W-Loss - Weight Loss Surgery and Support Group
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Gastric balloon
This is a non-surgical treatment. The gastric balloon is a soft silicon balloon. The balloon is filled up with saline solution and released in your stomach. It will partially fill and distend your stomach to make you feel full as well as leaving less room for food. This is equivalent to having over a pint of fluid in your stomach permanently. The gastric balloon will need to be either removed or replaced after six months. Hence it is important to use the balloon in conjunction with lifestyle modification during this six months period.
The gastric balloon is suitable for anyone who has a BMI above 30 (BMI >27 with medical problems) or anyone who wants to have a more definitive procedure but do not want or qualify for surgery. The gastric balloon is particularly useful to reduce weight before surgery for people considered too overweight (BMI>60) or at high risk for immediate surgery.
The balloon is introduced into the stomach through the mouth and inflated with saline and a blue dye before being disconnected. This is done by endoscopy and may be inserted with a simple throat spray, sedation or by general anaesthetic. The procedure takes about 10-20 minutes and after a period of monitoring you may return home the same day.
Results of Gastric balloons
Much like drug treatment the amount of weight you lose is dependent on how well you adhere to dietary and lifestyle advice. On average you will expect to lose between 45 to 90lbs (20 to 40kg). How long you maintain weight loss after removal of the balloon will depend on how completely you adopt long term lifestyle changes.
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