What is Gastric Balloon?

gastric balloon
Gastric Balloon in Turkey

Obesity is one of the most complicated issues of our time. When we think that we have an irregular and fast living conditions, unbalanced and caloric nutrition, high calorie sweet and fried ready-made foods, we can easily understand that this is not a surprising situation.

Obesity, which reveals itself with excessive fat storage than normal can be on different degrees and treatment processes accordingly.

There is a ratio between our height and our weight called “Body Mass Index” (BMI). It is decided whether obesity is available and how to treat obesity.

Obesity is classified according to body mass index values as follows.

  • VKI 20-25 kg/m2 Normal
  • VKI 25-30 kg/m2 Overweight (Over-weight)
  • VKI 30-35 kg/m2 Mild Obesity (Class l)
  • VKI 35-40 kg/m2 Advanced Obesity (Class ll)
  • VKI 40-50 kg/m2 Morbid Obesity (Class lll)
  • VKI > 50 kg/m2 Super Obesity (Class lV)

Regardless the level of obesity, the basic treatment is changing lifestyle, eating preferences, to move to a more active daily life and to establish a diet enriched with healthier foods.

Many patients who do not achieve successful weight loss with diets alone may not be suitable for obesity surgery. For this group of patients, gastric-balloon treatment can be very effective and can be successful in achieving effective weight loss.

Is gastric balloon a Surgery?

Gastric Balloon is not an operation. However, it is an endoscopic procedure of 15 minutes, which is done with short anesthesia.

What is Endoscopy?

Endoscopy is a simple but useful method of examination, which allows the monitoring of esophagus, stomach and fine intestines by entering the oral path with a medical pipe with a camera at the end and can be flexible. In this way, all stomach and esophagus diseases can be diagnosed and treated. Stomach Balloon application is also a non-surgical slimming method, which is performed entirely endoscopically.

How to Apply Gastric Ballon?

The person to be applied to the Gastric Balloon should come with empty stomach 8 hours before the procedure.

Preparation of the procedure involves of the preparation of a vascular tract. The patient is put to sleep with sedatives which given into the vein. When the patient is fallen into sleep with sedation the placement of gastric-balloon is inserted. Endoscopic recording inflated up to 450-500 cc volume serum and the procedure is completed. All these procedures are completed within 10 minutes and the patient is awakened and monitored briefly in the rest room.

Who Can Have a Stomach Balloon?

Anyone with weight problems who can’t achieve enough weight loss with their own efforts or with the help of expert dietitian can have gastric balloons. There is no weight limit for gastric balloon. Body Mass Index can be applied in obesity patients with overweight or over 30 kg/m2 with a body mass index over 25 kg/m2.

Is Gastric Balloon a Risky Procedure?

Stomach balloon is the most risk-free method of weakening. It does not require long term anesthesia. It is easily completed in 10 minutes. Patient can leave the hospital half an hour after the procedure.

The most important risk is not being able to lose enough weight.

Another important point is that gastric balloon may not be accepted by the stomach and therefore it can be associated with pain, nausea and vomiting. In the first 1-2 days, these problems mostly be gone completely. In case of perseverance and strain of vomiting, gastric balloon may need to be removed earlier than expected by endoscopy.

Does The Gastric Balloon Explode?

No. Gastric Balloon does not explode in the sense you think. But in some cases, it can leak. At that point please keep an eye on a change of color that plays green in the color of urine by adding blue paint to the serum inflated by gastric balloon. If this occurs, performing a gastric ultrasound to the patient to see if gastric balloon still in the right place? Is the volume at normal level.

When the slightest suspicion is raised, it should be evaluated with endoscopy and, if necessary, the Gastric Balloon should be removed.

How Much Weight Does A Stomach Balloon Lose?

Stomach (Gastric) Balloon is not an obesity surgery. As a completely non-surgical slimming method, it has an effect by creating a decrease in gastric volume.

Should A Diet Be Performed After Gastric Balloon?

Diet and exercise are the main treatment of obesity. They are all defined as “Lifestyle Change”. Gastric-balloon is also a method that will help patients make this change that they are unable to make on their own. People who are applied to gastric balloons must exercise with regular follow-ups, following a nutrition program.

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