INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON

See our results from the Intragastric balloon surgery (BIG)


Placing the device	Removing the device

• How does the intragastric balloon work?

Intragastric balloon surgery is a safe and efficient method that consists of placing an inflatable silicone prosthetic device around the stomach, taking most of its natural capacity and creating a double effect:

The patient experiences a very rapid onset of a sense of stomach-fullness, avoiding excessive consumption during meals.
It slows down the emptying in the stomach, giving a longer lasting fullness sensation throughout the day.
It eliminates the vicious circle “hunger-anxiety-hunger”. It gives a sensation of control from the first moment.

• How is it placed and removed?

“It is not a surgery”, the intragastric balloon is placed in the stomach, through the mouth, with an endoscopy and anesthetic sedation.
Once the balloon is in the stomach, it gets filled with between 400 to 700 cc of physiological serum and Methylene blue depending on each patient case.
The intragastric balloon can only remain in the stomach up to 6 months. Once this period is over, it will be removed with the same technique used during placement.

• Is it a surgical procedure? Does it require hospital admission?

The procedure is done in an endoscopy room and not in the operating room.
A specialist will give the patient anesthetic sedation. The patient will not feel any pain.
The procedure lasts about 15 minutes.
It does not require hospital admission, thus the patient will be able to go back home within a few minutes of device placement.

• Is the balloon bothersome?

The first 2-3 days, nausea is a common effect and the patient might vomit if he/she does not follow the surgeon's instructions for food consumption.
Symptoms improve considerably with support medication. After a short adjustment period, the body adjusts and the patient only feels the sensation of loss of appetite and a feeling of having “something” in the stomach.

• What will I be able to eat?

The patient must follow a liquid diet the first few days after the procedure. Food intake will gradually change back to a normal diet.
Our dietitian gives each patient a customized diet with a proper nutritional balance.
Generally speaking, the patient is able to eat a little bit of everything.
On rare occasions we give patients portion-controlled diets. We prefer that patients learn how to eat healthy and that they change their eating habits and lifestyles (plus physical activity).

See more information on “Diet and obesity”

• How many Kgs. can I lose?

The intragastric balloon is a safe and efficient procedure that leads to a weight loss that ranges between 15 to 30 Kgs

• Could I request a second intragastric balloon?

Patients who want to have a second balloon can have it placed in the same endoscopy procedure in which the first 6 months-old balloon is removed.
As a warning, the second intragastric balloon is not as weight-loss efficient as the first one.

• Will I be terribly hungry when the balloon is removed? Will my stomach be larger?

The patient’s stomach dilates very slowly to reach a limit over the months that the balloon is in place.
As a result, the balloon tends to be more efficient over months 1 to 4, with decreasing benefits in months 5 and 6.
The dilatation of the stomach has a few advantages:

When the patient experiences a weight loss in month 6 it is because of a change in eating habits without the help of the balloon.

When the balloon is removed, there isn’t any emptiness or terrible hunger sensation. The patient does not feel anything.
The stomach will have difficulties digesting large and heavy meals during a few months, which will be beneficial long term.

• Could I regain the lost weight? How can I avoid it

No doubt you can regain the weight.
The only way to avoid re-gaining the weight is keeping up with your new eating habits and lifestyle learned during treatment.
Because of the weight loss facilitated by the intragastric balloon in addition to the new eating habits, the patient is able to regain control of his/her weight.

• What are the results in your patients’ weight loss after a year of removing the intragastric balloon

We see the results because we follow up on all our patients.
When the patient has been diligent with the therapy and has lost the target weight, he/she is capable of maintaining the weight loss or even losing a little more weight the year following completion of the intragastric balloon treatment.
In the second year follow up, patients have recovered 5-10% of the weight loss (always referencing the group who has been diligent and has lost the targeted weight during treatment).
Patients that do not meet their targeted weight loss during treatment (weight loss goal is always calculated prior to starting treatment), usually give up and easily regain the lost weight.

• When is the intragastric balloon indicated?

Is should be considered as a treatment option for patients with a BMI between 30 and 34.
Patients with BMI between 28 and 30 with an associated pathology that will improve with the weight loss treatment.
Patients with BMI greater than 50 who need to reduce the risk of a non weight –loss surgery.

• How does “Clínica Obésitas” follow up with treated patients?

We perform an analysis before and after placing the balloon which includes:

Dietitian training and treatment.
Psychological treatment- behavioral therapy-.
Follow-up care.
Pharmacological support in some cases
Lifestyle changes – customized physical exercise to the patient’s needs and limitations-