Weight loss with Intragastric Balloon surgery / Balloon in stomach for weight loss

What is intragastric balloon surgery or balloon in stomach for weight loss

Intragastric balloon surgery or balloon in the stomach is a weight loss procedure where a saline-filled silicone balloon is placed in the stomach. This limits the capacity or volume of the stomach. It helps lose weight by filling up the stomach with lesser quantities of food.

The intragastric balloon procedure can be considered for those who are obese and are not satisfied with their diet and exercise results.

As with other weight loss surgery, strict adherence to a healthier lifestyle is necessary. These lifestyle changes should include a healthy diet, regular exercise to help ensure the success of intra-gastric balloon surgery in the long run.

Why it is done

The primary aim of an intragastric balloon surgery is to help lose weight. Weight loss lowers the risk of many potentially serious health problems related to weight, like:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Heart disease
• Brain stroke
• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Diabetes

Any of the weight loss medical/surgical procedures including Intragastric balloon procedure are to be done only after improving diet and exercise habits.

 Who should opt for intragastric balloon surgery

Intragastric balloon procedure can be considered for if:

• Body mass index (BMI) is between 30 and 40
• Willing to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, regular medical follow-up, and other changes in behavior
• No previous stomach or esophageal surgery

Intragastric balloon procedure can not be considered a staple choice of treatment for every overweight individual. A screening process will help customize an ideal treatment for each individual.

Intragastric balloon placement and its removal, later on, is usually not covered under health insurance and therefore is usually paid from the pocket. This is the biggest reason why people from around the world head to countries like India, Turkey, and Thailand for intragastric balloon surgery and other cosmetic or aesthetic procedures.

Risks with Intra-Gastric Balloon surgery

An intra-gastric balloon in the stomach for weight loss is a mechanical object placed inside the stomach, hence causing mechanical symptoms like pain and nausea in about a third of people soon after the procedure. Once the body adjusts to the balloon in the stomach the symptoms subside, usually in a few days. These symptoms are easily managed with oral medications at home.

Serious side effects are very rare but may occur after intragastric balloon procedure. A doctor should be consulted if nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain occur at any time after surgery.

An intra gastric balloon can deflate and move through the digestive tract and may cause blockage of the digestive tract. This is a potential risk with intragastric balloon surgery. This may necessitate a need for an endoscopic or surgical procedure or to remove the deflated balloon.

Overinflation, acute pancreatitis, ulcers, or perforation, or a hole in the stomach wall, are other possible risks that might require surgical intervention.

 How to prepare

Once a decision is taken for intragastric ballooning, regular exercise must be started and restriction in diet. Multiple lab tests to assess and minimize the risk of surgery is done.

 What to expect

 During Intragastric Balloon surgery

Intragastric balloon surgery is done as an OutPatient procedure. This procedure is done by passing a thin tube called an endoscope through the mouth into the stomach under sedation in an Operation Theatre.

During Intragastric balloon surgery an endoscope with a camera at the tip loaded with a silicone balloon is inserted into the stomach. The camera allows the doctor to visualize and correctly place the balloon into the stomach and inflate it with the saline to the desired size.

The procedure just takes about half an hour. The patient is discharged on the same day one to two hours after the procedure.

 After the procedure

Once back from the procedure, the patient can start taking small amounts of clear fluids about six hours after the procedure. A liquid diet is usually continued into the second week when soft foods are started. Regular foods can be taken after about 3 weeks if the insertion of the intragastric balloon.

Intragastric balloons are usually left in the stomach for up to 6 months, after which it is removed with a similar procedure with an endoscope. A new bariatric balloon may or may not be inserted then depending upon the results and advice of the doctor.

Patients may need to meet with a nutritionist, psychologist to get the best out of the intragastric balloon procedure.

Results of Intragastric balloon surgery

An intragastric balloon restricts the space available for food in the stomach and hence restricts the food intake by making one feel full with less food. Other factors which like slowing of the movement of food from the stomach to the intestine keeps one satiated for a longer time and reduces the frequency of eating. Intragastric balloons also seem to alter the levels of hormones that control appetite.

The amount of weight loss after the intragastric balloon surgery also depends on the adherence to and ability to change lifestyle habits, diet, and exercise.

On average an individual tends to lose about 7% to 15% of body weight during the initial six months after the intragastric balloon procedure. A total weight loss of 30% to 47% is expected in the long run.

Intragastric balloon procedure after weight loss can help resolve or cure certain medical condition especially which arise out of being overweight, these may include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Heart diseases (CAD)
• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Osteoarthritis (joint pain) especially of knee joints
• Type 2 diabetes
• High cholesterol level
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Failure of intragastric balloon surgery

No significant weight loss or weight regain may still happen after an endoscopic gastric balloon surgery as is possible with other weight loss procedures. This may happen even if the weight loss procedure is working properly. The primary reason for the failure of the procedure is the inability to make necessary changes in lifestyle and dietary habits. For a weight-loss surgical procedure including balloon therapy to succeed, permanent changes in the diet, along with regular physical activity and exercise, are more than necessary.