Gastric Procedures

The gastric balloon procedure is a temporary treatment for obesity that helps you lose weight by reducing the volume of your stomach without surgery.

What is a gastric balloon?

A gastric balloon is a soft, smooth, durable balloon made of silicone rubber. It is designed to be placed in the stomach to reduce its capacity and help you feel full with less food.

The deflated balloon is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach by a doctor using an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube).

The balloon is then filled with saline solution (saltwater) to occupy space in the stomach, leaving less room for large amounts of food and drink. The idea is to help you feel full faster after eating smaller meals, and maintain that feeling of fullness longer so you are less hungry between meals.

Who may be a candidate for a stomach balloon?

A gastric balloon procedure may be a weight loss option for some adults who:

• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 40 — BMI reflects the relationship between a person’s weight and height. A BMI of 30 or above is a sign of obesity. The procedure may be recommended for people with a BMI higher or lower than 30 to 40 in some circumstances, for example:
• Have not been able to lose weight with diet, lifestyle modifications and medications
• Prefer a less invasive alternative to anatomy-changing bariatric surgery.

If your doctor recommends losing weight before a planned surgery, such as joint replacement, or to assist with fertility, a gastric balloon can help you achieve the desired weight in a relatively short period of time.

Losing Weight with a Gastric Balloon.

For the first two weeks after gastric balloon insertion, you will be on a liquid diet, followed by a gradual transition to regular food. Your health care team will provide guidelines regarding diet restrictions.

You are likely to lose weight quickly, especially in the first three to four months of living with the gastric balloon. Typically, people lose about 10 to 15% of their body weight by the time the six-month program is complete.

The gastric balloon may be one part of a comprehensive weight loss approach. Your doctor may also recommend other professionals or treatments such as a dietician, behavioral specialist, or medical therapy to support healthy diet and exercise habits long-term and to help prevent you from regaining weight after the balloon is taken out.

A procedure to address obesity, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty can reduce the size of the stomach without the need for an incision through the skin.

What is endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty?

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is a minimally invasive weight loss procedure that uses an endoscopic suturing (stitching) device to reduce the stomach’s size and volume by about 70%.

When your stomach holds less volume, you can feel full with less food, absorb fewer calories and lose weight over time. ESG also shortens and re-shapes the stomach, which helps it empty into the intestines slower. This helps you feel fuller longer.

For the right candidate, ESG may be a less invasive alternative to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Both procedures reduce the stomach size, but the surgical approach does so by removing part of the stomach, while ESG uses stitches to bring folds of the stomach together like an accordion (similar to sewing a dart to tailor clothing). Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is reversible for most patients.

Who might be a candidate for endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty?

The endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty procedure may be an option for adults who:

• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (a sign of obesity)
• Have not had success with lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise
• Are looking for an alternative to more invasive bariatric surgery
• Are prepared to make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle

ESG can be part of a plan to reduce the risk of weight-related illness such as high blood pressure, diabetes, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea or heart disease. This procedure is especially effective when combined with a program that includes behavioral therapy, exercise and dietary changes.

ESG may not be suitable for people with conditions including stomach ulcers, large hiatal hernias and bleeding disorders.

Before the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, your doctor may ask you to complete some laboratory tests.

The doctor will discuss specific instructions you will need to follow before the procedure. They can include:

• Fasting from midnight the day before the procedure
• Temporary changes in your medications before and after the procedure