Gastric Balloon: A New Weight Loss Solution

The Surgical Weight Loss Centre is excited to introduce a new procedure for patients interested in achieving significant and sustained weight loss. The Orbera ® is a soft silicone polymer balloon that is placed in the stomach using gastroscopy and then filled with 600cc of saline. The Gastric Balloon works by inducing a sense of satiety or fullness after a much smaller meal.

Much like the Lap-Band, weight loss is induced through a reduction in caloric intake. The Gastric Balloon is designed to be removed after 6 months leaving no permanent changes to the stomach. The program at The Surgical Weight Loss Centre includes 6 months of dietary counselling with our registered dietitian while the Balloon is in place and then another six months of ongoing dietary counselling once the Balloon has been removed. The goal is that the Balloon is used in conjunction with regular dietary counselling to learn new and effective eating habits and that this new way of eating be an established new behaviour that will lead to sustained weight loss.

Patients are able to use the satiety induced by the balloon to establish healthy eating patterns instead of struggling with the hunger and cravings associated with dieting. Patients can be expected to lose between 30 and 50 pounds during the period that the Balloon is in place. Studies have shown that the patients with BMI<35 and age <40 have the greatest success (70%) at achieving sustained weight loss after two years with the Gastric Balloon. We feel that the Gastric Balloon is ideal for this group of patients. Patients with higher BMI are less likely to achieve enough weight loss and less likely to sustain the weight loss achieved. We therefore continue to recommend the Lap-Band for these patients.

To view the Gastric Balloon procedure, please visit the following link http://www.swlc.ca/contact-us/video-gallery.php.

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