We offer a number of minimally invasive options for weight loss including gastric balloon and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG).
What is a gastric balloon?
The gastric balloon is a soft pouch made of silicone, inserted in a deflated state through the mouth and into the stomach. No anaesthetic is required. Instead, the procedure is performed under light sedation for the patient’s comfort and security. Once inserted, the pouch is ‘inflated’ by filling with sterile saline solution to take the correct shape.
How does it work?
About the size of a large orange, the pouch or ‘balloon’ takes up space in the stomach, creating a permanent feeling of fullness in the patient. This leads to a lack of appetite which encourages smaller portion sizes and a reduced desire for snacking, resulting in lower calorie consumption. Weight loss naturally and inevitably follows. The balloon stays in place for 6 months and is then removed via a simple procedure.
Who is it for?
The gastric balloon was designed primarily for people too overweight for surgery to be undertaken safely. In many cases, however, the weight reduction achieved by the procedure can reduce the attendant surgical risks, paving the way for successful surgery to be undertaken further down the line. Over the longer term, for those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) score over 32, a gastric balloon may help not only to consistently shed the pounds but to maintain weight loss, assisting with the management of other medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure for a healthier outlook in the years ahead.
Allurion Elipse
What is it?
Essentially a gastric balloon without the fuss, the Elipse is a smaller pouch contained within a capsule connected to a thin tube. The capsule is simply swallowed by the patient during a brief visit to the doctor. Again, the patient is left feeling replete with their appetite reduced, empowering overweight individuals to reclaim their health safely and effectively.
How does it work?
Once the capsule is swallowed, your consultant takes a quick X-ray to make sure the balloon has made its way successfully to the stomach. If you cannot swallow the capsule on your own, Elipse comes with an accessory that your consultant can use to gently assist. The balloon is then filled with saline via the connecting tube which is then removed. That’s it! No anaesthesia, no endoscopy, no surgery. After about 16 weeks, the balloon will empty on its own and pass naturally.
Who is it for?
The Elipse is designed to be used by people with a body mass index of 27 or above, who have previously failed to lose weight through diet and exercise. As the whole procedure takes no more than 15 minutes, is non-invasive and does not require endoscopy to remove the balloon at a later date, it is an efficient and popular alternative to the full gastric balloon procedure.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG)
What is it?
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a minimally invasive procedure which reduces the size of your stomach and changes its shape, restricting the number of calories absorbed by the body. It is performed using an endoscope (a tiny tube with a camera at one end), reducing the likelihood of complications.
How does it work?
By inserting around twelve sutures in the stomach endoscopically, the stomach capacity is reduced by up to 80% and becomes tube like. As well as reducing the amount of food you can consume, this also slows down the rate at which food passes through the stomach, meaning you feel fuller for longer.
The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and you will go home the same day.
Who is it for?
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is available to patients with a body mass index of 30 who are looking for a minimally invasive option for long-term weight loss.
