Differences between gastric balloon and gastric sleeve: which operation is right for you?

Are you still not clear about what are the differences between the gastric balloon and the gastric sleeve?Are you interested in discovering what distinguishes these procedures to find the ideal solution for your overweight problems? 

In this post, we will compare both procedures so you can understand the difference between gastric balloon and gastric sleeve. This way you will be able to understand what advantages each one offers and in which cases one operation or the other is more advisable.

What is the gastric balloon?

The gastric balloon (also known as intragastric balloon) is a device that the bariatric surgeon implants for about 6 months in the patient's stomach to help him/her deal with moderate overweight problems. The gastric balloon implantation is performed endoscopically, so it does not require surgery.

Because the balloon takes up space in the patient's stomach, the patient feels less hungry and is filled with less food, which contributes to weight loss.

After 6 months, the gastric balloon must be removed. In this interval, the patient must not only lose weight, but also redefine his or her diet to ensure that the weight is not regained once the device is removed.

Unlike the gastric sleeve, the gastric balloon is indicated for patients with mild obesity. That is, people who are not so severely overweight.

In morbidly obese patients, the gastric balloon is ineffective, so many patients have to resort to the bariatric surgeries as the gastric bypass or gastric sleeve.

Main benefits

1. It does not require surgical intervention.
2. Incisions are not necessary, so the procedure leaves no scars.
3. It is a very safe procedure.
4. It is a fast procedure, it can be ready in up to 15 minutes.
5. In most cases, the gastric balloon helps to lose between 30 and 47% of excess weight, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Disadvantages of the gastric balloon

1. It is not effective for morbidly obese patients.
2. There is a high probability that the patient will regain the lost weight if he/she does not follow a strict diet.
3. This is a temporary procedure, so the changes are not definitive.
4. May make it difficult to sleep.
5. It does not produce as marked a weight loss as the weight loss operations such as gastric sleeve.

What is gastric sleeve?

The gastric sleevegastrectomy, also known as vertical gastrectomy, is a surgical intervention in which bariatric surgeon reduces the size of the patient's stomach by up to 80% in order to reduce the sensation of hunger and reduce the amount of food required for the patient to feel satiated.

Of all bariatric surgeries, it is one of the quickest and safest interventions, as the risks of gastric sleeve are relatively low. In addition, the gastric sleeve price is also quite accessible, especially in countries such as Mexico.

The gastric sleeve can help most patients lose between 70 and 80% of excess weight, that is, between 20 and 40 kg. It is also one of the most effective bariatric surgeries available.

It is recommended for morbidly obese patients, for those who present much more serious overweight problems and require a more immediate solution.

Main benefits

1. It is a very effective surgery. The success rate of gastric sleeve surgery ranges between 80 and 90%, according to the specialized web portal Beltre Bariatrics.
2. Helps you lose up to 70% of excess weight.
3. Despite being an irreversible surgery, it does not impair the way the stomach or digestive system functions, and is therefore much less likely to cause complications in this regard, as experts from Cleveland Clinic.
4. It is a very safe surgery. This is one of the main benefits of gastric sleeve and is one of the reasons why patients often prefer this procedure.
5. The risk of a rebound effect is low.
6. It is a quick surgery, it takes about an hour to be ready.

Disadvantages of gastric sleeve

1. It is not the most effective weight loss procedure of all.
2. It is an irreversible surgery, the changes it produces are permanent, so it requires a major commitment on the part of the patient.
3. As a surgical procedure, it requires incisions that can leave scars and cause complications such as bleeding and infection, although there is only an 1% chance of this occurring.
4. There is a slight possibility of producing nutritional deficiencies, since with a reduced stomach it is much more difficult to get all the nutrients that the organism requires.

Main differences between the gastric balloon and the gastric sleeve

These are some of the main differences between the gastric balloon and the gastric sleeve:

1. The gastric balloon does not require surgery, the gastric sleeve does.
2. The gastric balloon is a temporary procedure, the gastric sleeve is permanent and irreversible.
3. In most cases, the gastric balloon can help to lose between 30 and 47% of excess weight, or about 10 kg; while the sleeve allows to lose between 70 and 80% of excess weight in a 2-year interval, between 20 and 40 kg in total.
4. The gastric balloon is recommended for people with mild obesity problems, the gastric sleeve is oriented to people with morbid obesity.
5. With the gastric balloon, there is a high probability of a rebound effect, that is, that the patient regains the lost weight. With the gastric sleeve this is much less likely.

Which is better, the gastric sleeve or the gastric balloon?

In terms of efficacy, the gastric sleeve is much better than the gastric balloon, it is a safe, accessible procedure with a very high success rate. However, it is an irreversible surgery and is only recommended for morbidly obese people.

Therefore, it is important to understand that the best surgery is the one that suits your needs, that can offer you the results you are looking for and that will not compromise your health in the short, medium or long term.

But, ultimately, it will be your bariatric surgeon's job to tell you which of all the surgeries is ideal in your case, considering your health conditions and your specific needs.