What is Intragastric Balloon?
Intragastric balloon placement is a weight-loss procedure that involves placing a saline-filled silicone balloon in your stomach. This helps you lose weight by limiting how much you can eat and making you feel fuller faster.
The intragastric balloon procedure may be an option if you have concerns about your weight, and diet and exercise haven’t worked for you.
Why it's done
The placement of an intragastric balloon helps you lose weight. Weight loss can lower your risk of potentially serious weight-related health problems, such as:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Heart disease or stroke
- High blood pressure
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Type 2 diabetes
Intragastric balloon placement and other weight-loss procedures or surgeries are typically done only after you’ve tried to lose weight by improving your diet and exercise habits.
Who is a good candidate for Intragastric Balloon?
An intragastric balloon may be an option for you if:
- Your body mass index (BMI) is between 30 and 40
- You’re willing to commit to healthy lifestyle changes, get regular medical follow-up and participate in behavioral therapy
- You have not had any previous stomach or esophageal surgery
Intragastric balloons aren’t the right choice for everyone who is overweight. A screening process will help your doctor see if the procedure might be beneficial for you.
At this time, the cost for placing and removing the intragastric balloon may not be covered by health insurance, and would therefore be an out-of-pocket expense.
How should I prepare for a Intragastric Balloon?
If you’re going to have an intragastric balloon placed in your stomach, your health care team will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your procedure. You may need to have various lab tests and exams before your procedure.
You may need to restrict what you eat and drink, as well as which medications you take, in the time leading up to the procedure. You may also be required to start a physical activity program.
