Gastric Balloon: An Alternative to Invasive Weight Loss Surgery

Bariatric surgery has long been proven to help those who are severely overweight shed pounds and keep them off. These procedures, including gastric bypasses and the sleeve gastrectomy, aren’t for everyone though. With strict body mass index requirements and a highly invasive nature, standard weight loss surgery is generally reserved as a last-resort option in serious cases where obesity may or already has interfered with overall health.

 The reality of the requirements involved for bariatric surgery leaves a lot of people who are overweight and could benefit from help out in the cold. Enter a new procedure that is mostly non-invasive and meant to target people with lower BMIs. Called the gastric balloon procedure, this new option mimics the effects of bariatric surgery without the surgery. It also happens to be a temporary measure, which means no permanent alterations of the body take place.

 The balloon procedure works much like the sleeve gastrectomy. It is designed to limit the stomach’s holding capacity, which promotes the consumption of less food. The procedure involves the insertion of a balloon into the stomach through the mouth. Once in place, the balloon is inflated to take up space within the stomach. In doing so, it prevents people from eating more than they should by making them feel fuller faster. Unlike a sleeve procedure that involves changing the size of the stomach permanently, the balloon stays in place for about six months and then passes through the body on its own.

 Bariatric surgery can help people shed pounds and keep them off. This invasive option just isn’t right for everyone. The relatively new balloon procedure, however, offers a way for people who are not candidates for more invasive surgeries to get the help they need to lose weight and keep it off. Since balloon procedures are temporary, patients should use the time the balloon is in place to develop lasting lifestyle changes that will promote maintenance of weight loss and continued weight loss down the road. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Exploring Lifestyle Changes to Support Weight Loss

Image
Weight loss surgery is an effective way to help people achieve their weight loss goals. While the surgery itself can be a powerful tool in helping people to lose weight, it is important to remember that it is only one part of a successful weight loss plan. To maximize the benefits of weight loss surgery, lifestyle changes are essential for long-term success. After having weight loss surgery, making lifestyle changes can help ensure that you reach and maintain your desired results.   The first step in making lifestyle changes after having weight loss surgery is to follow the post-operative instructions provided by your surgeon. Your doctor may provide specific instructions for your recovery period, such as phased dietary restrictions and activity level guidelines. Depending on the type of procedure you had, there may also be additional guidelines that you need to follow. It is important to follow these instructions closely to ensure a healthy recovery and successful long-term resu...
Read more

Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve - Which One is Better?

Image
Bariatric surgery offers options for many people who may have otherwise continued to struggle with obesity. Each option offers something specific depending on your lifestyle, your health, and your weight loss goals. Two choices are “gastric bypass” and “gastric sleeve”. These procedures are similar but have their own set of benefits and risks. Regardless of which operation you choose to go with, following your pre-op and post diet is important for safe and successful results.  Both procedures are effective in helping to prevent these obesity-related conditions: High blood pressure   Diabetes   Sleep apnea   High cholesterol When selecting the operation that’s right for you, it can be helpful to go over the similarities and variations between the two types of bariatric surgeries.  How Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve Surgery Compare Patients who undergo gastric bypass will typically stay one night in the hospital . Sleeve gastrectomy is usually an outp...
Read more

COVID-19 Risks Motivating More People to Have Weight Loss Surgery

Image
Since the pandemic started almost two years ago, multiple studies have shown that two main risk factors for poor Covid-19 outcomes are advanced age and obesity. While age is not a changeable risk factor, obesity is. Studies have established obesity as a major risk factor for developing serious illness from an infection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Obesity weakens the immune system, creates a chronic inflammatory state, and increases risk for cardiovascular disease, blood clots, and lung conditions. All of these conditions can complicate COVID-19. Our team at the Nicholson Clinic is available to help you enhance your survival rate and minimize COVID-19 risks, as well as other weight related illnesses, through weight loss surgery. How does bariatric surgery help weight loss? Bariatric surgery procedures promote weight loss in one of three ways: Restriction, or limiting the amount of food you can eat before feeling full by reducing the size of the stomach.   M...
Read more