The gastric balloon, also called an intrabariatric balloon or endoscopic treatment of obesity, is a technique that involves placing a balloon inside the stomach to take up part of the space and make the person eat less, thus facilitating weight loss.
To place the balloon, an endoscopy is usually performed where the balloon is placed in the stomach and then filled with saline. This procedure is very fast and is performed under sedation, so you do not need to be hospitalized.
- The gastric balloon should be removed at 6 months.
- But during this time it can result in a loss of about 13% weight.
- Being indicated for people with a BMI greater than 30 kg / m2 and with associated diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
- For example.
- Or a BMI greater than 35 kg/m2.
The cost of surgery for balloon placement has an average cost of 8,500 reais and can be performed in private clinics. However, the price of removing the gastric balloon can be added to the initial value.
Intrabariatric balloon surgery is generally not free in the SUS, but only in specific situations, where the level of obesity carries a high risk of serious problems.
There is no age at which an intragastric balloon can be placed and, therefore, the technique can be considered a form of treatment when the degree of obesity is very high.
However, in the case of children, it is always advisable to wait until the end of the growth phase, as the degree of obesity may decrease during growth.
The installation of the intragastric balloon takes an average of 30 minutes and, since the person does not need to be hospitalized, he must rest only two to three hours in the recovery room before leaving and returning home.
This technique includes several steps
To ensure weight loss and results, during the use of the ball it is very important to follow a diet guided by a nutritionist, with few calories and that must be adapted in the first month after the procedure. Learn more about what your diet should look like after surgery.
In addition, it is also important to have a regular exercise program, which, along with the diet, should be maintained once the balloon is removed, to prevent you from regaining weight.
The gastric balloon is usually removed 6 months after installation, and the procedure is similar to setup, the fluid is sucked in and the balloon is removed by sedation endoscopy. The balloon should be removed because gastric acids degrade the balloon material.
After withdrawal, it is possible to place another ball 2 months later, however, this is often not necessary, because if the person adopts a healthy lifestyle, he can continue to lose weight without using the ball.
Installing an intragastric weight-loss balloon can cause nausea, vomiting and stomach pain during the first week, while the body adapts to the presence of the balloon.
In rarer cases, the balloon may explode and enter the intestine, causing it to become clogged and causing symptoms such as swelling of the belly, constipation and greenish urine. In these cases, you should go to the hospital immediately to remove the balloon.
Installing an intragastric balloon in addition to helping to lose weight has other benefits, such as:
In addition, the installation of the balloon deceives the brain, because the presence of the balloon in the stomach sends information to the brain so that it is full at all times, even if the patient has not eaten.
Find out what other surgical options help you lose weight.