Non-Surgical Weight Loss Solutions: Your Questions About Gastric Balloon, Answered

Struggling to lose weight but not ready for surgery? Then the gastric balloon may be the perfect solution.

At Transform Bariatrics in Germantown and Greenbelt, Maryland, Dr. Hitesh Amin is committed to helping his patients reach their weight loss goals. Offering a range of options, from medical to surgical and non-surgical procedures, our practice provides personalized solutions to support your journey. 

In this blog, we answer all your questions about the gastric balloon and how it can help you on your weight loss journey.

How does a gastric balloon work?

Gastric balloon is a medical device that helps you eat less and lose weight. It’s placed in your stomach and inflated to give you a sense of fullness, reducing your overall food intake.  

We perform the procedure using an endoscope, a thin tube with a camera and surgical tool commonly used by gastroenterologists. Under light sedation, we slowly guide the camera down the throat and into the stomach. We release the balloon and then inflate it. 

Placement of the balloon takes about 20 minutes and you go home the same day. Though we don’t use general anesthesia for the procedure, we do recommend getting a ride home after a gastric balloon and resting the remainder of the day.

Can the gastric balloon help me?

We determine who might benefit from a gastric balloon after a consultation. In general, we may recommend the non-surgical weight loss treatment if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher and struggle to lose weight with diet and exercise.

Gastric balloon also makes a good choice for people with severe obesity who are unable to have weight loss surgery due to risk of complications. The balloon can help you lose weight in preparation for future surgery.

How long is recovery from gastric balloon?

Like most endoscopic procedures, recovery from gastric balloon is fast. Most people are back to work within a couple of days. 

But, like other weight loss procedures, you do need to modify your diet as your  body adjusts, starting with a liquid diet that includes protein shakes, then to a soft diet with easy-to-digest foods like yogurt and oatmeal. Most people are eating regular food within two weeks.

Because the balloon limits the amount of food you can eat, portion control is key to long-term success.

What happens after gastric balloon?

Gastric balloon is a temporary tool and only remains in place for six months. Though results vary, you may lose more than 10% of your body weight with the gastric balloon.

More importantly, the balloon gives you an opportunity to create healthy eating habits that lead to long-term results. Our patients continue to meet with our registered dietitian after removal of the gastric balloon for help with medical weight loss, which may include weight loss medication.

You may also decide to move ahead with weight loss surgery.

Gastric balloon is a less invasive weight loss procedure that can help you get closer to your weight goal. If you want to learn more about non-surgical weight loss, call us today or book an appointment online.