Gastric Balloon

The Gastric Balloon is a soft, silicone balloon that is inserted into the stomach and filled with saline. It stays in place for a maximum of 6 months. The balloon creates a feeling of fullness with a smaller meal, helping you to reduce your calorie intake and lose weight. Published studies cite expected weight loss of 15-20kg. With the help of the balloon you can adopt the lifestyle changes needed to lose weight and keep it off for the long term.

The balloon insertion procedure takes 20-30 minutes under sedation, after which you will be monitored for a short while before being discharged home the same day. For the first week you will follow a liquid diet with instructions to drink plenty of fluids. Then you will start eating solid foods again with advice from our specialist bariatric dietitian.

During the six months that your balloon is in place, you will be monitored regularly and receive education and training on the nutrition and lifestyle changes you must make to ensure your weight loss becomes a long term success. The amount of weight loss you achieve and the maintenance of that loss will depend on how well you adopt long term lifestyle changes in your eating and exercise.

The balloon is removed by a similar procedure to that when you had it inserted. There are small risks associated with the insertion and removal procedures and it is essential the balloon is removed after six months to avoid the risk of perforation.