Gastric Balloon

The average age of people with obesity problems falls more and more every day, and this problem has become a chronic disease worldwide. Although everyone is aware of the fight against obesity, the diet and exercise programs may not consistently achieve their goal. Patients with this condition may have secondary health problems such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint disorders and sleep apnea caused by obesity. Bariatric surgeries to get rid of these diseases provide a great advantage.

Today, many different bariatric surgery applications can be performed under developing medical technologies and techniques. Operations such as tube stomach surgery, gastric bypass, mini-gastric bypass, duodenal switch reduce the stomach or minimize nutrient intake as part of obesity surgery. In contrast, the stomach balloon makes it possible to restrict the volume of the stomach temporarily. Unlike other bariatric surgery, gastric balloon patients without opening the holes cut in the skin or millimetre performed by an endoscopic method that facilitates the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits that will help you lose weight effective diet as an assistant, he comes.

What Is Gastric Balloon?

A round and inflatable silicone balloon is placed in the stomach through the mouth by the endoscopic method to restrict the volume of the stomach; it is called a Gastric balloon or intragastric balloon. Because the Gastric balloon takes up space after being placed in the stomach and inflated, it makes it possible to lose weight by making patients consume less food and satiate faster.

No bariatric surgery works wonders in the name of weight loss; the stomach balloon is also not classified as a practice that allows weight loss alone. For this reason, only people who are willing to lose weight and determined to make changes in their life habits can manage to lose weight after a Gastric balloon. In this sense, the stomach balloon is a minimally invasive method that facilitates the process of weight loss.

Who is suitable for Gastric Balloon?

Gastric balloon application;

• Body mass index value is 27 and above,
• Unable to lose weight by dieting and exercising,
• Experiencing secondary health problems due to excess weight,
• Willing to lose weight, determined to comply with post-procedure requirements,
• The gastric balloon can be applied to people who need to lose weight quickly for invasive bariatric surgeries.

How is Gastric Balloon Performed?

As we have just mentioned, placing a Gastric balloon is not a surgical procedure. The stomach balloon is placed endoscopically. The balloon, which is in a deflated state, is delivered from the mouth to the stomach tube and then to the stomach via a flexible tube with a special camera at the end. In the next step, the sterile saline serum is injected into the balloon. At this time, the balloon begins to swell and is disconnected from the tube. The process of inserting a Gastric balloon can continue for 10 to 15 minutes. Surgeons provide detailed information to patients about what needs to be considered after a stomach balloon that does not require hospital admission.

Nutrition after Gastric Balloon

To adapt the stomach to the balloon and reduce the possible complaints that patients will experience, it is essential to eat liquid for the first 3-4 days after the balloon is placed in the stomach. In this process, juices that will cause gas formation in the stomach should not be consumed. After completing the liquid feeding period, the transition to pureed feeding can be made in the range of 4-10 days. During the mash feeding period after the Gastric balloon, food must be passed through the blender. Ten days after intragastric balloon administration, patients can begin to eat solid food. When portions should be kept small during this period, it is necessary to eat a balanced diet and avoid drinks and foods that contain high calories.

Exercise and Sports after Gastric balloon

To lose weight with a Gastric balloon, it is necessary to follow the nutrition program to the letter and start regular exercises. If the patient’s health condition is appropriate, starting activities before the application will offer a great benefit. After placing a Gastric balloon, it is necessary to exercise at least five days a week. The exercise plan should be tailored; the age, general health status, fitness and weight of the patients should be taken into account. By starting to lose weight, exercise times and intensity should be increased, and the slimming process should be accelerated; muscle mass should be strengthened.

What to Consider After Gastric Balloon?

Those with Gastric balloons should make some changes in their lives and pay attention to specific rules. What to consider after intragastric balloon application can be listed as follows:

• Caloric intake should be restricted as recommended by surgeons and nutritionists.
• No liquid should be taken during meals. Bloating may occur if a drink is consumed along with food.
• It may be necessary to feed in the form of 3 primaries, three decoctions per day. Patients should not skip meals.
• Avoid carbonated and carbonated drinks that can cause gas formation in the stomach; avoid foods prepared by unhealthy cooking methods.
• Blood values should be checked periodically, vitamin and mineral supplements should be used if necessary. Although the stomach balloon does not have a property that reduces or disrupts nutrient absorption, the balance of vitamins and minerals may be impaired if patients do not comply with nutritional rules.
• Exercises should be made a part of patients ‘ daily life. Activity leads to positive mood changes and increases the speed and effectiveness of the weight loss process, allowing you to spend calories.

How Much Weight Is Lost After Gastric Balloon?

The weight given after the stomach balloon can vary depending on the patient’s current weight and how much they adapt to nutrition and exercise rules. It is known that the preferred type of balloon can also affect the amount of weight given. In general, those who wear balloons with a 6-month life can provide 12% -13% of their excess weight, and those who wear balloons with a 12-month life can give 16% -20%. Ensuring weight control, continuing to lose weight, or preventing weight gain is associated with patients’ preferences.

How Does Gastric Balloon Provide You to Lose Weight?

The Gastric balloon does not cause any changes in the mechanism of nutrient absorption; it is temporarily placed in the stomach and allows patients to quickly reach satiety, even if they consume a small amount of food. Gastric balloon application is considered an essential dietary aid for patients to gain a healthy eating habits. To maximize its effect, patients must pay attention to what they eat and drink and perform exercises appropriate to their age, weight, and general health status.

What Are The Advantages Of a Gastric Balloon?

Unlike other bariatric surgeries, the stomach balloon is not surgical. For this reason, patients do not experience post-operative complications or conditions specific to the healing process. The Gastric balloon provides fast satiety and speeds up the weight loss process, while it does not cause any permanent changes in the anatomy of the stomach or intestines. It is a daily procedure that does not require hospitalization, allowing patients to adopt healthy lifestyle habits for long-term weight loss, facilitating the decline or prevention of chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, joint diseases and sleep apnea that may occur due to excess weight. Depending on the importance given, it is also possible for patients to experience a significant increase in self-confidence.

What Are The Risks Of a Gastric Balloon?

Although there is no possibility of surgical complications after a Gastric balloon, the main risks can be mentioned. For the first 2-3 days in adapting the stomach to the balloon, patients may experience complaints such as cramps, nausea, and vomiting; the necessary medications will be prescribed to reduce these complaints. In addition, constipation and reflux may occur.

How long does the Gastric balloon stay in the stomach?

The answer to this question may vary in the preferred intragastric balloon custom. Patients can choose a balloon that can remain in the stomach for six months or 12 months. Balloon types that can stay in the stomach for 12 months can be inflated for three months. Balloons that remain in the stomach for six months are not suitable for raising. The needs of patients and surgeons’ recommendations should also be taken into account when determining the type of balloon.

How to Remove a Gastric Balloon?

After six months or 12 months, patients need to remove the intragastric balloon from their stomachs. This procedure is also performed by the endoscopic method. Flexible tubes with a camera at the end are delivered from the mouth to the stomach; the balloon is emptied and removed when extinguished. Gastric balloon removal is completed in about 15 minutes.

After the Gastric balloon is removed, Will you gain weight again?

As long as the Gastric balloon is in the stomach, patients need to gain healthy eating habits. After the Gastric balloon, when the rules of nutrition are adapted and adopted, patients do not regain the weight they give. But the final word will again be your patients. After removing the Gastric balloon, starting to consume fatty, caloric and sugary foods and disrupting exercise programs can cause patients to gain weight.