Gastric Balloon
Obesity, which is an important health problem, is not only considered a disease on its own, but also defined as a group of diseases that lead to many diseases that shorten life expectancies such as hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, bone diseases, and cancers. Due to its widespread prevalence today, many treatment methods come to the fore in the fight against obesity. In this sense, endoscopic methods are of great interest because they give effective results and do not require surgery.
What is the Gastric Balloon?
Gastric balloon application is one of the most frequently used methods by people who are uncomfortable with their excess weight and have weight loss problems.
The gastric balloon has two main purposes.
- It helps to minimize the risks of surgery for people with a body mass index of 40 and above and facilitates the patient's preparation for surgery by being applied before the surgery.
- It enables people who are not suitable for surgery or who do not have enough weight to have surgery, who have tried many methods to lose weight and have not been successful, to lose weight by reducing the amount of food they consume. Because the gastric balloon will cover a large part of the stomach, the amount of food you will consume will decrease and a natural weight loss process will begin.
After the gastric balloon application, people should include a new diet in their life and take a step toward a healthy life.
How Many Types of Gastric Balloons are there?
In today's technology, 2 types of gastric balloon applications can be made.
- Endoscopic Gastric Balloon
- Smart Gastric Balloon
What is Endoscopic Gastric Balloon and How Is It Placed?
The endoscopic gastric balloon is a non-surgical method and is applied with the help of endoscopy. The balloon, which is deflated outside the stomach, is inserted into the stomach with the help of endoscopy and inflated with air or liquid, depending on the type of balloon, and placed in the stomach. Depending on the type of balloon used, the balloon should be removed after 6 months or 1 year.
What is Smart Gastric Balloon and How Is It Placed?
The smart gastric balloon is in the form of a small pill and is swallowed with water, accompanied by a doctor, with a filling thread. No endoscopic procedure is needed. The patient is not put to sleep during the balloon placement procedure. The balloon reaching the stomach is checked with the help of an x-ray. The balloon, which is x-rayed, is filled with 500 ml of water and inflated by our specialist doctor. The inflated balloon is checked again with the help of an x-ray, and then the balloon placement is completed by pulling the filling thread. The gastric balloon deflates on its own after 6 months and is excreted from the body with the feces.
Another advantage of the smart gastric balloon is that its surface is silicone. The food you consume does not form a layer by sticking to the surface of the balloon. Thus, bad breath, etc. you will not have problems.
Which type of gastric balloon is the more economical solution?
If the patients coming from abroad have preferred the endoscopic gastric balloon placement procedure, they may need to come back to Turkey for the removal of the gastric balloon. You can also have this process done in your own country, but it can be a costly process. Therefore, it is the smart gastric balloon, which is the type of balloon that does not require endoscopy and surgery and is generally preferred by our guests coming to Turkey from abroad.
The endoscopic gastric balloon is more affordable than the smart gastric balloon. However, because it has to be removed again, calculating the costs of removal according to your country will help you make a more accurate decision.
Who is the gastric balloon suitable for?
The gastric balloon is a method that can be applied to anyone who wants to lose weight. This procedure is not an obesity surgery.
The gastric balloon is a suitable method for those who cannot lose weight properly with diet and sports. Body mass index is very important in determining the weight loss method and since it would be more appropriate to achieve success with obesity surgery in patients with a body mass index above 40, a gastric balloon is used to prevent preoperative risks in such patients. It is intensely preferred by people who have a body mass index of 27-35 and are 10-20 kilos overweight and cannot lose weight with diet and exercise. In this context, patients who are overweight and want to lose weight constitute the ideal patient group.
In patients with stomach ulcers or gastritis, it is recommended to place a gastric balloon after proper treatment of these diseases.
Are there any side effects of a gastric balloon?
It has no side effects. Although rare, patients may experience nausea for 1-2 days.
How long does the gastric balloon procedure take, and is it necessary to stay in the hospital?
- Gastric balloon is not an obesity surgery.
- There is no incision.
- The process takes an average of 20 minutes.
- Hospitalization is not required.
- 1-2 hours of observation is usually sufficient after the procedure.
When does the effect of the gastric balloon begin?
The effect of the gastric balloon begins immediately after its application. Since the volume of the stomach is reduced by covering it with the balloon, you start to consume less food and your natural weight loss process begins. Increasing the weight loss interval with dietary support is in the hands of the person.
Can it be applied to pregnant and lactating women?
No side effects have been observed regarding the use of gastric balloons in pregnant and lactating women.
What is the expectation from gastric balloon application?
Patients are expected to lose 15-25% of their total weight within 3-6 months. The amount of weight loss; may differ from person to person according to age, metabolic rate, and exercise and diet support.
How should the diet be after gastric balloon application?
An appropriate diet program should be considered after gastric balloon application. After gastric balloon, especially fast-food style, excessive fat and carbohydrate content should not be consumed. Carbohydrate consumption should be reduced. Maximum benefit can be obtained from balloon application by adhering to a healthy nutrition program as much as possible.
I Decided to Have a Gastric Balloon Application What Should I Do?
Please contact us from the price section on our site or through our communication channels. Our expert operation team organizes the doctor, hospital, accommodation, and transfer procedures for you from the beginning to the end of the operation.
Our patients who want to have a gastric balloon should stop eating at least 8 hours before the operation day and should not even drink water. A total of 1 night's stay in Turkey is sufficient. However, patients who want to return to their country on the same day can return to their countries after a doctor's control.
