Is the gastric sleeve or balloon better for me?

Question

I'm 33 5'1 and 290 pounds I'm very overweight and am seriously considering weightless surgery. I want to weigh between 120 to 140 because I'm short so that means I'd like to loose around 160 pounds or more. What will be better gastric sleeve or gastric balloon? How much weight can you loose with the balloon? I'm kind of scared of anything invasive but don't know what other options are ok

Ali Sarac, MD · Answer

Hi There, 
There are plenty of patients, who are scared to have any surgery done. The good part of most Gastric Sleeve surgery is minimally invasive and closed as it is a laparoscopic surgery in which smallest incisions are made around your belly and a slender tool with a tiny camera and light is being inserted into your stomach and everything is screened on a monitor while following the surgical steps that is planned beforehand. With Gastric Sleeve operation 70 to 80% of your stomach is taken out and this reduces the capacity of your stomach with this cut -out part the hunger hormone will be disabled. You feel less hungry between meals because of the reduction of hunger hormone. Within that 18 months you could lose about 70% of the unwanted body weight. 
As for Gastric balloon it is an edoscopic procedure and that would only help you to lose about 5% to 10% of your body weight. If this meets your expectation then you can try this option first.

Inconclusion depending on your BMI value and the amount of weight you want to lose, the best option for you is Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

I hope this information helps you
Kind Regards,

Ali Solmaz, MD · Answer

Both the gastric sleeve and the gastric balloon are effective tools for weight loss, but they differ significantly in terms of invasiveness, weight loss potential, and long-term results. Given your weight loss goal of 160 pounds, the gastric sleeve may be a better option because it typically leads to greater and more sustained weight loss compared to the gastric balloon. On average, patients lose 60-70% of their excess weight with the sleeve, meaning you could potentially reach your target weight.
The gastric balloon is less invasive and involves placing a balloon in your stomach to limit food intake. However, the weight loss is usually more modest, with patients losing about 20-50 pounds during the 6 months the balloon is in place. It’s also a temporary solution and requires significant lifestyle changes to maintain the weight loss after removal.
If you’re concerned about the invasiveness of the sleeve, it’s worth noting that it’s performed laparoscopically, meaning small incisions and a quicker recovery. It’s permanent, so it requires a commitment to long-term dietary and lifestyle changes. If you’re unsure, you might consider starting with the balloon to see how you adapt to the changes, though it may not fully meet your weight loss goals.

Gopal Grandhige, MD · Answer

These are very personal choices, but based on what you have laid out this is what I do in my practice :
Medications for 10-30 pound weight lossGastric Balloons for 30-50 pound weight lossEndoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) incision free procedure : 50-150 pounds pound weight lossLaparoscopic/Robotic Sleeve gastrectomy or Gastric Bypass for : 100 pounds or greater
There is a lot missing in this answer, but let us know if we can help by performing a more thorough evaluation of your health history, labwork, etc.

Sergio Verduzco Casillas, MD · Answer

Hello, thanks for your question. First, you need an in-person exam to check your general health condition. Your choice depends on that. If you can, the best option is Gastric Sleeve to get a permanent solution to the obesity problems, discomfort, and health risks. I understand your concern about invasive surgical procedures, but gastric Sleeve with laparoscopy tech is minimally invasive. You'll have three incisions from 5 to 7 millimeters, with a quick recovery. Consult a specialized doctor in your area and see the videos about the procedures. Congrats, and good luck!

Steven Batash, MD · Answer

You are definitely a better candidate for gastric sleeve. Balloon is short term solution and I don’t think you will lose as much weight as you want with the balloon. I would save your money and go for gastric sleeve!

Cemal Kara, MD · Answer

Hello, Your BMI is 55.2. The gastric sleeve operation is appropriate for you rather than the gastric balloon. Because, the gastric balloon should be removed after a certain time. And you will start to gain weight after the removal of gastric ballon; it offers temporary solutions for the weight problems. However, the permanent weight control can be achieved by the gastric sleeve operation. The secreted Ghrelin Hormones of the stomach is taken out, approximately 80% of portion of stomach. After the operation, the amount of food eaten decreases and also the desire to eat. Additionally, the nutrition will help you about how should the nutrition will be after the gastric sleeve operation. The gastric sleeve operation is the safe procedure and the permanent weight control can be achieved by this operation.

Hasan Erdem, MD · Answer

Hello,Thank you for your question!
Balloon and Gastric Botox methods are without risk. This makes them advantageous over surgery. Unfortunately, success rates cannot be compared to surgery. You can also think like this. Success came with 1/3 balloon, 1/3 diet, 1/3 sports. Patients can loose 10-15 kg with gastric balloon.
Dr.HE

H. Joseph Naim, MD, FACS · Answer

There is really no comparison between Balloon and Sleeve. It’s like comparing apple and orange.
Obviously Sleeve has better and more long term results. Most people lose about third of their initial weight.
That being said, Sleeve requires actual surgery with some potential risk vs Balloon that is non-invasive and reversible. Average weight loss with the balloon is about 30-40 lbs. The balloon needs to be removed in 6 months!
They both require lifestyle modifications, including proper diet and exercise.

Felipe Garcia, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi!, for your BMI the gastric sleeve is a good option, we give at our patients attention with psychologist and nutritionist, and 1 year post operative consultation with doctors

Pablo Garcia, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello
Thank you so much for your question and congratulation on taking the decision to become healthier.
The sleeve gastrectomy, which reduces the size of the stomach might be an option because the 70% to 80% of the stomach is removed and the part that produce Ghrelin which is a hormone that makes you feel hungry. Paired with healthy diet and exercise you should have a successful procedure. 
To qualify for weight loss surgery, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recommends you meet one of the following:
1- BMI ≥ 40, or more than 100 pounds overweight.
2- BMI ≥35 and at least one or more obesity-related co-morbidities such as type II diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or heart disease.
3- Inability to achieve a healthy weight loss sustained for a period of time with prior weight loss efforts.
Remember that the surgery limits the quantity of the food intake but doesn't help with the quality of what you eat. 
You might consider the gastric sleeve because of your BMI, the gastric balloon won't that effective in long term results.
Have a consultation with a bariatric surgeon this will allow you to discuss about the different procedures in details. Many factors should be considered when deciding for a bariatric surgery, is needed to check your current health status with lab work and in a consultation you can accomplish this.  Don't be discouraged and continue searching the best option to improve your health.
Good luck in this journey, hope this information helps

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