Procedure guide · Bariatric medicine and endoscopy
An intragastric balloon is a soft balloon placed in the stomach through the mouth and filled with salt water. It takes up space so you feel full sooner. The NIDDK says balloons do not permanently change the stomach and are meant to be temporary. They are used while you change your eating and activity habits.
What is an intragastric balloon?
The NHS describes the procedure. First a camera is passed through the mouth to check the stomach for problems such as an ulcer or a large hiatus hernia. Then you swallow the empty balloon. A thin tube fills it with salt water once it is in the stomach. A local anaesthetic or sedation may be offered. No cuts are made.
The NIDDK explains that balloon devices are placed endoscopically after sedation and removed later. It says they lead to less weight loss than surgery. It also says researchers have not studied them over a long period. So their long-term risks and benefits are not known.
Who may it suit?
The NIDDK describes balloons as intended for use while you make changes to your eating plan and activity level. A specialist decides whether a balloon suits you. They consider your weight, your health and whether surgery would be more appropriate. The camera check before placement can find problems that rule a balloon out.
Removal is part of the plan
A balloon is temporary. The NIDDK says balloon devices are removed after a set period, within about a year. Agree before placement where and when removal will happen. That may mean a second trip to India.
Which reports does a specialist usually ask for?
Send your height, weight and BMI and your weight history. Send recent blood tests and a list of medicines. Mention any previous stomach surgery, ulcers, reflux or hiatus hernia. Include any earlier endoscopy reports. If you have diabetes or heart problems, send your specialist’s latest letter. Ask the clinic which tests it needs before sedation.
How do you plan the trip?
The stages are a records review, consultation, endoscopic check, balloon placement and a short period of observation. Dietitian guidance follows. Some people feel sick or uncomfortable at first. Ask how the team manages this and how to reach them after you fly home. Plan the removal visit from the start. Bring an adult to accompany you after sedation. Carry the device details the clinic gives you, so any doctor at home knows what is in your stomach. The specialist decides when you are fit to travel.
What should you ask the clinic?
- Why do you suggest a balloon rather than another option for me?
- Which balloon device will you use, and when must it be removed?
- Where will removal be done, and can it be done in my country?
- What dietitian support will I have while the balloon is in place?
- What side effects are common after placement?
- Which symptoms mean I need urgent care?
Questions people ask
Is an intragastric balloon surgery?
No cuts are made. The NHS says the balloon is swallowed after a camera check and filled with salt water through a thin tube. Local anaesthetic or sedation may be offered. It is still a medical procedure with risks to discuss.
Is the balloon permanent?
No. The NIDDK says balloon devices are temporary and are removed later. Plan the removal before placement. Ask whether a doctor in your country can remove the device. Ask the clinic how removal is done and who will do it.
Why is a camera check done first?
The NHS explains that a camera is passed through the mouth before the balloon is placed. It checks for problems such as an ulcer or a large hiatus hernia. If such a problem is found the specialist may advise against a balloon.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. Your treating specialist decides on suitability, treatment and length of stay. How we write and check.