Gastric Balloon Surgery Specialist

What is gastric balloon surgery?

Gastric balloon surgery is a procedure to help you lose weight faster by limiting how much you can eat. The surgery involves the placement of a saline-filled balloon in your stomach to take up space and help you feel fuller faster after eating.

You might be a candidate for gastric balloon surgery if you can’t lose weight with a healthy diet and regular exercise. The Houston Weight Loss providers might recommend gastric balloon surgery if you have a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40 and if you’re able to commit to making the necessary lifestyle and diet changes to support weight loss.

You also might benefit from gastric balloon surgery if you have obesity-related health issues like:

• Heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  
  

After a comprehensive medical evaluation and a review of your health history, your Houston Weight Loss surgeon can determine if gastric balloon surgery is right for you or if you’d benefit from another type of bariatric surgery, such as a sleeve gastrectomy or Lap-Band®.

What happens during gastric balloon surgery?

Gastric balloon surgery is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure. The Houston Weight Loss providers use the Orbera balloon system, which involves no surgery or incisions.

Your surgeon uses an endoscope to place the balloon in your stomach. This involves inserting the balloon attached to a thin tube down your throat and into your stomach.

The endoscope also has an attached light and camera that sends real-time images of your inner structures to an external monitor. This ensures your surgeon places the balloon in the right location before they fill it with a saline solution.

What can I expect after gastric balloon surgery?

After gastric balloon surgery, you can start drinking clear liquids within six hours. The liquid diet lasts for a week before you can begin eating soft foods. It might be three weeks or longer before you can eat regular food.

The providers continue to monitor your progress after surgery and help you make the necessary lifestyle and diet changes you need to achieve your weight loss goals.

The Orbera balloon remains in place in your stomach for up to six months. The Houston Weight Loss surgeons then remove the balloon using the same nonsurgical, endoscopic technique. Depending on your needs, they might place a new balloon to help you keep losing weight.

Find out if gastric balloon surgery is right for you by calling Houston Weight Loss or by booking a consultation online today.