No surgery
A non-invasive procedure, saving you from the risks of surgeries. A thin endoscope is used to put the balloon in your stomach. It lasts around 10 minutes
The gastric balloon is a safe and effective medical intervention for overweight and obesity. It has been in use for about 40 years, all over the world. It’s used in combination with diet and exercise programs. It is very rare for a stomach balloon to be removed prematurely due to complications: about 2.2. (Brazilian report in 2016 with 40,000 patients).
Lose weight with the gastric pill – a procedureless stomach balloon
Ideal diet with gastric balloon
Many of the people who seek gastric balloon therapy have already tried several dietary regimes before but they either don’t lose enough weight or had weight regain or that they couldn’t maintain the diet for long-term periods. We understand it’s not easy to follow a diet, and that is where a stomach balloon can play a big role in the weight loss objectives.
The feeling of satiety induced by the gastric balloon may help you adhere to a diet that suits you. Regardless of the type of diet you follow, including balanced low-calorie, low-fat/low-calorie, moderate-fat/low-calorie, and low-carbohydrate diets, as well as the Mediterranean diet, your aim should be to reduce energy intake below energy.
Surgeon, consultant
Doctor
Clinical Assistant
Nurse
Nutritionist and personal trainer
Nutritionist
How does gastric balloon work?
The stomach balloon gives the person a feeling of satiety and makes it possible to eat smaller portions. The balloon works by slowing stomach movement and delaying its emptying. It will take longer than usual to digest solid food, and this contributes to feeling full.
Gastric balloons also limit the space available for food and liquid. Most people can achieve satiety with much smaller portions. It also inhibits the hunger hormone, ghrelin. With the help of a nutritionist, people can change their meal quantity and quality to lead to a calorie deficit and hence weight loss, with long-term healthy eating habits, especially if it is associated with lifestyle changes.
The effect of the stomach balloon varies from one person to another, mostly due to the difference in the rate of gastric emptying in people. But there are other factors as well.
Who can the gastric balloon be offered to?
The gastric Balloon is offered to adults with a BMI of more than 27, who haven’t been able to lose weight through other methods, including diet and exercise. However, weight is not the only factor in determining eligibility. There are several other factors that can affect the course of the treatment. For example, if you have had surgeries in the stomach or esophagus, or if you take certain kinds of medications, or if you have certain diseases, it will make you ineligible for the gastric balloon. Also, if you are not willing to work on changing your relationship to food with the assistance of a nutritionist you will not be offered the balloon. The consultation with the clinic will be helpful in assessing your eligibility.
What happens in the event of a leak in the stomach balloon and it empties spontaneously?
The endoscopic gastric balloon is filled with saline and a blue dye called Methylene. If an unforeseen leak occurs, your urine will turn blue or green. Should this happen, you must contact the clinic immediately so that the stomach balloon can be checked and possibly removed. It is extremely rare that a balloon deflates spontaneously. If you suddenly lose feeling of fullness, or you start gaining weight contact the clinic to perform a check up on you. Again, it is extremely rare for this to happen.
How much can I lose with the gastric balloon and lifestyle support?
It is important for you to understand that a gastric balloon is a helpful tool for weight loss and should be used in conjunction with diet, exercise and a follow-up program. How much you lose and whether you subsequently maintain weight depends on how you follow your diet, exercise and long-term lifestyle changes. At Nordic Gastric Balloon, most patients lose between 30 kg (66 Ibs, 5 stone) to 60 kg (120 lbs, 10 stone) with a 12 month program, and up to 40 kg (80 Ibs, 6 stone) with the 6 month program. Each person is different in the weight loss outcome.
Will I regain the weight after gastric balloon removal?
At Nordic gastric balloon we offer dietary and lifestyle support to help patients change their dietary habits to achieve weight loss goal and avoid weight regain after balloon removal. But there’s a risk of weight regain with every weight loss treatment including gastric sleeve and bypass. That’s why the person must focus on establishing new relationship with food and practice mindful eating, and start exercising to prevent weight regain. There are also medicines that can help maintain the new weight.
Does the treatment with the gastric balloon include a follow up program?
The follow-up program, including working with the nutritionist to change your eating habits, is crucial to the success of the gastric balloon treatment. During the first days after balloon placement, you will be followed by the doctor daily till your symptoms subside. Two weeks after the placement, the nutritionist will start working with you to teach skills of “mindful eating” along with other bahavioural changes.
Can I drink alcohol with the gastric balloon?
You can drink alcohol in moderation. However, keep in mind that to lose weight you are highly advised to either refrain or drastically limit alcohol intake. Alcohol is high on empty calories, and tends to be burnt first, which leads to accumulation of fat in the body, especially the belly. Also, alcohol reduces sex hormones in men, and compromises liver function. Both of these effects lead to low metabolism.
How is the gastric balloon procedure performed?
The doctor gives you two kinds of strong sedative medicines intravenously to make you at ease with the procedure, before proceeding to placing the balloon through the mouth – without the need for surgery. The doctor inserts the endoscope (binoculars) into the stomach and if the stomach looks fine, the balloon is passed through the mouth, down into the esophagus to the stomach.
Then we fill the balloon with a sterile saline solution through a thin tube attached to the balloon. When it is full, the doctor removes the tube.
The procedure is performed by a qualified and specialized gastroenterologist in collaboration with a well-trained staff.
The placement of the balloon takes approx. 20 minutes, then the patient is monitored for at least 15 min. and will subsequently be able to go home.
On the other hand, Allurion balloons require no endoscopy nor sedation.
How long does the gastric balloon stay in the stomach?
The gastric balloon can, depending on the type you choose, lie in your abdomen for 4 months, 6 months, or 12 months. If you want to continue losing more weight, you have the option of getting a 2nd gastric balloon after taking a holiday of 1-2 months at the end of the first balloon treatment.
How is the gastric balloon removed?
The gastric balloon is removed in the same manner as it was placed; via the esophagus and mouth. Using an endoscopic camera, the doctor inserts a catheter through the mouth and into the stomach. The balloon will then be punctured and deflated. Once the balloon is deflated, it is removed without any problems.
Allurion gastric balloon, however, requires no removal procedure, and it deflates by itself after approximately 16 week, and gets excreted naturally in the toilet.
Is gastric balloon a safe choice?
Gastric balloon therapy is a safe program for weight loss. It’s way safer than gastric sleeve and bypass. And has was less risks than obesity itself. There are side effects with every medical treatment but they are very rare with the balloon. Nordic Gastric Balloon prioritises safety and has accumulated vast experience since 2016, with more than 6000 patients in Denmark and Sweden.
How long does it take to recover from the gastric balloon placement?
You should budget at least three days of rest after balloon placement.
Once the body has gotten used to the balloon, you will be able to resume normal activity. However, it is important to emphasize that you must listen to your body’s signals and expect that the energy level is not quite high the first time. It can cause fatigue when the total calorie intake is suddenly minimal compared to before you had the stomach balloon inflated. However, it is very different from person to person how long the body is to get used to the belly balloon.
Will the balloon limit my normal activity?
In the first week, you should not plan any heavy activities. Once your body has adapted to the balloon, you can continue your normal activities. It is highly recommended to start a regular exercise program to achieve the best results. However, avoid martial arts (direct blow to the abdomen), diving and flying in a plane without pressure.
Are there any food restrictions with the balloon?
There are no food restrictions other than pasta, which can stick to the balloon. In addition, if you eat fatty foods, red meat, or sweets, you may feel uncomfortable. Excessive overeating while the balloon is in place can cause nausea, heartburn, or vomiting and can be harmful to the health in the long run.
Like all other medical interventions, gastric balloon procedure has its own risks as well. However, they are very rare, hence it’s still considered safer than the more invasive and expensive bariatric surgery (gastric band, gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass). It’s widely believed that the risks associated with overweight and obesity are higher than the very rare risks associated with this procedure. The gastric surgery is associated with a significantly higher rate of serious adverse events.
Overweight and obesity are considered the 5th most dangerous factors that contribute to death in the world. People with excess weight, especially belly fat, are two times more at risk of developing heart diseases compared to people with no belly fat, according to a new study. It’s considered a medical condition that is linked to cardiovascular, diabetes, arthritis, sleep apnea diseases, and certain tumors. A modest weight loss of at least 5 of excess body weight may improve people’s health prospects in relation to diabetes and other obesity-related diseases. Overweight or obese people who suffer from hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, migraine, arthritis, and some other diseases, can benefit from losing weight using gastric balloons.
Nordic Gastric Balloon
Call us:
Monday-Friday: 8:30-14:00
(+45) 53 56 33 31
Valby
Søndre Fasanvej 90, 1. th.
2500 Valby- Denmark
Aarhus
Endoskopiklinikken Århus A/S
Jens Baggesens Vej 88E
8200 Århus N – Denmark
Stockholm
Västgötagränd 9
118 28 Stockholm – Sweden
Malmø
Övägen 8
216 42 Limhamn – Sweden
Tlf.: 0707-99 73 36
Göteborgsregionen
Borgmästaregatan 5B434 32
Kungsbacka – Sweden