Gastric Balloon vs Gastric sleeve: Which is right for you?
Struggling to lose weight can be a very frustrating experience so it isn’t surprising that more and more people are resorting to weight loss procedures like the Gastric Balloon and Gastric Sleeve Surgery to help them shift stubborn pounds. These procedures have some similarities and some significant differences, and one may work better for an individual than the other. Whichever you choose, it’s a big step to take, so if you’re just starting to explore your options, learning more about both procedures can help you make an informed decision.
Gastric Balloon procedure
At first glance, the Allurion Weight Loss Balloon (formerly known as the Elipse Balloon) looks like any ordinary pill, but this capsule promises to make you feel full soon after eating, so you consume less and lose weight. After swallowing the capsule, your consultant will take an X-ray of your stomach before filling the balloon through a catheter with 550ml of water. A second X-ray will ensure that the balloon is filled and sitting correctly in the stomach before you can resume your daily activities as usual.
Whilst you may feel nauseous and experience cramping for the first few days, there is minimal discomfort, and after this initial period, as your stomach adjusts, patients report that they can barely even tell it’s there.
The balloon takes up space in your stomach, making you feel satisfied with smaller amounts of food. In turn, you adopt healthier eating habits that stick around, even after the balloon has gone.
Allurion is suitable for those with a BMI of 27 or above and, over 16 weeks, offers a weight loss of around 2 to 3 stone (approximately 12-19kgs). After this time, the balloon’s time-activated release valve will open, allowing it to empty and pass naturally through your gastrointestinal tract without a removal procedure.
Alongside your gastric balloon, monthly nutritional sessions will guide you through recommendations for healthy meals and supplements to help you stay on track. The idea of this is that you’ll be used to eating smaller, more nutritious meals by the time the balloon has passed. The balloon is just one element of a much broader picture. Yes, it helps to kick-start weight loss, but more importantly, it builds a solid foundation for a much healthier and fulfilled lifestyle.
Gastric Sleeve surgery
During gastric sleeve surgery, a portion of your stomach (about 70% to 85%) is removed. The remaining stomach has a much smaller capacity, which physically limits the amount of food you can consume at one time. Your remaining stomach is narrower, around the shape and size of a banana. This results in feeling full faster and allows you to control your hunger and eat less. It’s suitable for those with a BMI of 35 or more who have struggled to lose weight even while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
After the operation, the way you will be able to eat and how much you eat changes significantly. It can be a complicated process requiring help and support from a dietician and ongoing help and advice from your surgeon.
Which is right for you?
Both procedures are restrictive, meaning they reduce the size of the stomach capacity, making the body feel fuller faster and experience less hunger. They also decrease the amount of ghrelin (the hormone that makes you feel hungry) in your bloodstream, so you feel less hungry.
The beauty of a gastric balloon is that it’s temporary, low risk and reversible. Unlike other weight loss treatments, the Allurion doesn’t require surgery, endoscopy or anaesthesia. In fact, the entire process takes as little as just 20 minutes. On the other hand, gastric sleeve surgery is permanent and can sometimes lead to complications, including blood clots, infection, and leaking. You may need to take daily supplements, and some people find they have new food sensitivities after the procedure.
But also, different people qualify for the two procedures. For a gastric balloon, you must have a BMI over 27, but for the gastric sleeve, you must have a BMI over 40, or at least one obesity-related disease and a BMI over 35.
Overall, the balloon has fewer complications in installation, and there is a lower risk of complications. Recovery in the more invasive procedures is also usually slower. The gastric sleeve is more likely to result in dramatic weight loss, but you should consider the gastric balloon if you’re seeking to lose between 12-19kgs.
If you’d like to find out more about weight loss options, click here to book a consultation with one of our practitioners.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.