Orbera Gastric balloon is a non-surgical weight loss treatment recommended especially for those individuals who are unable to lose weight with diet and exercise and have body mass index in the range of 30 to 40. During the gastric balloon procedure, a fluid filled balloon is inserted inside the stomach, which limits the person’s food intake capacity and makes them feel full sooner. It is a temporary procedure and the balloon is removed after a period of 6 months.

If you are: adults over 22 years, body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 – 40 kg/m2, no prior Bariatric Surgery or Bowel/Stomach Problems, willing to participate in a medically supervised program, if not comfortable with other forms of weight loss surgery, tried and failed at diet and exercise, ready to commit to a lifestyle change, ready to undergo balloon removal after six months & do not have a complicated medical history such as severe acid reflux, severe hernias, or stomach ulcers.

The placement of Orbera Gastric Balloon into the stomach is a simple, non-surgical outpatient procedure. First, a diagnostic test is done to make sure that there are no complications and it is safe to perform the procedure. After the diagnosis, the deflated gastric balloon is inserted through the esophagus into the stomach. Once it is placed in a proper position, the balloon is inflated with saline and a dye, or gas to maintain the required size. The procedure takes about 15 minutes to complete. The balloon is temporarily left in the stomach for about 6 months.

After the procedure, you may experience some cramps and nausea, as your stomach would adjust to the balloon. Moreover, your throat may also feel a little sore. You need to follow a liquid or soft diet for a few weeks. This is followed by 6 months of supervised diet, suggested by a team of nutritionists and weight loss physicians at Minimally Invasive Surgical Associates.