan Abuoğlu, Assoc. Dr. Doctor M. Kamil Yıldız and their experienced team, who have more than 10 years of experience in the field of gastric balloon application, which is one of the non-surgical methods in the fight against obesity in Istanbul Marmara Surgery, successfully perform this application. Call us to ask questions to our doctors and to get information about treatment.