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Our clinical Behaviour Lifestyle Support Programme is only suitable for certain people. As a guideline, if your BMI is over 25 and you have a weight issue you are likely to be suitable for a gastric balloon.

Please note you are not suitable for the Behaviour Lifestyle  Programme if you have previously undergone gastric or any other upper abdominal surgery.

If you are clinically obese, looking for a short-term solution to weight loss to reduce health risks associated with obesity; as preparation to vital surgery; or as part of a supervised weight loss programme, then we can help you achieve your weight loss goals. 

 

How does our Behaviour Lifestyle Programme work?

 

The gastric balloon (which is made of double wall elastic, durable, high quality silicone envelope (bag) is inserted using a gastroscope by either the surgeon or gastroenterologist. Once it is within the stomach and below the level of the cardia it can be safely inflated with air using a sterile 60ml syringe. The balloon is very slowly inflated under direct visualisation. Once it has reached its optimum capacity, the tube used to inflate it can be released and removed leaving the balloon behind. After removal of the tube a further inspection is done to ensure the passage of the oesophagus is free and in normal condition.

 

How long will it take to insert a gastric balloon?

 

The procedure does not require an overnight stay, as only local anaesthetic is required it can be competed in about 10-15 minutes.

 

What results can I expect from having a gastric balloon inserted?

 

Patients have lost as much as 18.5 Kg over a 6 month period provided they followed  the body plan advice given as part of their treatment .

 

How long is the recovery period having a gastric balloon inserted?

 

It is recommend  that you take some rest before returning to work. Your surgeon will be able to advise more on this during your first consultation.

 

Are there any after effects to a gastric balloon?

 

Immediately after the procedure, the patient is advised to sip water only occasionally and or suck on an ice cube. The first few days after having a gastric balloon inserted will be uncomfortable as the stomach gets used to the presence of the balloon. The patient may experience nausea, vomiting, bloating during this time until the body adjusts. With the air filled balloon the symptoms do not persist more than a few days unlike liquid filled devices that can take much longer. Aside from normal, post-implantation discomfort, you should not experience side effects from the Heliosphere air filled intragastric balloon. If anything abnormal is happening, you are encouraged to get in touch with the clinic as soon as possible so we can see if there is any problem is and, if so, put it right straight away. We offer a comprehensive and extensive post-operative care programme, which includes detailed post-operative instructions and follow-up appointments with your surgeon to ensure a speedy recovery, all at no additional cost.

 

Are there risks associated with having a gastric balloon inserted?

 

As with all operations, there are some risks associated with the procedure Your surgeon can help put you at ease regarding any worries you may have. You can talk through these concerns at your free consultation.

 

Can the air escape from the Heliosphere balloon?

 

It is very unlikely that this will happen. This is because the inner part of the envelope housing the Heliosphere is coated with pure gold. The pure gold prevents this from ever occurring. In fact, in vitro tests with the balloon reveal that it does not loose deflation even after 8 months of implantation. There is also a clinical trial showing the balloon can be implanted for longer than 6 months in humans proving that deflation is not a major concern. The only way it could deflate is if it was physically cut across with a very sharp tool. To give you an idea of how strong the balloon is, when it is time to remove it, the device is punctured about 13 times. This does not cause the air to leak, the air has to be forcefully extracted using a aspirator generator for a minimum of 5 minutes! Liquid balloons on the other hand are filled with a blue dye and one puncture causes the whole liquid to leak out demonstrating its fragility.This is why these balloons have to have an indicator to help identify when it has leaked. The theory is you will see the blue dye in your urine. However, this is highly unlikely because the dye would probably be absorbed by your body, diluted by your bodily fluids by the time it is excreted. The concentration of the dye is far too weak for it to be clearly identified in your urine, especially if you are dehydrated which is one of the side effects of having liquid filled balloons. Therefore you are very unlikely to spot this dye, unless the whole balloon spontaneously collapses which has been known to occur. So over a period of time (6 months) it could be leaking and can cause bowel obstruction without you being aware of this until it is too late. A secondary surgical procedure to remove the obstruction will be required, this one of the many risks of using liquid filled devices.

 

When is the air filled balloon removed

 

The Heliosphere is safely removed under exact endoscopic control after 6 months. There are ongoing studies to establish if it can be left within the stomach for a longer period but this is just experimental at this stage. The balloon is punctured using a sharp needle around the black valve of the device. The needle is then attached to an automatic aspirator which takes 5 minutes to extract all the air out of the heliosphere before it can be removed.

 

How much does our air filled gastric balloon procedure and support programme cost?

 

We offer a very competitive package to all our patients. Please call us to discuss your requirements.

 

How do I arrange to have a air filled gastric balloon?

 

The first step towards undergoing the procedure through the National Gastric Balloon Centre is to book a free consultation with a member of our friendly, expert team. At a consultation, you can expect to see a patient care co-ordinator, with whom you will have plenty of opportunities to ask any questions you may have about the procedure. The consultation will take around 30min , during which time you will not be given the ‘hard sell’. No pressure will be put on you to go through with the procedure, and you will not be forced to make a decision at the consultation. We understand that this is a big decision for you and we want you to be totally satisfied that it’s the right thing to do before committing to the procedure booking.