Wondering how much weight you will be able to lose with a gastric balloon? By the end of the article, you will get your answer. So keep reading to learn more!
What is a gastric balloon?
The gastric balloon is a device placed in the stomach. The purpose of this procedure is to reduce the appetite and/or to treat obesity. Although a balloon is intended to be a temporary solution, it is not supposed to last for more than 6 months.
If the balloon remains in the stomach for a longer period, it can cause significant health problems and even death.
How does a gastric balloon work?
The device usually lasts about three months inside the stomach. Its main function is to fill up the stomach, which makes it impossible for a person to consume large amounts of food at one go. In other words, the patient will feel full after eating much smaller portions than before. The balloon itself can hold more than 750 ml of liquid or air.
The mechanism is simple – when the person swallows, the device expands and takes up most of the stomach volume. This way, the patient feels as if he/she ate a big meal and cannot ingest much food in one sitting.
The device itself is made of medical-grade plastic and contains saltwater. The balloon is inserted via endoscopy or swallowed with a pill (the so-called Ingestible Gastric Balloon).
Gastric balloons are inserted through the mouth and positioned in the stomach. The device is then filled with air or saltwater to a size where it occupies most of the stomach volume. The procedure takes about 15-20 minutes and can be done under local anesthetic, sedation, or general anesthesia (preferably only in a hospital).
The doctor will then attach a tube to the valve on the balloon and run it out of your mouth and down into a plastic collection bag. The balloons will remain inside you, inflated with air or saltwater solution for about three months.
After that period, when the device is removed via endoscopy, the patient experiences a sudden feeling of fullness and will eat smaller portions, which is supposed to reduce the weight.
The procedure itself is considered minimally invasive. The only expected side effects are mild nausea and light vomiting in the first 24-48 hours after the placement of the device. In very severe cases, it can occur an obstruction of the stomach because of the balloon.
How Much Weight Can You Lose With A Gastric Balloon?
If a person eats only healthy foods, then the gastric balloon can help him/her to lose up to 20 pounds per month. However, such results are often seen in the first few weeks after the procedure. In most cases, patients notice that they lose weight by 3-8 pounds per month when using a gastric band.
The device helps to feel full, and thus it is easier for a person to stick to a healthy diet. In addition, since the stomach is not accustomed to large amounts of food at once, dieting becomes easy.
The patient can eat whatever he/she wants – just in smaller portions. When the balloon deflates or pops (usually after 3-4 months), the patient will eat more than before.
After all, a person’s stomach is not reduced by the device. Its volume and capacity remain intact, but the food portion you can eat at one time becomes smaller.
The good thing is that if you want to achieve better results, then it is possible with exercise and dieting.
How Many People Lose Weight with Gastric Balloons?
According to the statistics, between 40.000 and 70.000 gastric balloons are inserted every year in the United States alone. The results are impressive (the majority of patients lose several kilograms), so the number of such procedures is growing.
On average, it is also estimated that gastric balloons lead to weight loss from 6-12 kg within 3-6 months.
The patients for Gastric balloons in the long island who underwent a surgical procedure for weight loss usually lose about 30% of their maximum body mass before they can re-join regular dieting. In other words, one can lose up to 20 pounds in the first six months after gastric balloon placement.
In addition to dieting, a gastric balloon can also be used for weight loss surgeries (Lap-Band). It is usually placed as an additional/alternative way for weight loss. The gastric balloons help a person become satiated faster without reducing caloric intake (one of the main side effects of other weight loss methods that claim to reduce appetite).
The weight-loss benefits of a gastric balloon are many, but it’s not for everyone. However, gastric balloons have been proven to be an effective treatment if you meet the requirements and desire to take on this procedure. If you decide that this is right for you, contact our team to get started down your path towards success!