The Orbera® intragastric balloon is a newer option in weight loss surgery in which a special balloon is inflated in the stomach for six months, restricting the amount you can eat and reducing your hunger.
How It Works
Your specialist will insert the deflated intragastric balloon down your throat and esophagus to your stomach. Once it is in place, a syringe fills the balloon with sterile saline solution until it is about the size of a grapefruit. The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes. Six months later, it is deflated and removed, also through your mouth.
While the intragastric balloon is inflated in your stomach, you will work with your weight loss team to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits to help keep the weight off once the balloon is removed. Your brain will naturally readjust to new signals of fullness that will help.
You will spend the next year working with your team and following a personalized diet and exercise program to ensure long-term success.
Pros
Having weight loss surgery is a big step, but the benefits of the intragastric balloon are life-changing, including:
- No hospital stay for this non-surgical, outpatient procedure
- Steady weight loss
- Control of diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure
- Training you and your body to be satisfied with smaller meals
Cons
Your surgeon will also discuss with you the cons of the intragastric balloon, which can include:
- Tolerance for high-carb, high-fat foods, which can slow weight loss
- The need to be focused on improving your diet and exercise habits.
Risks
Every type of surgery comes with such risks as:
- Bleeding at the incision
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Lung or breathing problems
In addition, risks specific to this surgery include:
- Over-inflation of the balloon, which can cause intense abdominal pain, swelling of the abdomen, difficulty breathing and/or vomiting
- Stomach pain and/or nausea soon after the procedure
- Nausea, vomiting and stomach pain
- Balloon deflation, which could cause it to move through and block your digestive system, requiring another procedure or surgery to remove it.
- Acute pancreatitis
- Ulcers
- Perforation or hole in the stomach wall