Gastric Balloon for Weight Loss

19 de junio de 2025

3 min de lectura

The procedure is currently not covered by insurance and is available as a self-pay option.

Why is the gastric balloon procedure done?

The intragastric balloon is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive method of losing weight. Placement of the gastric balloon speeds up the weight loss, reducing the risks of diseases like:

Type 2 diabetes.
Certain cancers like prostate, breast, and endometrial cancers.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Heart disease and stroke.
High cholesterol and blood pressure.

Who is eligible for the gastric balloon weight loss procedure?

An ideal candidate for the procedure would be people:

Aged 22 years or older.
Who is willing to participate in the weight loss program.
Who do not want to opt for a weight loss surgery.
For whom a weight loss surgery is not medically safe.
Have a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40.

Certain medical conditions that can prevent a person from participating in the weight loss program include:

Any inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, like the IBDs.
A history of gastrointestinal surgery.
An addiction to alcohol or drugs.
A history of psychological disorders.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding or any congenital anomalies.
A history of gastric irritants, anti-inflammatories, anti-coagulants, or aspirin.
A structural abnormality in the esophagus or larynx, or a large hiatal hernia.

What are the benefits of the gastric balloon for weight loss procedure?

They include:

It is a non-invasive, nonsurgical weight loss procedure.
The intragastric balloon is a temporary option and remains in the body for six months.
Unlike weight-loss surgery, a gastric balloon does not affect a person’s anatomy.
Inserting a gastric balloon can help you lose weight by making you feel fuller.
The procedure helps people lose weight to prevent obesity-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

What are the side effects of gastric balloon for weight loss?

People undergoing the gastric balloon for weight loss procedure might experience certain side effects within 2 to 3 days after the procedure, including:

Nausea.
Vomiting.
Stomach cramps and bloating.

Also gastric balloon procedure is temporary and cannot replace a healthy diet and exercise routine.

What are complications of gastric balloon for weight loss?

Although rare, the procedure may have complications, including:

Infections from bacteria growing on the balloon.
Damage to the stomach or esophagus.
Overinflation of the gastric balloon requires early removal.
Intestinal obstruction caused by the leaking of the gastric balloon, causing balloon deflation.
Risks of ulcers, acute pancreatitis, or perforation in the stomach requiring further surgery.

What happens during the gastric balloon food weight loss procedure?

Placement of the gastric balloon

The procedure is done using general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure in an endoscopic unit.

During the procedure, an endoscope with a thin tube is moved down the esophagus into the stomach to examine the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel.
A catheter is inserted alongside the endoscope with a deflated gastric balloon attached to the end of the catheter.
The balloon is placed in the stomach, filled with saline through the catheter till the balloon is inflated to the size of a grapefruit.
The balloon stays in the stomach for six months.

Removal of the gastric balloon

After six months, a nonsurgical procedure with an endoscope is performed to deflate and remove the balloon.

Losing Weight With the Gastric Balloon

A person with the gastric balloon must follow a liquid diet for two weeks after the procedure. It is followed by a gradual transition to normal food habits.

With a gastric balloon, the weight loss happens rapidly in the first three to four months after the procedure. The gastric balloon makes people lose weight by reducing appetite and making them feel full quickly.

Sources

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