How the Orbera Balloon Can Help You Achieve Your Weight Loss Goals

The FDA-approved Orbera intragastric balloon system involves a non-surgical procedure under mild sedation. A thin, deflated balloon is placed in your stomach and inflated with saline until it’s about the size of a grapefruit. The balloon takes up space, helping you feel fuller and reinforcing healthy portion sizes. It stays in your stomach for six months, alongside a supervised diet and exercise program.

You’ll Eat Less

The Orbera balloon is a soft, flexible balloon placed in your stomach during a quick and non-surgical procedure while mildly sedating. It’s filled with saline to about the size of a grapefruit and takes up space in your stomach, helping you eat smaller meals and reinforcing healthy portion control. This temporary balloon is part of a medically supervised and coordinated weight loss program that encourages the development of sustainable, long-term healthy habits for long-term weight loss success. In US clinical studies, Orbera patients lost, on average, 3.1x the weight they would have lost with diet and exercise alone. However, it’s important to remember if you’re going to be successful with the Orbera balloon. You’ll get the most out of your results; you’ll need to work with your team for at least six months to establish healthier habits to help you maintain your results far after the stomach balloon is removed. During these first six months, you must be open and honest with your support team to get the most out of your results and make sure they stick. After all, if you don’t have the tools to keep the weight off long-term after the Orbera balloon is removed, you’ll quickly regain all the lost weight.

You’ll Be More Active

You’ll learn how much food your body needs and how to portion meals properly, skills that will benefit you long after the Orbera balloon is gone. You’ll also be more motivated to exercise because your stomach is smaller, and physical activity will feel more accessible, even when you start slowly. Your clinic team can work with you to create a workout routine that’s right for you, depending on the amount of activity your stomach can handle. During your first week with the Orbera balloon, it’s important to avoid strenuous physical activities until you can do so without discomfort. After that, you can increase the frequency and duration of your workouts as your stomach adjusts to the new size. We recommend avoiding contact sports that might result in blows to your abdomen, such as rugby or martial arts. For most people, though, starting an exercise regime that they can continue after their Orbera procedure is very achievable. It’s just a matter of finding what works for them and being consistent.

You’ll Be More Emotionally Healthy

The Orbera balloon will only stay in your stomach for six months. During that time, you will work closely with a diet and exercise team to help you develop healthy eating and activity habits that will last a lifetime. Patients usually see the most dramatic weight loss results during this time. An endoscope, a thin tube, will be advanced down your neck and into your stomach by medical professionals to insert the Orbera balloon. The endoscope is fitted with a tiny camera to help our physicians see the inside of your stomach. Once they find the Orbera balloon, they will inflate it with sterile saline until it is about the size of a grapefruit. The balloon will then sit in your stomach and make you feel fuller more quickly.

Once the Orbera balloon is in your stomach, you will work with a dietitian to create a healthy meal plan and track your progress. You will also receive support from your care team, including a fitness trainer and behavioral psychologist. You have a better chance of sticking with the program and succeeding in the long run if your team is encouraging.

It’s important to tell your doctor if you experience pain or swelling while the Orbera balloon is in your stomach, if you feel hungry between meals, or if you start to gain weight. These symptoms could indicate that the balloon has deflated or migrated. 

You’ll Feel Fuller Faster

Because the Orbera balloon takes up space in your stomach, you feel fuller more quickly. It can help you maintain proper portion sizes and avoid overeating, one of the most common reasons for failure in weight loss programs. The procedure to insert the Orbera intragastric balloon is non-surgical, and you can go home shortly afterward. Some patients experience discomfort or nausea, but over-the-counter medication typically helps. About 60% of the stomach is taken up by the inflated balloon, which slows the emptying of the stomach and inhibits the release of the hormone ghrelin, which prevents hunger.

After the balloon is taken out of your stomach, you can still lose weight as long as you stick to a rigorous diet and exercise schedule. Some people have seen as much as 47% of their starting weight lost in the six months the Orbera balloon is in place. To qualify for the Orbera balloon, you must meet minimum BMI and diagnosis requirements and not be pregnant or planning to become pregnant within six months. You must also not have a hiatal hernia or other stomach surgery. To decide if you’re a good candidate for the device, a doctor will go over your medical history. If you’re not, additional options are available for you to consider.