Gastric Balloon Vs Gastric Surgery
If you’ve tried dieting without long term success, a gastric balloon could be the answer. Surgical weight loss procedures can be very effective but lots of people simply don’t want to resort to a permanent, life-changing operation. As the UK’s only gastric balloon specialists, we’ve helped many with high BMIs avoid surgery, choosing the balloon as a kickstart. Some want to lose weight for special events, others because they’re worried about their health but for the majority, we know it’s just about getting back to feeling confident in your body.
How is a gastric balloon different to weight loss surgery?
Non-surgical: Your stomach is not cut or altered in any way, the balloon is implanted into the stomach through the mouth. There are no incisions so no wounds, stitches or scars
Safe, low risk of complications: Your stomach is not cut so the risks of weight loss surgery (internal bleeding, blood clots, infection and band slippage/erosion) do not apply
Lower BMI criteria: You can have a gastric balloon with a BMI of 27kg/m2 whereas it is 30kg/m2 for a gastric band, 35kg/m2 for a gastric sleeve and 40kg/m2 for a gastric bypass. Check your BMI
Quick recovery: The balloon is implanted in a simple 20min procedure with no overnight stay and no wounds or general anaesthetic to recover from. You can be home in hours
Admission: You will not need to be admitted to hospital. You will simply attend for a 20 minute Outpatient appointment in an X-Ray suite.
Sedation: There is no sedation required for the procedure.
The procedure: You will be asked to swallow the balloon capsule with a glass of water. It is attached to a long thin tube which can be guided down your throat if needed. An X-Ray will confirm the correct position of the balloon in the stomach. The balloon is filled with saline (salt water) and a second X-Ray will confirm the placement before the balloon is detached and the tube removed.
Discharge: As you haven’t been sedated, you will be able to drive yourself home.
Implantation: The balloon stays in place for approx. 4 months at which point it will spontaneously deflate. There is no removal procedure or return to hospital. The balloon will naturally pass through the digestive tract.
The cost of our swallowable gastric balloon procedures starts from £4,049. This included everything from the procedure to aftercare and removal
Allurion: Expected average weight loss is between 10 and 15%* of your total bodyweight
Allurion +: Expected average weight loss is between 10 and 22%* of your total bodyweight
Admission: You will be admitted as a day case patient at your chosen hospital and taken to an endoscopy suite.
Sedation: You will be semi-conscious throughout the 20 minute procedure but sedated for your comfort. It is not a general anaesthetic.
The procedure: The consultant will check the health of your stomach with a camera. Then using an endoscope (long tube), the soft deflated balloon slides through your mouth, down your throat and into your stomach. Once filled with saline (salt water), the balloon is detached and the tube removed.
Discharge: You will be in hospital for 3-4 hours, there is no overnight stay. As you have been sedated, you won’t be able to drive so you’ll need someone to take you home.
Implantation: The balloon stays in place for up to 12 months, before it is removed in a similar 20 minute day case procedure. Again you will be sedated whilst the balloon is drained and removed endoscopically.
The cost of our endoscopic gastric balloon procedures starts from £4,349. This included everything from the procedure to aftercare.
BIB: Expected average weight loss is between 10 and 18%* of your total bodyweight
Orbera: Expected average weight loss is between 15 and 20%* of your total bodyweight