Intragastric Balloon

Obesity or being extreme obesity is an important health problem that prepares the ground for serious diseases, especially the cardiovascular diseases. Diets, exercises and medications for weight loss may not always work. The biggest problem faced by people who diet to lose weight is the feeling of hunger that they cannot prevent. Therefore, intragastric balloon, which is placed in the stomach and causes a feeling of satiety, is one of the methods used in the treatment of obesity.

What is Intragastric Balloon?

Gastric balloon or endoscopic intragastric balloon, as it is known in medical language, is a non-surgical obesity treatment method that has been applied all over the world and has proven its validity. The basic logic is to reduce the need for food by inducing a feeling of satiety with the help of a balloon placed in the stomach. It is widely used especially in overweight and obese people who are not at the border of surgery.

How Is An Intragastric Balloon Applied?

There is no need for surgery for the intragastric balloon. The patient does not need to be operated for the balloon placed in the stomach. The balloon is placed in the patient’s stomach with the help of an endoscope, while the patient is weakly anesthetized. There is liquid or air in the balloon. The placement process takes about 15-20 minutes. The balloon can remain in the stomach for 6 months to 1 year. It is then easily removed within 5-6 minutes by endoscopic method. During this time, people are usually trained on how to eat by trying themselves.

How Does It Make You Lose Weight?

Normally, after people start eating, the stomach is stretched with the food taken. Thus, the feeling of satiety in the brain is stimulated and the person’s desire to eat decreases. The balloon placed in the stomach decreases the food intake capacity of the stomach and provides a feeling of satiety quickly. With the balloon method, patients can lose about 7-8 kilos in a few months.

Who Is Intragastric Balloon Applied to?

The most important advantage of the intragastric balloon is that it can be applied simply without surgery and does not create a permanent change in the body. The disadvantage is that after the balloon is removed, if the patients do not change their lifestyles and do not continue their diet, the weight that have been lost is regained.  Today, although it has lost its former popularity, it is used as a preparation for obesity surgery to be applied in patients who are too risky to undergo surgery or who are extremely obese.