Inserting a Gastric Balloon Treatment

Introduction

An intragastric balloon is a new kind of weight-loss process. A saline-filled silicone balloon is placed in the patient’s stomach, which helps them to lose their weight by limiting how much they can eat. It also makes the patients feel fuller faster than normal. This process is a choice if the patients are either overweight or obese, and exercise and diet haven't worked for the patients. Like any other weight-loss process, an intragastric balloon needs a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. The patients may be required to make permanent healthy changes to their diet and perform regular exercise to help thus ensuring the long-term success of the intragastric balloon procedure.

What is a Gastric Balloon?

A gastric balloon is an inflatable silicone balloon that is being inserted into the patient’s stomach. It works by making the patient’s feel full sooner so that they can eat less.

Is silicone used in ball safe?

Many of the studies have been carried out for finding out if silicone is safer or not. There is no evidence that supports that the people who have gastric balloons have a higher risk of developing diseases such as arthritis and cancer.

What are the benefits of a gastric balloon?

The patients should get improved eating habits for helping them in achieving long-term weight loss, but this depends on the people’s ability to keep to their new lifestyle. If the patients require a weight-loss surgery or any other surgery, having a gastric balloon should useful in preparing them. Long-term weight loss will help in most of the obesity-related health problems the patients may have.

Why is the surgery required?

The placement of an intragastric balloon helps the patients lose their weight. Weight loss can lower the risk of some health problems which can be caused by overweight, such as:

• Disease related to the heart and stroke
• Blood pressure gets high
• Sleep apnea
• Type Two diabetes

An intragastric balloon and other weight-loss procedures or surgeries are being performed only after an individual have tried to lose weight by improving their diet and exercise habits.

Patients may consider the surgery as an option?

An intragastric balloon may be considered by the patient only if:

• Their body mass index (BMI) lies in between 30 to 40.
• The patient is willing to commit to a healthy lifestyle and regular medical follow-up, as well as participating in behavioral therapy.
• The patients have not had any previous stomach or esophageal operation.

Intragastric balloons process isn’t the right choice for patients who are overweight. A screening process will help the doctor see if the process might be beneficial for the patients or not.

Symptoms leading to Inserting a Intra Gastric Balloon Treatment

The symptoms or conditions leading to the insertion of a gastric balloon may include:

• Excessive Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Sleep Apnea
• Dyslipidemia
• Low Self-Esteem
• Depression or Anxiety
• Reflux or Heartburn
• Bloating or Indigestion

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What are the risks involved?

• Serious risks or complications after intragastric balloon placement and removal are very rare. 
• There is a possibility that the balloon could deflate. 
• If the balloon deflates, there's also a possibility that the balloon could move through the patient’s digestive system. This can result in the blockage that may need a further procedure. 
• Other possible risks or complications include ulcers or perforation (hole) in the stomach, which might need an operation for fixing it. 
• Inserting a gastric balloon may help the patients achieve long-term weight loss if a simple approach involving improving the diet, eating less, and performing more exercise does not work.

Causes leading to Inserting a Intra Gastric Balloon Treatment

The placement of the gastric balloon is often recommended for people suffering from obesity or other complications associated with weight sum.

The causes leading to its consideration can be divided into medical causes and lifestyle factors:

• Obesity
• Comorbid Conditions
• Weight-Related Gastrointestinal Issues
• Joint and Musculoskeletal Problems
• Reproductive Health Issues
• Increased Risk of Cardiovascular disease

Facilities and Services offered for International Patients for Inserting a Gastric Balloon Treatment

In numerous global facilities, including clinics and hospitals, all amenities and services provided are ideal for patients visiting from another country seeking a gastric balloon procedure. This makes these services to help meet the comfort needs, convenience and successful results.

Below is an overview of the typical offerings:

• Consultation and Assessment
• Travel Assistance
• Arrival and Accommodation Support
• Language Assistance
• Advanced Medical Services
• Post-Procedure Care
• Transparent Pricing

How to prepare for the surgery?

• If the patients are going to have an intragastric balloon placed in their stomach, their health care team will give them certain important instructions on how to prepare for the surgery. 
• The patients may be required to have various lab tests and exams before they undergo the surgery. 
• The patients may be required to limit what they are drinking and eating, as well as which medications they are taking, in the time leading up to the process. 
• The patients may also need to start a physical activity program.

Diagnostic Tests for Inserting a Gastric Balloon Treatment

Prior to a gastric balloon being inserted several tests are normally run with a view of determining the suitability of the patient for the procedure as well as his or her general health.

Here are the common diagnostic tests involved:

• Blood Tests
• Ultrasound
• Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• X-ray
• Gastric Emptying Test
• ECG
• Blood Pressure Monitoring
• Urinalysis

What can the patients expect from their surgery?

• The intragastric balloon procedure is being performed in the endoscopy unit as an outpatient procedure. 
• The patients will be sedated for the entire procedure. 
• During the surgery, the doctor advances a thin tube (called catheter) loaded with the intragastric balloon down into the patient’s throat and into the patient’s stomach. 
• Next, the doctor advances an endoscope (a flexible tube which has a camera attached to it) down into the patient’s throat into the stomach. 
• The tiny camera allows the doctor to view the balloon as the doctor fills the balloon with saline. 
• The method takes not more than half an hour. 
• The patients can normally go to their home several hours after the procedure has been completed.

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How soon will the patients recover from the surgery?

• The patients should be able to go home the same day as the surgery is performed or the day after. 
• The patients may only be able to take liquids for a few weeks, then progressing to soft food and then, after about one to two weeks, to the proper solid food. 
• The patients should be able to return to their work after two days or so, depending on how soon the stomach settles and what type of work the patients has. 
• Regular exercise should help the patients to return to their day to day activities as quickly as possible. 
• Before the patients start exercising, they must ask the healthcare team or their GP for advice. 
• The doctor will be required to remove the balloon after six to nine months. This usually involves another endoscopy.

Are there any alternatives to a gastric balloon?

The simple approach of losing weight involves improving the diet, eating less, and performing more exercise. Sometimes medication given to the patients by their GP can be really handy. There are surgical alternatives to a gastric balloon such as shortening of the patient’s digestive tract, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and gastric banding.

Success Rate of Inserting a Gastric Balloon for Weight Loss 

Thus, the efficacy of the gastric balloon treatment can be represented by the weight loss and related health changes during the time when the balloon is inserted, which commonly is six months.  Approximately 70-80% of patients who qualify for the procedure meet the desired level of weight loss.

Best Hospitals for Inserting a Gastric Balloon

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket
• BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi

Best Doctors for Inserting a Gastric Balloon

• Dr. Paritosh S Gupta
• Dr. Vikas Singhal
• Dr. Ajay Kumar Kriplani
• Dr. Pradeep Chowbey
• Dr. Deep Goel

Why Choose GetWellGo for Inserting Gastric Balloon for Weight Loss?

GetWellGo is a healthcare service provider that assists the patients who plan to undertake their treatments in foreign countries; the service offered by this company includes gastric balloon insertion. If you are considering this treatment, there are several compelling reasons to choose GetWellGo:

• Comprehensive Patient Services
• Highly Qualified Medical Professionals
• State-of-the-Art Medical Facilities
• Transparent Pricing
• Language Support
• Accommodation and Travel Assistance

Conclusion

It’s a non-surgical method of weight loss with full autonomy and reduced body weight of 10-20% of patients’ body weight, enhancing type 2 diabetes; sleep apnea, joint pain, and hypertension. It involves filling the stomach with a balloon so that a patient feels full and therefore can easily stick to a certain amount of recommended calorie intake per day. It is deflated after about 6 months it stays in place to buoyant patients’ spirits. This indicates that patient compliance and understanding of long-term dietary, exercise, and Behavioral modification are primary determinant factors in success. Fortunately, the procedure’s risks are comparatively low and most side effects are temporary.

FAQ

1. What are the advantages of a gastric balloon?

• Significant Weight Loss: Patients may be able to shed as much as 10-20% of their body weight during a six month span.
• Improvement in Health Conditions: Some of the disorders typically associated with arthritis include Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and joint pains, and most of these enjoy positive changes after being treated using the therapy.
• Non-Surgical: Gastric ballooning is not surgical and involves no cutting or sowing and hence does not entail any changes on the body.
• Reversible: After 6 months the balloon is deflated and removed and there is no long term implant or structural change made in the stomach.
• Minimal Recovery Time: It is far less invasive than surgical procedures, and the majority of people depicted in the films regain full mobility significantly faster than after conventional treatment.
• Temporary and Adjustable: It can be deflated later or adjusted easily as it suits the requirements of the patient.

2. What is the effectiveness of the gastric balloon treatment?

• Weight Loss: Gastric balloon surgery in particular shows that on average, patients shed 10% to 20% of their total body weight over the course of six months with the gastric balloon. They conclude that people may lose between fifteen to twenty five kilograms (thirty three to fifty-five pounds).
• Long-Term Weight Maintenance: About 50-60% of the patients can be able to retain a proportionate of the weight they have lost when the balloon is deflated this is after practicing proper dieting and exercising.

Health Improvements:

• Type 2 diabetes: Up to 50 to 60% of patients find that their diabetes symptoms either lessen or disappear completely.
• Sleep apnea and joint pain: Most patients see an improvement to their symptoms in between 50-70% of the time.
• Blood pressure and cholesterol: Approximately 50-70% of patients have improvement in hypertension and cholesterol levels.

3. How long it takes to fully heal after the gastric balloon procedure?

• Initial Recovery: Many patients especially in the initial hours and days after the placement of the balloon often have some mild side effects in form of nausea, vomiting, bloating and sometimes abdominal pains. These symptoms usually disappear in 1-2 weeks.
• Normal Activities: You can carry out most of your activities as a normal person within the 2-5 days but you should not engage in strenuous activities within the first few weeks.
• Post-Procedure Diet: The first few days they are encouraged not to take any kind of solid foods, and then they progress to taking foods that are easily dissolved then finally solid foods. Further, a nutrition plan that will enable the patient lose weight and prevent further complications will be developed.
• Balloon Removal: The balloon is deflated endoscopically after 6 months and usually the patient goes home on the same day or within 24-72 hours after the procedure.
   

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