The Orbera intragastric balloon is a minimally invasive procedure. It is inserted through the mouth while the patient is mildly sedated. The balloon stays in the stomach for about six months. It is designed to be used with a medical weight loss program and lifestyle changes. Your doctor will assemble a team of experts, including nutritionists and gastroenterologists, to create your personalized weight loss plan. Then, they’ll determine if the intragastric balloon is right for you.
It’s Non-Surgical
During a quick, outpatient procedure, a thin deflated balloon is inserted through your mouth and into the stomach while under mild sedation. The balloon is then filled with saline until it’s about the size of a grapefruit. The process takes 20 minutes or less; you can go home the same day. The gastric balloon occupies space in the stomach, which helps you feel full faster and reinforces proper portion sizes. During the first three months, most patients experience rapid weight loss. Once the balloon is removed, you must continue following your personalized diet and exercise plan for lasting results. On average, Orbera users lose 3.1 times more weight than with diet and exercise alone. To ensure you’re a good candidate for this procedure, your doctor will perform a physical examination and identify internal factors that could prevent you from safely receiving the intragastric balloon. It would help if you were not pregnant or planning to get pregnant within six months of the procedure. Additionally, you can’t receive the Orbera if you have a history of stomach irritation or ulcers.
It’s Effective
During your six months with the Orbera balloon, you will work closely with your treatment team to make healthy changes to help you lose weight and keep it off long after the balloon is removed. The soft Orbera gastric balloon takes up space in your stomach to help you eat less and feel full sooner. It is the first balloon placed in the gastrointestinal tract without surgery and with only mild sedation. The procedure is very safe and effective. The Orbera balloon is inserted into the stomach via the esophagus while you’re under mild sedation. This intragastric balloon placement does not cause incisions or scarring, making it a popular choice for people who want to lose weight. It is also one of the most effective options for helping patients maintain a healthier diet and lose weight that they can sustain over the long term. The rate of complications for Orbera is very low. In the first year of clinical trials, on average, patients lost 3.1 times more than those who used diet and exercise alone.
It’s Non-Invasive
If you’ve been trying to lose weight with diet and exercise but haven’t seen the results you want, the Orbera intragastric balloon may be a solution. The FDA-approved procedure involves placing a soft, saline-filled balloon in your stomach for six months to reinforce proper portion control. During that time, you’ll also be working with a medical weight loss program to help you develop healthy lifestyle habits you can maintain long after the balloon has been removed. The procedure itself is a quick, minimally invasive outpatient treatment. It’s performed under endoscopic guidance, and patients are only mildly sedated during the entire process. You can return home once the balloon is safely inserted and the sedation has worn off. The balloon itself is made of durable, soft silicone. It is filled with saline, as opposed to the gas used in some other models available outside the U.S. During the six months the device resides in your stomach, you’ll work with a weight loss coach and other members of your treatment team on a diet and exercise plan that should result in more pronounced weight loss than you would experience with just dieting alone.
It’s Affordable
The balloon takes up space in the stomach, causing you to feel full with smaller portions. It also helps you form healthy eating habits that will last after removing the Orbera balloon. While the Orbera gastric balloon is in place, you’ll work closely with a team of professionals on a comprehensive weight loss program. You’ll receive regular face-to-face and virtual meetings with your team to ensure you make the best progress toward your goals.
This next-generation weight loss tool can stay in your stomach for up to 12 months, but it’s easy to remove before then. Once it’s out, we’ll help you develop new habits that make it easier to stick with your weight loss goals and keep them off.
It’s Safe
The FDA-approved Orbera gastric balloon is a soft, flexible silicone intragastric balloon that takes up space in your stomach, so you can’t eat as much. It’s placed in the stomach through an endoscope while you are lightly sedated and takes 30 minutes to set. After a short time of rest and observation, you will be discharged. You may experience a little discomfort as the balloon fills your stomach, but this is temporary. Nausea, bloating and diarrhea are common and normal for the first two weeks as you adjust to your new diet. You can expect to lose significant weight during your six-month period with Orbera. However, this is not a permanent solution, and the weight loss will only continue if you follow a healthy diet. Orbera’s soft, sterile balloon is filled with saline to be about the size of a grapefruit, unlike the Obalon model or some other brands of gastric balloons available outside the US, which are filled with a gas such as carbon dioxide.
