There is presently no information on whether or not the Orbera balloon is covered by insurance. If you are considering this weight loss procedure, however, you should contact your insurance company directly.
How much weight can you lose with a gastric balloon?
Patients will not lose as much weight as they would with other surgical options because the gastric balloon is developed primarily for persons with a lower BMI. A gastric bypass patient can drop more than 100 pounds, while candidates for the gastric balloon lose 20 to 40 pounds (or 10 to 20% of their body weight) over the course of six months with the balloon in place.
Who qualifies for gastric balloon?
The intragastric balloon, also known as the gastric balloon, is introduced in a non-surgical technique that is quite uncomplicated. Patients who would not normally consider surgery for the treatment of obesity or who want to avoid extreme obesity can use the gastric balloon as an alternate treatment. It’s also a useful alternative for those who need to drop weight before surgery to lower their surgical risks.
Patients must have a BMI of 30 to 40 and have never had prior weight loss surgery to be eligible for this operation. The gastric balloon is best effective for people who need to reduce roughly 30% of their body weight. It can also be used to assist patients in losing weight before to undergoing a more invasive bariatric treatment. To maintain long-term weight loss, patients who have a gastric balloon inserted must follow a 12-month diet and activity plan.
A diagnostic endoscopy is performed by the doctor before the surgery begins. This procedure involves inserting a tiny camera into the esophagus and stomach through the mouth. This is done to confirm that the anatomy is in good shape and that the surgery can be performed safely. The soft silicone deflated balloon is then put orally by endoscopy or tablet ingestion. The balloon expands to about the size of a grapefruit after being inflated with saline. Most patients are sent home after two hours of recuperation.
Benefits of the Gastric Balloon
The fact that the gastric balloon technique does not involve surgery is one of its biggest advantages. The balloon is easy to insert and remove, and the surgery usually results in weight loss of 20 to 50 pounds. Patients who have a gastric balloon experience a decrease in their desire to eat. The surgery is only temporary and can be reversed at any time.
The stomach’s volume is reduced by less than half when the balloon is inflated. It lasts six months in the stomach. The patient will continue their supervised weight loss regimen for another six months after the procedure is completed. People who use a gastric balloon lose three times as much weight as those who only diet and exercise.
How much does the balloon pill cost?
Kimmy wants to shed 60 pounds. She claimed that gastric bypass and lap-band surgery were not the best solutions for her.
“I feel like cutting your stomach isn’t really the issue,” Kimmy continued, pointing to her mouth.
However, Kimmy’s dilemma is that the medication isn’t available in the US because it hasn’t been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It’s available at a Tijuana, Mexico-based weight-loss facility.
The Obalon pill is provided by Dr. Ariel Ortiz, a physician from Tijuana who was compensated by Obalon to help research the capsule. Ortiz goes from his home in San Diego to his clinic, The Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, every day.
Dr. Ortiz’s facility in Mexico offers a variety of plastic surgery operations at a fraction of the cost of similar procedures in the United States.
Thousands of Americans flock to Mexico in quest of low-cost medical care because of his low charges. Ortiz claims that 70% of his clinic’s patients are Americans, and that his staff has received more than 100 calls from patients interested in learning more about the “balloon pill,” the majority of whom are also Americans.
Another alternative for those wanting to shed weight, according to Ortiz, is the balloon pill.
“We’re going to call it an option for some,” he said, referring to people who are terrified of surgery or who don’t fully qualify for it. “It will undoubtedly be a first step for those who are exceedingly overweight and, let’s say, have a very significant surgical risk.” I’m not willing to take that chance.”
So far, the outcomes have been outstanding. Patients have lost 30 pounds in 12 weeks, according to Dr. Ortiz.
Obalon is so new that there is no agreement in the medical community in the United States yet, but there is plenty of curiosity.
While bariatric surgery should be a last resort, Dr. David Katz, who teaches weight management at Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby, Connecticut, said his concern about Obalon is the user’s ability to maintain weight loss once the balloon is removed.
“The stomach is a hormone-producing organ, and bariatric surgery affects the production of a hormone called ghrelin, which is one of the procedure’s effects,” he explained.
“Does the balloon have that effect?” Will it be able to compete with the impacts of surgery? Because the surgery’s effects are usually permanent, and if you have a balloon inserted in your stomach to make you eat less and lose weight, are you then reliant on that balloon for the rest of your life?”
Patients come to Ortiz not only for the Obalon capsule, but also for other treatments that are allowed in the US but less expensive in Mexico, such as cosmetic and gastric-bypass procedures, according to Ortiz. The balloon pill costs around $4,000, which is a fraction of the cost of gastric bypass surgery and is far less invasive.
“We use the exact same equipment, instrumentation, and standards as are used in the United States without the overhead expenditures of operating in the United States with all that red tape,” Ortiz explained.
After three months, the pill is meant to be discontinued. Kimmy and Daisy Markley both dropped weight in the first 30 days, with Markley losing 10 pounds and Kimmy losing 22 pounds.
Both women are halfway to their targets, but the main test will be if they can keep the weight off when the balloons come out in two months.
Is a gastric balloon worth it?
An intragastric balloon can help you feel fuller earlier than you would ordinarily when eating, leading to you eating less. One reason for this could be that the intragastric balloon inhibits the emptying of the stomach.
What is the best non surgical weight loss?
The gastric balloon is the greatest non-surgical weight loss therapy on the market. It is fully non-surgical and has a low level of invasiveness. The body is free of cuts or microscopic holes.
How It Works
By swallowing or via an endoscopic tube, a deflated gastric balloon is introduced through the mouth (depending on what company you choose). Orbera, ReShape, and Obalon are three varieties of balloons offered in the United States. It takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes to finish each treatment. It passes via your esophagus and into your stomach. When it lands in your stomach, it expands to fill part of the empty space.
This causes patients to feel full sooner while eating, resulting in their eating less and losing weight than they would otherwise. In just six months, patients have shed up to one-third of their excess weight.
Aside from being a non-surgical option, doctors and patients agree that it is a safer alternative to the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and even the LAP-BAND. Despite the fact that it is non-surgical, it nevertheless results in significant weight loss while allowing you to eat anything you want, feel fuller for longer, and minimize your hunger.
Weight loss using a gastric balloon has a number of health benefits, including improved diabetes, cardiac health, and joint/bone difficulties.
After the Procedure
The patient is allowed to leave the hospital the same day as the balloon treatment, therefore there is no need for the patient to stay overnight. It takes three days to recover fully, which is faster than the alternatives to a gastric balloon, such as a bypass or sleeve, which can take weeks or months to recover after.
Doctors will be asked to recommend a 14-day transition diet with minor dietary restrictions. When you opt to remove the balloon, the diet transition will help you jump start improved eating and lifestyle habits, which will benefit your future health. The balloon will be removed after 6 months.
Downsides to the Procedure
Although there is a decreased chance of complications with the gastric balloon than with other operations, there are still minor and transitory side effects. If the patient needs to be sedated, general anesthesia risks can cause certain issues.
The balloon has a minimal chance of deflating, which could result in an obstruction. To avoid this, the balloon is loaded with a blue or green dye that causes the urine to become that color, alerting the patient to the fact that the balloon has deflated. Medications may be prescribed to prevent ulcers in some cases. Acute pancreatitis and balloon overinflation are two other hazards.
Because this operation is only temporary, there is a chance of weight gain.
Do you put weight back on after gastric balloon?
The amount of weight you lose is determined by your beginning weight and your ability to stick to a new diet and exercise routine. If you don’t stick to your new workout routine once the gastric balloon is removed, you’ll gain weight.
During the FDA studies, patients lost an average of ten percent of their baseline weight. Many regimens, on the other hand, claim that their patients lose between 15% and 20% of their body weight.
If you resume your previous way of life once the balloon has been removed, you will gain weight.
How much weight do you lose in first month with gastric balloon?
In our experience, a gastric balloon treatment normally results in a weight loss of 2-3 stone in the first 6 months after the balloon is placed, while some people have lost much more. We anticipate that you will lose 70-80% of your weight in the first three months, after which your weight loss will slow or flatten, and the balloon will become more helpful in helping you maintain your new weight.
The amount of weight you lose will be determined on your beginning weight and your ability to adjust to the new eating habits that the balloon can promote. As you are well aware, there are no miracles when it comes to weight loss, therefore it is critical to remain disciplined and focused in order to achieve long-term success. This is why the nutritional and physical exercise components of our support plan are crucial to long-term success.
Can you have a gastric balloon twice?
A second surgery, on the other hand, increases the risk of problems such as infection, bleeding, and gastrointestinal leakage. Because of these concerns, if you acquire weight as a result of bad diet or exercise habits, gastric bypass surgery is rarely performed.
Who is not a candidate for gastric balloon?
- You are reluctant or unable to adhere to a 12-month program that includes a healthy diet and activity plan, beginning with the balloon insertion and continuing for 6 months afterward.
- You use anti-inflammatories or anticoagulants, such as blood clot medications, on a prescription basis.
- You’re expecting a baby in the next six months, or you’re breastfeeding.