April 5, 2021
The rising rate of obesity is slowly becoming an epidemic and many are increasingly turning to weight loss procedures such as Orbera balloon. The Gastric Balloon is a weight loss procedure that is recommended for people who have tried other weight loss methods such as a restrictive diet and exercise without success. It is an ideal choice for people who have a BMI above 30. The procedure involves inserting a saline-filled silicone balloon in the stomach to make patients feel much quicker and thereby eat less. With an increase in popularity of the procedure, a few myths have also reared their ugly heads, confusing people looking to get help shedding excess weight. In this blog, we bust some of the common myths associated with the gastric balloon procedure.
Myth #1 Inserting the Balloon Requires Complicated Surgery
Fact: Gastric balloon placement is a quick procedure that does not require any surgery. It is an outpatient procedure and does not necessarily require an anesthetic. The balloon is inserted in the stomach through endoscopy and then filled with a saline solution. The gastric balloon procedure involves no cutting and consequently, no hospital stay.
Myth #2 The Procedure Entails a Longer Recovery Time
Fact: One of the best benefits of the gastric balloon procedure is that patients can still lead normal healthy lives post-procedure. As the procedure does not involve any cuts or hospital stay, most patients can return to their daily routines in as little as three days.
Myth #3 The Procedure is Only Good for Extremely Obese People
Fact: Generally, patients who have a BMI of more than 30 are considered to be good candidates for gastric balloon procedure but it can also be a great option for those who are below the threshold BMI for bariatric procedures but conventional weight loss methods like diet and exercise didn’t work for them. Doctors may adopt a screening process to ascertain the candidature of a patient for the gastric balloon procedure.
Myth # 4 Weight Loss is the Only Benefit of Gastric Balloon
Fact: If done at the right time, medically supervised weight loss procedures such as gastric balloon can not only lead to significant weight loss but also prevent numerous weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and even reduce the risk of cancer. The more people wait to address an obesity problem, the more their health will be impacted by the excess weight.
Wrap Up
Obesity is not only an aesthetic and mobility issue but can also lead to several fatal comorbidities. DFW Bariatrics and General Surgery has a team of experienced surgeons who specialize in solutions such as Orbera Balloon procedure for weight loss. To learn more about the gastric balloon procedure or other non-surgical weight loss treatments in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, call 469-620-0222 or fill out our contact form and we will get back to you shortly. To schedule an appointment with one of our consultants, click here.