The gastric balloon, also known as an intra-bariatric balloon or endoscopic treatment of obesity, is a technique that involves placing a balloon inside the stomach to occupy some of the space and lead the person to eat less, facilitating weight loss.
To place the balloon, an endoscopy is usually done where the balloon is placed in the stomach and then filled with saline solution. This procedure is very fast and done with sedation so it is not necessary to stay in the hospital.
The gastric balloon should be removed after 6 months, but in that time it can lead to the loss of about 13% of the weight, being indicated for people with BMI greater than 27 and associated diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes, for example.
Price of gastric balloon
The value of surgery for balloon placement costs an average of 8, 500 reais, and can be done in private clinics. However, the price of removal of the gastric balloon can be added to the initial value.
Generally, surgery for intra-bariatric balloon placement is not done at the SUS for free, only in special situations, when the level of obesity carries a high risk of serious problems.
At what age can you put
There is no age at which an intragastric balloon can be placed and therefore the technique can be considered as a form of treatment when the degree of obesity is very high.
However, in the case of children it is always advisable to wait for the end of the growth phase, since the degree of obesity can decrease over time of growth.
How is surgery done to put the balloon
Placement of the intragastric balloon takes an average of 30 minutes and the person does not need to be hospitalized, but should only rest for two to three hours in the recovery room before discharge and return home.
This technique includes several steps:
- A medicine is used to numb the person, causing a light sleep that allows to reduce the anxiety and facilitate the whole procedure;
- Flexible tubes are inserted through the mouth into the stomach, which carries a micro chamber at the tip that allows the inside of the stomach to be seen;
- The balloon is introduced by the still empty mouth and is then filled inside the stomach with serum and a blue liquid, which serves to make urine or stool blue or greenish if the balloon ruptures.
To ensure weight loss and results while using the balloon is very important to follow a nutritionist's diet with few calories and that should be adapted in the first month after the procedure. Learn more about what the diet should be like after surgery.
In addition, it is also important to do a regular program of exercise, which, along with diet, should be maintained after removing the balloon, to prevent it from regaining weight.
When and how to remove the balloon
Removal of the gastric balloon is usually done 6 months after its placement and the procedure is similar to placement, and the fluid is aspirated and the balloon is withdrawn through endoscopy with sedation. The balloon should be removed because the balloon material gets degraded with the stomach acids.
After the removal, it is possible to put another balloon 2 months later, but often it is not necessary, since if a person adopts a healthy lifestyle can keep losing weight without using the balloon.
Risks of balloon placement
Placing an intragastric balloon for weight loss can cause nausea, vomiting and stomach pain during the first week as the body adapts to the presence of the balloon.
In rare cases, the balloon may rupture and go into the intestine, causing it to become obstructed and causing symptoms such as swollen belly, constipation, and green urine. In these cases, you should go to the hospital immediately to remove the balloon.
Advantages of the gastric balloon to lose weight
The placement of an intragastric balloon in addition to helping to lose weight, has other advantages such as:
- It does not cause changes in the stomach or intestine, because there are no cuts;
- It has few risks because it is not an invasive method ;
- It is a reversible procedure because it easily empties and removes the balloon.
In addition, placement of the balloon misleads the brain because the presence of the balloon in the stomach sends information to the brain to be permanently full, even if the patient has not eaten.
Learn about other surgery options that help you lose weight.
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