Here is a video on the implantation of the intragastric balloon:
The intragastric balloon is a very safe and effective system that will allow you to lose between 15 and 25 kilos of weight.
It’s not an operation. It is performed without the need for hospitalization or general anesthesia. It is not a definitive treatment.
It is a small silicone balloon that is implanted in the stomach through the mouth by means of a simple endoscopy with sedation. The patient does not feel any discomfort.
Initially the stomach is examined with the endoscope to make sure that the stomach is free of disease, then the deflated balloon is introduced and under direct vision it is progressively inflated with methylene blue between 400 and 700 cubic centimeters, depending on the size of the stomach.
Although leaks or ruptures are exceptional, methylene blue allows control of these possible incidents that would be manifested by the appearance of the dye in the urine.
The intragastric balloon produces a double effect: the patient is satiated with a small amount of food; the sensation of satiety is more prolonged, diminishing the desire to eat exaggeratedly or to peck frequently.
In this treatment it is very important that the patient is willing to collaborate in a program of change of dietary habits. It is this change in habits and mentality that ensures that weight loss is maintained when the ball is removed.
At six months, the balloon is removed by endoscopy with sedation. The balloon is punctured, the fluid is aspirated from the balloon and it is removed through the mouth by a simple system. The procedure takes 15 to 20 minutes.
A study of the patients in our practice shows that when the necessary changes in habits have been made and the patient has lost the expected weight, one year after the ball is removed, the weight loss is still maintained.
See more details on our website.