How Much Weight Can I Lose with the Gastric Balloon?

The Orbera Gastric Balloon is the latest weapon in the long battle against obesity. Long popular in Europe, it’s a nonsurgical treatment that actually works. Even so, answering the question “How much weight can I lose with the gastric balloon?” in any precise fashion is difficult. Here at Beverly Hills Physicians, we want our patients to know that it’s up to numerous factors, including the commitment of the patient. That’s because, while the balloon makes it a lot easier to lose weight, it doesn’t lose weight for you. The reality is that there is no particular limit or guarantee of how much weight you can lose with the gastric balloon. On the other hand, we do have very solid information on how much weight Orbera patients have been able to lose with the device in the past.

A 2016 study of 255 subjects found that found that the median weight loss for patients attempting to lose weight without the balloon was 3.3 percent of their overall weight. Meanwhile, patients who had the balloon lost a median amount of 10.2 percent of their weight. Overall, Orbera patients lost 3.1 times as much as the control group and were able to maintain their weight loss for six months following the removal of the device.

In other words, the Orbera Gastric Balloon is no magic wand, but it can make your help you to lose significantly more weight than you would have otherwise.

Other Facts About the Orbera Gastric Balloon

The device is intended for patients who are medically considered to be obese, but who are not yet severely obese and therefore do not qualify for bariatric surgery. Patients have BMIs (body mass indexes) from 30 to 40.
Orbera is implanted through a non-surgical medical procedure which places the balloon in the stomach via an endoscope. After the procedure, overeating becomes uncomfortable and patients’ appetites are reduced.
Since the procedure is performed with an anesthetic, patients report little discomfort.
Recovery time for an Orbera procedure varies, but most patients are able to return to work in roughly three to five days.
The procedure is temporary, with the balloon being left in for a period of six months.

Other Options

The only other type of effective anti-obesity procedures are still bariatric surgeries such as a sleeve gastrectomy. To qualify for a bariatric surgery, you typically need to have a BMI of 40 or above, or 35 and above with significant related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes. Patients can also take advantage of BHP’s weight loss coaching services which can help whether patients have significant weight problems or just need help dropping 10 or 20 pounds.

Getting Started

If you are interested in obtaining an Orbera Gastric Balloon or any other procedure, contact us for a consultation at the phone number above. You can also use this link to request a consultation .