Gastric Balloon
Gastric Balloon
Are you looking for a modern and effective solution to lose weight and improve your health without general anesthesia or surgical incisions? Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant in Bariatric Surgery at Kasr El-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, recommends the gastric balloon, a procedure that temporarily reduces the stomach area using a silicone balloon, thereby enhancing the feeling of fullness.
The idea of the gastric balloon:
The gastric balloon is a non-surgical procedure that aids in weight loss. A medical endoscope places a silicone balloon inside the stomach. It is filled with a sterile solution to take up space in the stomach, thus reducing the amount of food the patient can consume and making him feel full faster. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the American balloon, making it the most famous and widely used in Egypt. The American balloon continues to work for about six months, after which it is safely removed. The gastric balloon procedure requires adherence to a specific diet and regular exercise to achieve and maintain optimal long-term results.
Candidates for the gastric balloon procedure:
• Those with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30, who suffer from health problems resulting from obesity, such as hypertension or diabetes.
• People who are overweight by up to 35% of their actual body mass, or 40 kilograms.
• Those who are willing to adhere to a diet and undergo strict medical follow-up.
Regarding the appropriate age for gastric balloon surgery, people can undergo it starting at the age of 10 years with complete safety, as there are no specific age restrictions. Therefore, we find that children above the age of 10 and the elderly are the most in demand for gastric balloon surgery, as they seek to avoid traditional surgeries due to age-related complications that may prevent them from tolerating general anesthesia for other bariatric procedures such as gastric sleeve and gastric bypass.
Gastric balloon surgery is considered a suitable option for people who suffer from moderate obesity and find it difficult to lose that excess weight through diet or exercise. After a thorough study of the patient's condition and analysis of his medical record, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant in Bariatric Surgery at Kasr El-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, decides whether the procedure is suitable for the patient.
However, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam recommends other procedures to treat obesity for certain categories for which gastric balloon surgery is not suitable. This includes:
• People suffering from stomach ulcers or chronic inflammation of the stomach or intestines.
• Individuals with a hiatal hernia.
• People who have undergone previous surgeries to treat excess weight or various digestive system surgeries, or who suffer from esophageal motility disorders.
• In the case of localized fat accumulations, liposuction is considered a more appropriate treatment option.
• Pregnant women should postpone the decision to install a gastric balloon until after delivery.
• Individuals who have a preference for sweets and sugars may struggle to maintain a healthy diet.
The basic steps for performing gastric balloon surgery:
1. Local anesthesia: The procedure is performed after anesthetizing the patient to provide complete comfort during the procedure.
2. Internal endoscope: A camera and light-equipped internal endoscope, inserted through the mouth into the stomach. This device allows monitoring of the balloon-filling process and determines if there are any problems.
3. Balloon placement: Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam installs the empty balloon through the endoscope. Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam is keen to use gastric balloons approved globally by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which enhances the quality and safety of the procedure.
4. Duration of the procedure: The installation of the gastric balloon takes about half an hour, and the patient can return home after a short period.
What about the diet during the presence of the balloon in the stomach?
Regarding the diet, a system is applied that helps change the lifestyle to a healthy system, which includes:
• Consuming clear liquids in small quantities after 6 hours from the procedure, and continuing throughout the first week.
• This is followed by consuming light foods and mashed meals in the second week.
• The next step is to transition to regular meals while taking care to reduce the quantities.
Prepare yourself for exceptional outcomes with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam:
• The gastric balloon helps to quickly induce a feeling of fullness after consuming small amounts of food.
• Weight loss ranges from 20-30 kilograms within 6 months, and in some cases, it can reach 40–50 kilograms depending on adherence to the diet and exercise regimen after balloon placement.
• The gastric balloon reduces obesity-related health risks, such as heart disease and diabetes, and restores self-confidence.
Potential side effects of the gastric balloon:
After the gastric balloon procedure, the person must be aware that his stomach will go through some changes in the first few days to adapt to this foreign body. These changes may include:
1. Nausea and discomfort: One-third of people undergoing a gastric balloon procedure experience nausea and discomfort in the first few days, but these symptoms can be effectively managed through oral medication.
2. Vomiting: Vomiting is a natural reaction of the stomach to the presence of a foreign body, and this symptom often subsides quickly but may persist in rare cases.
3. Stomach pain: Pain can be managed through the use of appropriate painkillers. These symptoms are temporary until the stomach adapts to the presence of the balloon.
Benefits and Advantages of Gastric Balloon:
1. Non-surgical: a medical endoscope performs the gastric balloon procedure, without surgical incisions or stitching.
2. Partial anesthesia: There is no need for general anesthesia, which reduces the complications associated with anesthesia.
3. High safety rate: effective reduction of complication risks.
4. Effective results: achieving significant weight loss when choosing the right patient for the procedure, adhering to medical guidance, and following a healthy lifestyle.
5. Low cost: the procedure is less expensive than other bariatric surgeries and procedures.
6. Possibility of repetition: the gastric balloon can be repeated if needed.
7. Easy installation and removal: a quick and simple process that only takes about 30 minutes.
8. No recovery period needed: the patient can return home immediately after the procedure.
The gastric balloon with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant in Bariatric Surgery at Kasr El-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, is a safe and efficient journey towards fitness and health without surgical incisions or major interventions.
The idea of the gastric balloon:
The gastric balloon is a non-surgical procedure that aids in weight loss. A medical endoscope places a silicone balloon inside the stomach. It is filled with a sterile solution to take up space in the stomach, thus reducing the amount of food the patient can consume and making him feel full faster. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the American balloon, making it the most famous and widely used in Egypt. The American balloon continues to work for about six months, after which it is safely removed. The gastric balloon procedure requires adherence to a specific diet and regular exercise to achieve and maintain optimal long-term results.
Candidates for the gastric balloon procedure:
• Those with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30, who suffer from health problems resulting from obesity, such as hypertension or diabetes.
• People who are overweight by up to 35% of their actual body mass, or 40 kilograms.
• Those who are willing to adhere to a diet and undergo strict medical follow-up.
Regarding the appropriate age for gastric balloon surgery, people can undergo it starting at the age of 10 years with complete safety, as there are no specific age restrictions. Therefore, we find that children above the age of 10 and the elderly are the most in demand for gastric balloon surgery, as they seek to avoid traditional surgeries due to age-related complications that may prevent them from tolerating general anesthesia for other bariatric procedures such as gastric sleeve and gastric bypass.
Gastric balloon surgery is considered a suitable option for people who suffer from moderate obesity and find it difficult to lose that excess weight through diet or exercise. After a thorough study of the patient's condition and analysis of his medical record, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant in Bariatric Surgery at Kasr El-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, decides whether the procedure is suitable for the patient.
However, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam recommends other procedures to treat obesity for certain categories for which gastric balloon surgery is not suitable. This includes:
• People suffering from stomach ulcers or chronic inflammation of the stomach or intestines.
• Individuals with a hiatal hernia.
• People who have undergone previous surgeries to treat excess weight or various digestive system surgeries, or who suffer from esophageal motility disorders.
• In the case of localized fat accumulations, liposuction is considered a more appropriate treatment option.
• Pregnant women should postpone the decision to install a gastric balloon until after delivery.
• Individuals who have a preference for sweets and sugars may struggle to maintain a healthy diet.
The basic steps for performing gastric balloon surgery:
1. Local anesthesia: The procedure is performed after anesthetizing the patient to provide complete comfort during the procedure.
2. Internal endoscope: A camera and light-equipped internal endoscope, inserted through the mouth into the stomach. This device allows monitoring of the balloon-filling process and determines if there are any problems.
3. Balloon placement: Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam installs the empty balloon through the endoscope. Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam is keen to use gastric balloons approved globally by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which enhances the quality and safety of the procedure.
4. Duration of the procedure: The installation of the gastric balloon takes about half an hour, and the patient can return home after a short period.
What about the diet during the presence of the balloon in the stomach?
Regarding the diet, a system is applied that helps change the lifestyle to a healthy system, which includes:
• Consuming clear liquids in small quantities after 6 hours from the procedure, and continuing throughout the first week.
• This is followed by consuming light foods and mashed meals in the second week.
• The next step is to transition to regular meals while taking care to reduce the quantities.
Prepare yourself for exceptional outcomes with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam:
• The gastric balloon helps to quickly induce a feeling of fullness after consuming small amounts of food.
• Weight loss ranges from 20-30 kilograms within 6 months, and in some cases, it can reach 40–50 kilograms depending on adherence to the diet and exercise regimen after balloon placement.
• The gastric balloon reduces obesity-related health risks, such as heart disease and diabetes, and restores self-confidence.
Potential side effects of the gastric balloon:
After the gastric balloon procedure, the person must be aware that his stomach will go through some changes in the first few days to adapt to this foreign body. These changes may include:
1. Nausea and discomfort: One-third of people undergoing a gastric balloon procedure experience nausea and discomfort in the first few days, but these symptoms can be effectively managed through oral medication.
2. Vomiting: Vomiting is a natural reaction of the stomach to the presence of a foreign body, and this symptom often subsides quickly but may persist in rare cases.
3. Stomach pain: Pain can be managed through the use of appropriate painkillers. These symptoms are temporary until the stomach adapts to the presence of the balloon.
Benefits and Advantages of Gastric Balloon:
1. Non-surgical: a medical endoscope performs the gastric balloon procedure, without surgical incisions or stitching.
2. Partial anesthesia: There is no need for general anesthesia, which reduces the complications associated with anesthesia.
3. High safety rate: effective reduction of complication risks.
4. Effective results: achieving significant weight loss when choosing the right patient for the procedure, adhering to medical guidance, and following a healthy lifestyle.
5. Low cost: the procedure is less expensive than other bariatric surgeries and procedures.
6. Possibility of repetition: the gastric balloon can be repeated if needed.
7. Easy installation and removal: a quick and simple process that only takes about 30 minutes.
8. No recovery period needed: the patient can return home immediately after the procedure.
The gastric balloon with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant in Bariatric Surgery at Kasr El-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, is a safe and efficient journey towards fitness and health without surgical incisions or major interventions.
