What Is Gastric Balloon Surgery

Key Takeaways

• A gastric balloon is a soft, intragastric silicone device inserted endoscopically and filled with saline to occupy stomach space.

• The outpatient procedure takes about 15–30 minutes under sedation, with a deflated balloon guided into the stomach.

• The balloon remains for roughly six months, then is deflated and removed endoscopically in a short outpatient procedure.

• It promotes early satiety and smaller meals, typically producing about 8–12% body weight loss by six months.

• Common short-term side effects include nausea and cramping; rare serious risks include perforation or balloon migration.

What a Gastric Balloon Is and How It Works

How does a gastric balloon work? A gastric balloon is an intragastric, soft silicone device placed with an endoscope through the mouth and esophagus, then filled with a saline solution to occupy space in the stomach. The minimally invasive, outpatient insertion takes about 15–30 minutes under sedation and is reversible: after roughly six months the balloon is deflated and removed. By reducing available volume it encourages earlier fullness and smaller meals, lowering calorie intake and supporting weight loss. The balloon is a temporary tool used alongside dietary, exercise, and lifestyle changes—not a standalone cure. Ongoing follow-up helps optimize tolerance, reinforce satiety cues, and plan the transition after removal for longer-term results.

Who Qualifies for the Procedure

After understanding what a gastric balloon is and how it reduces stomach volume to promote early satiety, the next question is who’s a good candidate. Most programs consider adults with a bmi of 30–40 kg/m2 who haven’t achieved meaningful weight loss with diet, exercise, or medications. The procedure is an option for people seeking a less invasive obesity therapy than bariatric surgery and can be used as a bridge to surgery or to improve fertility in some cases. Eligibility usually includes minimum age thresholds (commonly 18–21+), review of prior bariatric history in some programs, and assessment of overall medical status. Contraindications — such as peptic ulcers, large hiatal hernia, clotting disorders, and significant liver disease — generally rule out placement. A multidisciplinary team of gastroenterologists, nutritionists, and psychologists typically evaluates suitability and plans follow-up care.

The Placement and Removal Process

What does the placement and removal process involve? Placement uses an endoscope to guide a deflated balloon through the mouth into the stomach during a short outpatient procedure. Sedation keeps the patient comfortable while the clinician fills the device with saline until it occupies the intended volume. The placement itself usually lasts 15–30 minutes, and recovery in the clinic is brief.

Removal follows a similar endoscopic approach after about six months. The clinician deflates the balloon and withdraws it through the mouth while visualizing with the endoscope. Both steps are minimally invasive, performed on an outpatient basis, and include postprocedure guidance to help patients transition to long-term dietary and lifestyle changes.

Benefits, Risks, and Possible Side Effects

After the brief outpatient placement and removal procedures, patients and clinicians weigh the gastric balloon’s expected benefits against its risks and side effects. The intragastric balloon, a non-surgical procedure, typically occupies about one-third of the stomach to encourage fullness and portion control. Typical outcomes include roughly 10% body weight loss by six months, with the fastest drop occurring in the first 3–4 months. Common side effects are temporary nausea, vomiting, cramping, reflux, and mild abdominal discomfort that usually improve within a week. Serious complications are uncommon but can include hyperinflation, deflation with gastric migration, ulceration, perforation (approximately 0.1% risk), and rare pancreatitis. Because the device is temporary, removal after six months limits ongoing device-related risk and requires endoscopic deflation and extraction.

Diet, Exercise, and Long-Term Weight‑Loss Support

A structured program of diet, exercise, and regular follow‑up is essential to turn the temporary fullness from a gastric balloon into lasting weight loss and lifestyle change. A personalized diet plan helps you adapt to smaller portions, while progressive exercise preserves lean mass and improves fitness. Regular follow-up with a nutritionist and clinician monitors progress, addresses complications, and supports behavior change. Most weight loss happens in the first 3–4 months; ongoing support aims to help maintain a 10–15% body weight reduction by six months and beyond. Eligibility and individual goals determine the intensity of diet and exercise. Long-term success depends on continued counseling, realistic expectations, and gradual adoption of sustainable habits after balloon removal.