Pros and cons of the gastric balloon: is it the solution you are looking for to lose weight?

Are you interested in knowing the pros and cons of the gastric balloon? Are you considering this treatment to leave your weight problems behind? Then keep reading, because in this post we will tell you what are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of the gastric balloon, so you will be much clearer if it is the type of solution you have been looking for.

Advantages of the gastric balloon

The gastric balloon has many advantages over many weight reduction operationsThese are some of the main ones:

1. Does not require surgical intervention

The gastric balloon does not require surgery for its insertion, it is placed in the stomach endoscopically, which means that you do not have to deal with the repercussions of a surgical procedure and that the whole treatment is much safer and faster.

Moreover, with some programs and certain types of gastric balloons, no endoscopy or anesthesia is even needed to place the balloon, making it even safer.

2. It is a safer and faster procedure than other weight loss operations.

As the insertion of the intragastric balloon is done without any surgery, the procedure is very fast (it takes about 20 minutes in most cases) and much safer than the rest of the options offered by the bariatric surgery. 

3. Does not require hospitalization

If you have a gastric balloon placed, you will not need hospitalization, since the whole insertion procedure is very simple, safe and does not involve any cutting or surgery.

4. It is a reversible procedure

One of the great advantages of the gastric balloon over procedures such as gastric bypass surgery is that it can be used for gastric sleeveis that it is reversible. That is, whenever you wish, you could reverse the procedure to return your stomach to normal.

And considering that the insertion of the balloon does not change the functioning of your digestive system in any way, reversing the treatment is much simpler and feasible.

5. It is one of the cheapest and most accessible treatments

Just by looking how much does a gastric bypass cost in Mexico and with knowledge of the price of a gastric sleeve you can get an idea of how accessible the gastric balloon is.

Of all the bariatric treatments, the most common is the gastric balloon price is the lowest.

6. Recovery from treatment is very fast

The recovery from bariatric surgery can take up to a year, however, in the case of the gastric balloon, the recovery takes much less time because the procedure does not require surgery or incisions. Therefore, the only thing that is needed is for the stomach to get used to the balloon for the recovery to be complete.

7. It is a very effective weight loss option

Although it is a less drastic option than other bariatric treatments, it is very effective. According to experts at the Mayo ClinicMost gastric balloon patients lose between 30 and 47% of excess weight in 6 months. 

8. Does not alter the functioning of the stomach

Another great advantage of the gastric balloon is that it does not modify in any way the functioning of the stomach or the digestive system, which minimizes complications and considerably reduces the potential risks and side effects of the treatment.

9. There is very little likelihood of side effects.

Because the procedure is so simple and minimally invasive, the likelihood of side effects is virtually nil.

10. You can withdraw at any time

As 100% is reversible, you can remove the gastric balloon at almost any time and return to normal, which is not possible with bariatric operations such as gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.

Disadvantages of the gastric balloon

Despite its many advantages, the gastric balloon also has some disadvantages that you should consider before deciding to undergo the procedure:

1. Weight loss is not as great as with other bariatric procedures.

While it can help you lose up to 47% of excess weight, the loss will not be as great as in the case of more radical operations such as gastric sleeve or bypass.

2. It is a treatment more vulnerable to the rebound effect

As the gastric balloon is reversible, and does not alter the functioning of the stomach or reduce its capacity, it is likely that you will have a rebound effect if you do not watch your diet or if you do not follow your bariatric surgeon's instructions. The rebound effect is when you regain part (or all) of the weight you have lost.

Logically, it is less likely to occur with operations such as gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, since they make more considerable changes in the stomach and are not reversible.

3. Does not work for all cases

Although the gastric balloon is a great option for many people, it will not apply to everyone. For example, if you need to lose much more weight than the gastric balloon would allow or if you have endocrinological conditions you cannot have a gastric balloon.

4. Depends considerably on diet to be effective

Unlike gastric bypass, which produces an important change in the absorption of nutrients from your body, helping you to lose weight, even if your diet is not optimal, the gastric balloon is very dependent on your diet.

This means that if you do not stick closely enough to the diet prescribed by your nutritionist/bariatrician, it is likely that you will not lose much weight and, in some cases, it is very likely that you will regain some of the lost weight.

If you've gotten this far, you should already be much clearer about the advantages and disadvantages of the gastric balloon, and you can get an idea of whether it offers what you need.

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