How Much Does It Cost For A Gastric Balloon? The gastric balloon is a device that reduces the feelings of hunger, helps to lose weight, and stay full for a long time after eating only small amounts. How much does it cost for a gastric balloon that keeps you full?
Endoscopic balloon therapy provides an excellent opportunity for a wide range of patients wishing to lose weight. But our program does not stop there – the non-surgical procedure is part of a comprehensive, annual program to ensure that the weight stays away.
Intragastric Balloon For Weight Loss
The intragastric balloon offers a temporary, non-surgical option for weight loss. The balloon takes up space in the stomach, helping people feel fuller faster and eat less food.
Intragastric balloon therapy is part of a one-year medical follow-up program, with medical supervision, including counseling and eating behavior. Our clinic has many years of experience in clinical research helping people lose weight with balloon therapy.
Intragastric balloon: The process
See how the intragastric balloon weight loss plan works:
Introduction
The doctor inserts the balloon into your stomach using a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a tiny, illuminated camera. The endoscope passes through your mouth and follows your esophagus to your stomach. You will undergo light anesthesia (conscious suppression) for the procedure.
Inflation
During the same outpatient procedure, the balloon inflates by filling with a sterile saline solution to take up space in your stomach, helping you eat less food and feel fuller faster.
Weight loss with the balloon
The balloon stays in your stomach for six months while you participate in monthly appointments that include diet support for weight loss and behavioral guidance for lifestyle changes.
Removal
After six months, the doctor inflates the balloon and removes the device using an endoscopic procedure through your mouth. You will receive anesthesia for the removal procedure.
Ongoing support
You continue your monthly appointments for another six months, for a total of 12 months in the lifestyle guidance program.
What can you expect with the intragastric balloon
Although each person is different and can have different results, the experience for most people includes:
Significant weight loss results
People with a balloon device lost about 8 to 15 percent of their total body weight.
Short recovery
Most people can return to work or similar activities about three days after the procedure. You may experience abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting for about a week. We provide medication to help with these symptoms.
Diet after the procedure
To help you adjust to the balloon, we suggest specific nutritional guidelines:
- Clear liquids for one to two days
- Refined foods for seven to 10 days
- Switch to soft and regular foods as you feel comfortable
Subsequent visits
Balloon therapy includes visits to the office after the device is placed to monitor your progress and treatment of any side effects such as nausea, discomfort, or heartburn.
The standard time frame for regular visits is one, five, nine, 15, 25, 30, 38, and 52 weeks (or as needed)
Commitment to lifestyle changes
To be able to lose weight with a balloon device and keep it away after removing the device, you need to commit to lifestyle changes. You may need to modify some of your behaviors and learn lifelong weight management skills, such as:
- Stay within the calorie target by your registered dietitian, perhaps by recording your food choices in a food log
- Eat healthy foods in smaller sizes
- Begins to move and engage in regular physical activity
Actively participate in an intensive lifestyle therapy program, which includes counseling services with a behavior coach and an active role in identifying behaviors and strategies that you are willing to incorporate into your lifestyle to support weight loss.
Is the gastric balloon safe?
If you are looking for a safe and reliable weight loss solution, try the gastric balloon. It does not require surgery, it is only temporary and the most common side effects last only for a few days. These problems include mild discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. Serious complications are rare. For more information on gastric balloon safety from the device manufacturer, visit these sites:
- ReShape
- Orbera
- Obalon
At our clinic, your safety is our first priority. We have made many balloon placements since its inception. Our surgeon and his team have many years of experience in bariatric surgery to make us one of the safest practices. We are proud that we have no deaths in our practice and we continue to strive to be safer every day.
Worried about possible complications after surgery? Do not worry! For a period of 6 months before the balloon is removed, we meet regularly for consultations to monitor your condition and take the best possible action. Nutrition tips and balloon information are also available. Our goal is to reduce the risk of complications so you stay safe and comfortable.
What is the procedure for retrieving an implant with a gastric balloon?
After inserting the gastric balloon, you may experience gastric upset, nausea, or vomiting for a few days as your digestive system adapts to the presence of the balloon. Medication is recommended to manage these symptoms
You will be limited to a liquid diet for three days after the procedure, during which you will need to drink plenty of water.
After the first few days, you can switch to semi-solid foods (thicker soups and fruit purees) and then gradually to solid foods. The duration of this transition depends on how your body adjusts.
How much does it cost for a gastric balloon?
Many health insurance programs do not cover the cost of balloon intragastric therapy. We work with you and your insurer to determine what your plan will cover and what the out-of-pocket costs will be.
All costs must be paid before the scheduled procedure. We offer prepaid packages for which you can pay out of pocket, with the tax-free health savings account (HSA), or with a third-party financing service. The package includes:
- Gastroenterology services for the installation and removal of the device
- Anesthesia services for conscious suppression during procedures
- Twelve visits with a registered dietitian, within 12 months of the procedure
- Twelve monthly behavioral guidance sessions, in person or through a secure HIPAA-compliant online interactive program, within 12 months of the procedure
- Beware of any process-related complications that may occur
How much does it cost for a gastric balloon, the person who will know this best is your doctor. Please note that some services may not be included in the package and that the details of the prepaid package may change. The program coordinator will discuss all of these options with you during the update.
How Much Does It Cost for a Gastric Balloon in General?
“How much does it cost for a gastric balloon in general?” can vary depending on factors such as the type of procedure and the doctor performing it.. It is important to remember that the gastric balloon cost is not just related to the procedure itself, but also includes pre-operative tests, post-operative care, and any necessary medications. As such, discussing pricing with your doctor will give you a better understanding of what charges may be involved for your specific situation. Furthermore, many insurance companies now cover part or all of the cost of these procedures, so it is important to check with your insurance provider to see what kind of coverage you may be eligible for.
Finally, there are a number of financing options available from third-party organizations that can help make this life-changing procedure more affordable. These options should definitely be explored when considering a gastric balloon procedure. It is always beneficial to speak with your doctor and research all options for “how much does it cost for a gastric balloon?” before moving forward with any type of weight loss procedure. It is important to conduct research before making any decisions regarding health care expenditures.