Wanting to lose weight, but surgery makes you scared and anxious? A Gastric balloon might be the first option to try. However, being so minimally invasive, it requires good preparation and a strong commitment to lifestyle changes, if you want to achieve your best gastric balloon before and after results takes preparation, commitment, and a strong support system.
How the Gastric Balloon Works
A gastric balloon is a non-surgical, temporary weight management option. As we've already mentioned, it is popular because it is minimally invasive, but with determination and changes to lifestyle, you can achieve substantial weight loss.
During the procedure, the doctor places a soft, silicone balloon, which is then filled with either saline or air, directly into the stomach. Because this is done through the mouth with a laparoscope, there are no incisions, and the natural anatomy of the stomach is preserved.
The primary function of the gastric balloon is to occupy space in the stomach, typically up to a third of its volume. The balloon restricts the amount of food that can be consumed, so you get the feeling of fullness faster.
Step-by-Step: Gastric Balloon Before and After Journey
Below we will go through 10 key steps that you should take before and after the procedure.
Before the procedure
Thorough preparation before the procedure is fundamental for its long-term success.
Step 1: Know the Risks and Benefits
Before any kind of procedure, benefits and risks must be considered. In this case, the benefits often include significant weight loss and, with that, improvement of different weight-related health problems, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and fatty liver disease. However, it is equally important to go through the potential risks, which can range from very common but initial side effects like nausea, cramps, and vomiting to rare but serious complications such as balloon deflation leading to bowel obstruction, hyperinflation, acute pancreatitis, ulcers, or even perforation.
Step 2: Choose the Right Medical Team
After weighing all the pros and cons and deciding you want to undergo the gastric balloon procedure, it's time to choose the right doctor for it. Choose a specialist with specific qualifications and expertise in bariatric medicine and endoscopy. But make sure to also look beyond just the doctor who will be performing the procedure. Make sure you get a holistic approach and a team with different experts like nurses, dietitians, and psychologists, so you can address every part of your journey, from medical, nutritional, and psychological points of view, and with that, improve your overall result.
Step 3: Start Building Healthy Habits Early
Before the procedure, you will have to follow a diet that serves multiple important purposes. Beyond its immediate physiological benefits, the pre-procedure diet also serves a behavioral purpose. It acts as an initiation phase, helping you to begin forming healthier eating habits and practicing mindful eating even before the balloon is placed. This early adoption of new behaviors lays the foundation for your long-term lifestyle changes that are essential for sustaining your weight loss.
Step 4: Mental Preparation Is Key to Long-Term Success
Although the gastric balloon procedure will be over in less than an hour, its effects extend far beyond the physical procedure. It takes you on a mental and emotional transformation. That is why having a psychologist on your team can be crucial, so you can get adequate psychological preparation, which is just as vital as physical preparation.
Part of the preparation also involves setting realistic expectations, which include acknowledging that weight loss will be a gradual process and that individual results can vary significantly. For all the unknowns ahead of you, it is really important to be mentally strong and focus on the deeper gains behind weight loss, such as improved health, increased energy, or an enhanced mood, rather than solely on a numerical target on the scale.
Step 5: Arrange Support for a Smoother Recovery
While the gastric balloon procedure is considered minimally invasive and typically involves a shorter recovery period compared to bariatric surgery, planning for support in your recovery period is important to minimise your stress. Although recovery is often a week or even less, it is strongly recommended that you take at least 1 to 3 days off work immediately following the procedure. This short period allows your body to adjust to the presence of the balloon and for any initial discomfort, nausea, or other side effects to subside. For certain types of gastric balloons, such as gas-filled models (e.g., Obalon), recovery may be even quicker; you might feel well enough to return to work on the same day.
Gastric Balloon - After the Surgery
Step 6: Managing Side Effects in the First Few Days
Immediately after the doctor inserts the gastric balloon, you might experience a range of gastrointestinal side effects. This is because the stomach needs to adjust to the presence of the balloon. Side effects affect about one-third of individuals and typically include nausea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.
While you might feel uncomfortable, these effects are considered normal and are generally temporary. Your doctor may prescribe anti-nausea medications to help alleviate these symptoms.
Step 7: Your Post-Balloon Diet Plan
The dietary progression after gastric balloon insertion is a carefully staged process, allowing the stomach to gradually adapt to the balloon and minimizing discomfort, complications, and side effects that we already mentioned above. A dietitian will guide you through the process, and sticking to the plan is critical for your comfort and successful weight loss.
Step 8: When Will You See Results?
Talking about weight loss. You should see a relatively rapid onset of weight loss, particularly in the first months (from 10 to 15 pounds). Over the six-month duration of the balloon's placement, you can expect to lose between 12% and 40% of your body weight, or an average of 25 to 50 pounds.
You must be aware that these results vary considerably among individuals. The amount of weight lost and, more importantly, maintained, is directly influenced by your commitment to the prescribed diet and overall lifestyle efforts.
Step 9: Adjusting Daily Habits
Successful weight management with a gastric balloon requires a fundamental shift in your daily habits, particularly in terms of eating and physical activity. With the gastric balloon occupying a significant portion of the stomach, your capacity for food intake is naturally reduced. This means you will have to introduce smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, and 2-3 small snacks.
Physical activity also significantly contributes to weight loss and overall well-being. While strenuous activity should be avoided for the first 1-2 weeks after the procedure, to allow the body to adjust, you should start with light activity as early as possible.
Step 10: Preparing for Balloon Removal
From the start, you must be aware that the gastric balloon is a temporary device, typically designed to remain in the stomach for approximately six months, though some newer versions can last up to 12 months. The removal process is similar to its insertion: an endoscopic procedure, usually performed under sedation. The medical professional will guide an endoscope down the throat into the stomach, deflate the balloon by extracting its saline or air content, and then carefully remove the deflated device through the mouth.
Gastric Balloon and a Lifestyle Change
The gastric balloon before and after experience is not just physical. Your decision for a gastric balloon should go hand in hand with the commitment to a healthier lifestyle. This non-surgical option can offer real, lasting results only when it is paired with your dedication, preparation, and ongoing support from a medical team, but also your family and friends.
If you feel ready to take that step, speak with a qualified bariatric specialist and begin your journey with a well-informed, empowered mindset.
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FAQ
How much weight can I lose with a gastric balloon?
Most people lose between 10% to 40% of their body weight over a 6-month period. Weight loss is often fastest in the first 3 to 4 months. Success largely depends on your commitment to dietary and lifestyle changes.
What should I expect during recovery after gastric balloon placement?
You may experience temporary side effects like nausea, cramping, or vomiting in the first 1–3 days. Most people return to normal activities within a week, and some feel well enough within 1–2 days, especially with air-filled balloons.
Is the gastric balloon procedure painful?
The procedure itself is usually quick and done under sedation. It is non-surgical and incision-free, so most patients report only mild discomfort during the first few days as the stomach adjusts.
