5 BENEFITS OF A GASTRIC BALLOON
1. THERE’S NO SURGERY INVOLVED WITH A GASTRIC BALLOON
The patient is sedated, and a thin tube carries the silicone balloon inside through the throat to the stomach. The surgeon then guides an endoscope through the throat, a small tube with a camera, to look at the silicone balloon as it is inflated with saline. When the balloon is inflated and sealed, the tubes are removed and the procedure is finished. It usually takes 30 minutes from start to finish, and patients go home the same day. The balloon is left inside for six months. Subsequently, the balloon is removed with an endoscope.
2. THE GASTRIC BALLOON IS TEMPORARY AND CAN BE REMOVED
By design, the gastric balloon is only intended to be in the patient’s stomach for six months before being removed. But if special circumstances arise before that, it can be eliminated at any time.
3. THE COST OF A GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE IS LOWER THAN THAT OF MANY OTHER SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS PROCEDURES
One of the questions we hear frequently is how much does the gastric balloon cost?
That is significantly lower than the average cost of different types of weight loss surgery. Also, the cost of gastric balloon surgery includes a supervised weight loss program for an entire year.
4. YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GASTRIC BALLOON EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SURGERY
Many clinics and insurance companies require that candidates have a BMI (body mass index) that is very high before they are considered ready to undergo gastric bypass surgery. However, gastric balloon procedures can often be performed on people with lower BMI and who have a certain amount of pounds they want to lose.
5. GASTRIC BALLOONS PRODUCE REAL WEIGHT LOSS RESULTS
Most patients experience significant weight loss results by three months after the insertion of their gastric balloon. By the six-month point patients generally will have lost between 20 and 50 pounds depending on their initial weight. After removing the balloon, patients can continue to lose weight by maintaining their healthy low-calorie diet and exercise routines.
Find out if a gastric balloon is a right procedure for you. The cost of a stomach balloon is significantly less than weight loss surgery and patients who may not qualify for surgery are often candidates. Schedule your appointment today. Let us treat you and not just your symptoms.