Gastric balloon surgery

Your consultant may recommend gastric balloon surgery if you have a body mass index (BMI) of between 30 and 40 and have tried other weight loss methods such as diet, exercise and medication without success.

Obesity increases your risk of many health problems including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers as well as emotional and mental health issues like low self-esteem and depression.

Gastric balloon surgery may also be recommended if you need to lose weight quickly before another surgical procedure. 

Gastric balloon surgery offers many benefits including:

• It is non-invasive: Gastric balloon surgery does not involve making any incisions (cuts) in your body 
• It does not require a general anaesthetic: Gastric balloon surgery is performed using local anaesthetic and sedation
• It is effective: Patients typically lose around 20-30% of their body weight after gastric balloon surgery 
• It is less expensive than many other weight loss surgeries 
• It is temporary: The procedure does not make any permanent changes to your body and the balloon is removed after around six months 
• It can help you become more active and adopt healthier eating habits 
• It reduces the risk of obesity-related health problems and can improve the management of current conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes

If gastric balloon surgery isn’t the right choice for you, your consultant can recommend an alternative treatment. Alternative weight loss methods include lifestyle changes, medication and other types of bariatric (weight loss) surgery.

The most appropriate treatment for you will depend on several factors including your general health, the amount of weight you aim to lose and which weight loss methods you have tried previously. 
Some alternatives to gastric balloon surgery include:

• Diet and exercise: Before considering other options, lifestyle changes such as increasing activity and making healthier food choices are usually tried first. Our team of expert dieticians can provide advice and support about losing weight by following a healthy, nutritious diet. 
• Medication: Your consultant may prescribe medication to help you lose weight in combination with a diet and exercise regime 
• Mini gastric bypass surgery 
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)
• Banded gastric band surgery
• Gastric band surgery
• Gastric bypass surgery
• Gastric sleeve surgery

At your first consultation, you will be seen by a consultant bariatric surgeon, a doctor specialising in weight loss procedures such as gastric balloon surgery.

Your consultant will ask you about your general health, medical history and any medications you take regularly. They will talk to you about any other weight loss methods you have tried previously and how successful they were. Your consultant will discuss your reasons for wanting to have gastric balloon surgery, and what you hope to achieve from the treatment.

At the end of your appointment, your consultant will decide if gastric balloon surgery is an appropriate treatment for you based on your BMI, general health, the amount of weight you aim to lose and your expectations for treatment. They will explain the procedure to you in detail including how to prepare, what happens during the procedure, what to expect during your recovery and any potential risks and complications.

Having a gastric balloon requires a commitment from you as you will need to make long-term changes to your lifestyle and attend regular follow-up appointments after your procedure.

Your first appointment is also a chance for you to ask your consultant any questions you may have about your gastric balloon procedure. At Circle Health Group, we want you to be as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your treatment, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.

Your consultant will tell you everything you need to do to prepare for your gastric balloon surgery. Instructions on how to prepare will also be in your appointment letter. 

If there’s anything you’re not sure about, or if you have any questions, please contact the hospital for advice.

Pre-operative assessment 

Around a week or two before your gastric balloon surgery, you may need to attend the hospital for a pre-operative assessment to check your general health and make sure you are well enough to have the procedure. Take any medication you take regularly with you to your appointment. At the preoperative assessment, we will check your weight and blood pressure and order tests such as a blood test, chest X-ray and electrocardiogram (ECG) to evaluate your general health.

Medications

Your consultant may tell you to stop or change the dose of certain medications, such as diabetes medicines or blood thinners for a few days before your surgery.

A week before your gastric balloon surgery, you will be started on a medication called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). This is to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces and help with symptoms such as indigestion and acid reflux that are common after gastric balloon surgery.

Diet

Your healthcare team will give you instructions on what you can eat and drink before your gastric balloon surgery. This typically involves following a smooth, liquid diet for two days before your procedure. Smooth liquids include milk, yoghurt, thin soups or meal replacement drinks such as SlimFast or Complan. 

You will not be able to eat or drink anything for 12 hours before your procedure.

Before your surgery, you’ll need to sign a consent form to say that you agree to have the procedure and are aware of what it entails and the possible risks and complications of the surgery.

Gastric balloon surgery is carried out as an outpatient procedure and does not require a hospital stay.

Before your gastric balloon surgery, you’ll be given medicine (sedation) to make you feel relaxed and sleepy during the procedure. Your throat will be sprayed with a local anaesthetic throat spray to numb the area and make you more comfortable during your gastric balloon surgery.

1. Once the sedation has taken effect, you’ll be asked to lie on your side 
2. Your consultant will pass a flexible tube with a camera and a light called an endoscope down your oesophagus (food pipe) to your stomach
3. Using the endoscope, they will examine your oesophagus, stomach and small bowel for any abnormalities that may make the procedure unsafe 
4. Your consultant will pass a thin tube called a catheter with the deflated balloon attached down your throat and into your stomach 
5. The balloon is filled with saline (salt water) and a blue dye until it is about the size of a grapefruit
6. The catheter is detached from the balloon which seals itself with a valve 
7. The endoscope and the catheter are removed.

Gastric balloon surgery normally takes around 30 minutes.

Gastric balloon surgery is a non-invasive procedure and recovery is normally quick. After your gastric balloon surgery, you’ll need to stay in the department for an hour or two until the effects of the sedation have worn off. You’ll need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours after your procedure.

Do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol or sign important documents for 24 hours after your gastric balloon surgery.

You can return to work and resume normal daily activities as soon as you feel able after your procedure.

You’ll need to continue taking proton pump inhibitors and multivitamins while your balloon is in place.

Eating after gastric balloon surgery

You’ll be given clear instructions on what you can eat and drink after your gastric balloon surgery.

Around six hours after your procedure, you can start drinking small amounts of clear fluids, gradually moving to pureed food after about one to three days. If you tolerate pureed foods, you can typically expect to start eating soft food after around ten days and a normal diet after around three weeks.

After your gastric balloon surgery, you can expect to lose weight quickly, particularly in the first three to four months. Most people lose around 10-15% of their body weight during the six-month weight loss programme.

As part of your weight loss programme, you will have additional support in the form of follow-up appointments with other health professionals including dieticians and psychologists. This is to ensure you get the most from your gastric balloon and acquire the skills and lifestyle changes necessary to achieve long-term weight loss.

After around six months, you will have your gastric balloon removed. This is a simple outpatient procedure that takes around 15 to 20 minutes.

Gastric balloon surgery is a generally safe procedure but like any medical procedure, there is a small risk that complications may occur.

Your consultant will explain all the possible risks and complications of gastric balloon surgery before your procedure and answer any questions you may have. It’s important that you are fully informed about any possible risks and complications before your procedure and are able to make an informed decision.

Common side effects of gastric balloon surgery include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps or discomfort 
• Indigestion or acid reflux

Your consultant will prescribe medications to help with these symptoms for the first few weeks after your procedure.

Rare complications from gastric balloon surgery include:

• Bleeding or damage to the stomach or oesophagus 
• Aspiration pneumonia: A type of lung infection that can occur if the stomach contents are vomited into the lungs 
• Balloon deflation: If the balloon ruptures, leaks or deflates, it can move into your bowel and cause a blockage (bowel obstruction) which is a medical emergency. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloating. Blue or green colouring in your urine or stool (poo) can be a sign of a leaking balloon 
• Spontaneous hyperinflation: This is where the balloon swells up and overinflates causing abdominal pain and swelling. It may be caused by gas-releasing bacteria inside the balloon. If untreated it can lead to serious complications
  

At Circle Health Group, we have the experience and expertise to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients. As a patient with Circle Health Group, you can expect the highest standards of care including:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• A range of delicious healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about gastric balloon surgery, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5499.

Gastric Balloon for Weight Loss - Johns Hopkins Medicine 
Information for patients having a gastric balloon insertion - University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 
Gastric balloon procedure - Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  
Intragastric Balloon - PubMed