I had a great experience! I underwent the gastric balloon surgery around a year ago in December 2016. I subsequently lost 45 pounds. I went from around 200 to around 155. I did exercise daily. With the balloon, I became full very quickly. For the first three months, I lost weight because my food intake (of not particularly healthy food) was reduced. For the next three months, I realized I had better try to more rigorously improve the nutrition aspect of what I was eating. After the balloon was removed (in July 2017) the reformed eating has helped me keep the pounds off. I do attribute my success to Dr. Raijman; I had and still have tremendous respect for his abilities. That helped because before I had the surgery I was very unsure about what I was doing! I had minimal side effects and was well fixed up with medicines for potential side effects in case I needed them. I highly recommend him. I'll go back to him if I need a colonoscopy! His staff is so nice too. Natalia just felt like a very competent sister!

I was very prepared for the "bad" until my body adjusted to the ballon. I am here so say I never saw the bad. I slept most of the day after procedure but drank my broth and had very few cramps. I was never nauseous... Never vomited... Could only tell the ballon was there on a few occasions while lying in bed on my back. I started regular diet on day 12, I am up to working out an hour and a half a day, and my very high blood pressure is now normal. Weight is coming off started at 156 and am 147 today on day 22. I could not be happier with the results so far. I do think that my positive experience was due to optimum placement of ballon by my Dr. He is in active Practice in Gastroenterology and Therapeutic Endoscopy. I truly believe his ability to use the scope to place the ballon in its rightful place rather than my body having to work it to that placement is why me body accepted the ballon so quickly and with such few side effects. I am a happy patient and am excited to see what the rest of the Orbera journey will provide. Updated on 27 Jul 2016: Day 30 and I am happier than ever with my decision to use the Orbera ballon for weight loss and Dr Isaac Raijman and his staff to walk this journey with me. I am amazed at how well I am doing. Was on vacation for 5 days visiting my daughter and handled the eating out really well. I learned a lot about my lack of understanding how to find the healthiest foods on menu and will talk to my nutritionist about this. This program being supported with my great Dr, his staff, and the twelve months of nutrition support is why this has been so very successful so far.