What is a Gastric Balloon?
Posted on 01. May, 2009 by Valerie in Surgical Procedures
A gastric balloon is a very unique tool for helping treat obesity. Much like the name implies, a balloon is inserted into the stomach. While there are a few different balloons, the most popular one is a newer, air-filled balloon with fewer side effects that patients eventually stop noticing is even there. The balloon takes up a significant portion of space in the stomach, helping patients to feel full faster and to control eating. It has shown remarkable weight loss results around the world.
The gastric balloon, while a physical device, also works to help train patients mentally to eat healthier. The balloon teaches them to eat smaller portions and to stop eating when they are no longer hungry. It helps people to learn their body’s clues that it has sufficient food and helps them learn to interpret and listen to those cues.
The balloon is inserted into the stomach by inserting it through a tube in the throat. It is inflated when it is in place and remains for up to six months. Because the acids in the stomach erode the balloon over time, it is comprised and filled with only safe materials and is removed before there is time for the balloon to begin leaking from the erosion. The procedure is remarkably safe and the results thus far have been surprising. While patients can often feel the balloon, particularly at first, they commonly describe it as the feeling of having ingested a great deal of water and note that it feels different but not painful.
While popular primarily in Europe, the gastric balloon procedure is becoming more commonly accepted around the world as a safe weight loss treatment. This is an excellent procedure for people who have tried diet and exercise without success and are looking for alternatives to surgery. While still a relatively new procedure, the gastric balloon is an option that is showing a great deal of promise.
