Your diet will consist of liquids only for two weeks after the balloon is inserted. After these two weeks, your diet will return to normal. Although you can't eat as much as before! Of course, your doctor will give you a series of recipes about dietary restrictions that you must adhere to; Otherwise, all your efforts will be wasted. In the first three to four months after gastric balloon surgery, the rate of weight loss will be very impressive. It is expected that you will lose 10-15% of your weight during 6 months of living with a gastric balloon. Congratulations on getting well-styled! But this is not the end of the story! If you are left to your own devices after reaching your desired weight, the extra weight will still come to you. Most likely, your doctor will recommend a series of medical and therapeutic orders. These instructions are for your benefit and it is better to follow them; Because they prevent weight gain after taking out the balloon. How is the gastric balloon removed from the stomach? Gastric balloon operation takes 15 to 20 minutes. The balloon is designed to stay in your stomach for 6 months. After the treatment period and according to the doctor's opinion, the balloon is removed from the stomach. This process is also very short and takes only 20 minutes. First, the doctor will insert the endoscope into your stomach through your mouth. Then he punctures the balloon and uses a catheter to draw out the saline solution and finally removes the deflated balloon using an endoscope. Am I a suitable candidate for gastric balloon surgery? If you haven't got results from diets, drugs, sports activities, etc., you can think about gastric balloon surgery as a way to get rid of obesity. Of course, your BMI should be between 30 and 40. If you want to calculate your BMI, follow this formula: divide your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in meters); As simple as that! Advantages of gastric balloon operation Obesity and overweight are the cause of various diseases such as high blood pressure, heart diseases, fatty liver, digestive diseases, etc. It is clear that losing weight helps to improve and even cure these diseases. If your health is important to you, but conventional methods such as diet therapy have not helped you so far, you can count on gastric balloon surgery and save yourself. If you are afraid of heavy surgeries such as gastric sleeve or if your doctor does not consider you a suitable option for gastric sleeve surgery, balloon operation can be suitable for you. Also, if you regret doing this procedure, you can ask your doctor to remove the balloon from your stomach. In addition, the effect that weight loss has on your appearance is undeniable. Who does not like to have a beautiful body? On the other hand, a disproportionate body that must be covered with skinny jeans and baggy clothes will not have a good effect on your self-confidence and mood. Gastric balloon helps you to increase your self-confidence by having an ideal weight and you no longer need to show up at parties. You can shine in gatherings and enjoy yourself! Is silicone safe? Are you afraid that silicone is harmful to your health or are you worried that the silicone material of the gastric balloon is carcinogenic? You are right to be worried. However, it's a bit strange to have a balloon inside your stomach and not have it destroyed by stomach acid. But according to the research, the gastric balloon and the silicone material in it have not caused any special disease in people who have performed the gastric balloon operation. So your mind is flat! Possible side effects However, every operation and treatment method has a series of possible side effects that cannot be neglected. It is better to consult with your doctor about these possible complications before performing gastric balloon surgery. Although these complications are very rare. - Complications of endoscopy - Heart attack - Infection - Esophagus or stomach perforation - Damage to the teeth - Respiratory problems - Chest infection - Allergic reaction - Minor injury and bleeding ### Complications of gastric balloon - Acid reflux - Diarrhea or constipation - Rupture of the balloon - Intestinal obstruction Note that you may experience nausea or vomiting 12 to 24 hours after the operation. Of course, these symptoms are short-term. How to prepare for gastric balloon operation? If you smoke, it is better to quit smoking a few weeks before the operation so that the possible side effects of the gastric balloon are less threatening. Usually, the doctor will provide you with a detailed meal plan before the operation. It is in your best interest to follow this program. Before the operation, you should exercise so that the gastric balloon procedure goes better. To know the type of exercise and its duration and how, consult your doctor. Important points about gastric balloon Pay attention to the following points about gastric balloon surgery: - After the operation, you can exercise. In fact, one of the things you have to do after the operation so that the weight loss process goes properly is exercising. - This action will have no effect on your physical activities. After a week, you can resume your previous activities. - Having a balloon in your stomach will not affect your medications. Of course, due to the reduction of stomach space after the operation, the drugs may enter your blood later. - Sometimes you may feel the presence of a balloon in your stomach, especially when you bend over. - Gastric balloon surgery is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Because the reduction of nutrients is harmful to both the mother and the child. During the treatment, it is better not to use blood thinners such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and meloxicam. The use of these drugs increases the possibility of stomach bleeding and stomach ulcers. - Your recovery period depends on the type of balloon and your physical condition. You will usually need to rest for about 3 days. - The length of time the balloon can stay in your stomach is 6 to 12 months, and it completely depends on the type of balloon and your doctor's opinion. Of course, if you want to stop the weight loss process, you can ask your doctor to remove the balloon at any time. Final word If you are tired of excess weight and its problems, you can resort to gastric balloon operation. This savior can help you lose weight quickly, especially in the first six months after surgery. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know. In this article, we examined the balloon operation process. We also explained the expected weight loss. Then we talked about the conditions of this operation, complications and benefits, etc. We have presented everything you should know about gastric balloon operation in this article.

Dr. Abdul Hosseini

Surgeon and advanced laparoscopic surgery fellowship, bariatric and metabolic surgery, metabolic surgery for the treatment of type 2 diabetes