Gastric balloon

• Obesity is a chronic disease with multiple causes, manifested by an increase in fat storage in the body, and leads to many accompanying diseases.
• The most important causes of obesity: heredity, lack of movement and activity, fast food rich in calories, hormones, the most important of which is ghrelin (the hunger hormone).
• BMI (Body Mass Index): This is the main criterion used in bariatric surgery, and is calculated as follows:

                                       BMI = weight ÷ height squared

Where weight is calculated in kilograms, and height in square meters, the results are classified as follows:

• Obesity causes many complications, the most important of which are: diabetes – hyperlipidemia – high pressure – heart disease – sleep apnea – articular pain and an increased risk of degeneration of joints bearing body weight such as the hip and knee – polycystic ovary – poor fertility.
• Obesity also predisposes to many cancers, the most important of which are: breast cancer – colon cancer.
• Obesity is a common problem around the world, and Turkey is one of the leading countries in the field of medicine, especially operations related to the treatment of overweight and obesity.
• Intragastric balloon insertion: It is the easiest procedure related to weight loss, and is suitable for people who are overweight and obese (BMI less than 35).
• The balloon is made of silicone, and after it is inserted into the stomach, it is filled with saline materials to take up approximately half of the stomach and leads to a
  feeling of fullness and satiety when eating half the usual meal, thus leading to weight loss.
• There are two types of balloon: the first is valid for 6 months, and the second is valid for 12 months.
• It causes a weight loss of about 10-20 kg on average within 6 months.
• This procedure is not considered a surgical procedure, because the balloon is placed inside the stomach by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (the endoscope is a soft, flexible tube with a camera at its end to monitor the progress of the operation).
• The balloon installation process takes about 25-40 minutes.

Features and benefits of balloon installation

• It can be performed on obese, high-risk patients who are not subject to anesthesia and surgical procedures.
• It is used for patients with a BMI of less than 35 for cosmetic purposes.
• Some people may feel uncomfortable after placing the balloon, and this is very normal because there is a new and foreign body inside the stomach, but this feeling begins to disappear gradually during the few days following the operation.
  

    Post-operative advice

• In the first stages, fluids are mainly relied upon to supply the body with its food needs, and after about two to three weeks, the usual food is started in an organized manner and a diet is followed up with the doctor.

   Balloon operation results

• The results begin to appear a few days after the operation, and the loss of 11-17% of the total weight takes place within 6 months.
• The balloon is removed after 6-12 months, depending on the type of balloon used.