Gastric Balloon: What You Need to Know

Pros

• Gastric balloons are a more minimally invasive option for those people who don’t want (or don't qualify for) invasive weight-loss surgery. 
• Clinical studies report that patients lose twice as much weight with a weight loss balloon and lifestyle changes than with weight loss programs that involve diet and exercise alone. 
• Many patients start to experience weight loss results within three months of insertion, which reduces their risk of weight-related medical issues.
• The weight you lose should stay off even after the balloon is removed, if you stick to a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

Cons

• Gastric balloons aren't the right choice for everyone who wants to lose weight; you’ll have to qualify for the procedure. 
• This weight loss option is not covered by insurance, and it can be costly.  
• Side effects like pain, nausea, back pain, and acid reflux affect about one-third of people soon after the balloon is inserted. Your doctor can prescribe medication to alleviate these symptoms. 
• While rare, it's possible that the balloon could deflate and move through your digestive system, creating a blockage that would need to be surgically removed. 
• People have reported feeling the balloon move, and it can create a noticeable bump depending on the placement of the balloon. “It’s not dangerous or abnormal that you can see the swelling in your abdomen that corresponds to where your balloon sits within your stomach. It just means you have lost enough weight for the contour of the balloon to show through your abdominal wall,” says New York City bariatric surgeon Dr. Daniel Rosen in a RealSelf Q&A.
• Another possible risk is an ulcer, or hole, in the stomach lining, caused by rubbing against the balloon. Rarely, this can lead to a serious infection or a blood clot, which can be fatal. 

RealSelf Tip: The FDA has issued two alerts for healthcare providers since 2016, following 17 deaths worldwide of patients with either Orbera or ReShape balloons. In January of 2019, the manufacturer of the ReShape balloon discontinued its distribution and sale; the Orbera balloon remains available.

Many of the deaths tied to intragastric balloons happened soon after the balloon placement, and some were related to complications like sepsis, esophageal or gastric perforation, and pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) due to perforation. 

The FDA also cited other problems with weight loss balloon systems, including acute pancreatitis and balloons spontaneously inflating to the point of discomfort. Talk with an experienced bariatric surgeon about whether this is the best choice for you.

• Average Cost:
• $3,250

• Range:
• $1,422 - $7,500

Your cost depends on which procedure you choose, as well as the experience level of your surgeon and their practice location.

See our complete guide to gastric balloon costs

The gastric balloon photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Intragastric balloon systems are primarily recommended for people with a BMI between 27 and 40. Good candidates may have additional obesity-related health issues, such as high blood pressure. 

Those with a lower BMI may be better off consulting professionals on how to stick to a healthy diet and exercise program, while those with a higher BMI may be better served by bariatric surgery. 

A weight-loss balloon is not a good option for people who’ve had previous weight-loss, stomach, or esophageal surgery, or who take prescription anti-inflammatories or anticoagulants (blood clot medicines).

Note that there are a few key differences between the three primary types of gastric balloon, and RealSelf members give them significantly different Worth It ratings. In most cases, they're an outpatient procedure.

Elipse is a single balloon that’s swallowed and then filled with a sterile saline solution during an in-office procedure. Unlike other intragastric balloons, it's a non-surgical procedure that doesn't require endoscopy, and will deflate on its own after four months. After it degrades, it's passed naturally by the body. There is no need to pull the balloon out through the mouth.

RealSelf members give Elipse a 98% Worth It rating. 

Orbera Balloon is inserted endoscopically and then filled with saline. It stays in your stomach for six months before it’s removed, but you’ll have a full year of support from a dietitian, a fitness trainer, and a doctor, via an app, to help you change your exercise habits and transition to a healthier diet. 

RealSelf members give Orbera a 42% Worth It rating. 

Obalon is a three-balloon system that you swallow during in-office visits, a few months apart. Each Obalon balloon capsule is roughly the size of a large grape. After six months, all three balloons are removed via endoscope. Note: Some people can’t swallow the capsule, so they aren’t able to do the Obalon balloon system.

RealSelf members give Obalon a 43% Worth It rating.

A few weeks before your gastric balloon is inserted, your doctor will give you some guidelines for what to eat and drink as well as which medications you may need to stop taking.

On the day of your procedure, you’ll be given mild sedation, so you’ll be sleepy and relaxed. For Elipse, you will not need to be sedated.

For endoscopic procedures, your doctor advances a catheter holding the gastric balloon down your throat into your stomach, followed by an endoscope (a tiny camera on a tube), so they can see and accurately fill the balloon. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and you can return home the same day. Just make sure you have someone there to take you, since you’ll be a bit groggy. 

For balloons that you swallow, you'll do so at your doctor's office and they'll fill the balloon via an attached catheter while monitoring you. They detach the catheter, and you're ready to go.

You can expect to see weight loss of about 10 to 15 percent of your existing body weight. In a randomized intragastric balloon clinical trial, of the 255 adults with a BMI of 30–40 who had a gastric balloon plus behavioral therapy (i.e., also worked with a nutritionist and a psychologist), 29% lost the excess weight, compared to 14% of those who had only behavioral therapy (with no balloon). 

If you’re looking for more dramatic weight loss procedure, you may want to consider bariatric surgeries such as a sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, or lap band.

RealSelf Tip: After significant weight loss, you can expect to have loose skin that may need to be removed with a surgical procedure like a body lift.

Balloon removal, either through passing it naturally or at your doctor's office, happens after six months at most. Long-term weight loss is possible so long as you stick with a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

A gastric balloon can burst inside the stomach. The most common symptoms include weight gain or a loss of the sensation of fullness. 

It's usually harmless if this happens, but in rare cases, the deflated balloon can lead to a bowel obstruction that needs to be surgically removed.