What is a Gastric Balloon?
Patients who have excess weight that they cannot get rid of with diet or exercise can benefit from gastric balloon application. A gastric balloon is an inflatable device that is placed in the stomach endoscopically for a certain period of time. It takes up space in the stomach, thus reducing the need to eat more. The fact that it does not require surgical intervention makes it a preferred choice for many patients.
Losing Weight with a Gastric Balloon
A gastric balloon has been found to be beneficial for many people who want to lose weight. After gastric balloon surgery, you will need to follow a certain diet to lose weight. This diet can be divided into three periods in terms of what you can consume:
Phase 1 – Liquid Diet: You will need to follow a liquid diet for the first 7 days. All liquids you consume should be smooth liquids that do not contain any particles. You should drink high-protein shakes to compensate for your protein needs. Herbal teas and clear soups will be your preferred drinks during this period.
Phase 2 – Puree Diet: After the liquid diet period is over, you need to follow a puree diet. Again, there should be no particles in the foods you consume. When preparing your food, you should aim for a creamy consistency. You should eat 5-6 smaller meals each day. You should stop eating as soon as you feel full. During this phase, you can puree and eat almost anything. Remember that if you eat more than your stomach can handle, you may throw up.
Phase 3 – Soft Diet: When you transition to a normal diet, you should consume soft foods that you can mash with your fork. This period will last for 3 days. During this phase, you can start eating 3 meals a day and have healthy snacks between meals if you feel hungry. You can start eating scrambled eggs, beans, casseroles, cheese, etc. You should avoid foods with mixed textures such as cereals or seeds.
Phase 4 – Normal Diet: After the 15th day, you can start including normal foods in your diet. The only foods you should be careful about are dried meat, bread, rice, and pasta that may bother you. You should eat 3 meals a day without skipping them and not leave more than 4 hours between meals.
No matter what stage you are in, you should make sure your diet is balanced. In other words, you should make sure it contains enough nutrients. You should drink 2 liters of water every day to keep your metabolism running. You should also drink some water 30 minutes after each meal to ‘clean’ the balloon.
Who is a Candidate for a Gastric Balloon?
Gastric balloon surgery is a weight loss treatment. Anyone who wants to lose weight but cannot lose weight with diet and exercise alone can have a gastric balloon. It is also preferred because it does not require a high BMI level like other surgical procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass. However, the person must be strong-willed and strictly follow a special diet to benefit from the benefits of a gastric balloon.
What Happens During the Gastric Balloon Procedure?
The gastric balloon procedure does not require general anesthesia. It is performed under sedation for 20-30 minutes. After the patient faints, the surgeon inserts the balloon endoscopically into the stomach. It is inflated in the stomach according to the size of the patient’s stomach. The patient can go home within 1-2 hours after the procedure is completed.
Recovery from Gastric Balloon Procedure
Gastric balloon Turkey is not an invasive procedure, so there is no long and uncomfortable recovery process. You will be discharged from the hospital shortly after the surgery and can return to your daily life immediately. The only thing the patient needs to adapt to is the diet.
Gastric Balloon Side Effects and Complications
You may feel nausea and some discomfort after the gastric balloon procedure. These effects will only last a few days and will not affect your daily routine. In rare cases, the balloon may deflate or pass through your digestive system. This causes a blockage and requires another procedure to remove the balloon.
Other risks include ulcers, rupture of the balloon, or perforation of the stomach wall.
How Long Should the Gastric Balloon Stay in My Stomach?
There are mainly two types of gastric balloons; 6-month balloon and 12-month balloon. The price of a gastric balloon varies depending on the type. You can choose one of these depending on your weight loss goals. The 6-month balloon is relatively cheaper and does not require much post-operative monitoring. Once it is done, if you have no problems, you can keep it for up to 6 months. However, the 12-month balloon requires regular post-operative checks every 3 months to see if the balloon needs any adjustments. The surgeon also needs to check for any tears or damage to the balloon because the balloon, although durable, will be exposed to stomach acid.
