Gastric Balloon
For those that want the fantastic results that come with a weight loss procedure, but are hesitant to have major surgery, patients now have the option of electing non-surgical, minimally invasive ORBERA™ balloon weight loss at Beverly Hills Physicians. The ORBERA Intragastric Balloon System uses a balloon that is first endoscopically inserted into the stomach through the mouth, then inflated once safely inside to help patients feel more full. This system is temporary, and is only intended to stay in the patient for six months, but has shown an extraordinary ability to help patients lose weight during that time.
Impressive Weight Loss Results
In a clinical trial cited in the FDA’s approval of the ORBERA balloon weight loss device, patients lost an average of 21.8 pounds, which constituted a 10 percent reduction in the patients’ starting body weight. More importantly, this is compared to the control group who only lost around 3 percent of their body weight with a guided diet and exercise plan. This means that patients who elect non-surgical balloon weight loss in Los Angeles will, on average, lose three times as much weight in a six month time span than if they were to try losing weight through diet and exercise alone.
This device is regarded as an extremely promising solution for those whose obesity is negatively impacting their health, but do not quite meet the BMI requirements for electing traditional bariatric surgery. For surgical procedures such as the gastric sleeve, patients typically need to have a BMI of 40 or above, or have a BMI of 35 or above in concert with several obesity related co-morbidities. The ORBERA system, however, is approved for patients with a BMI from 30-40, opening up a new weight loss opportunity for patients in need.
Minimally Invasive Weight Loss
Non-surgical balloon weight loss in Los Angeles with Beverly Hills Physicians is minimally invasive, so patients can enjoy a recovery process that is significantly shorter than surgical alternatives. The procedure is performed in under an hour, and patients are typically discharged several hours later. Of course, like all types of weight loss surgery, patients will still need to follow a new, guided diet regimen to ensure that their balloon has the desired effect. Luckily, the balloon makes it much easier for patients to stick to a diet compared to their previous diet attempts before having the procedure.
Other Bariatric Surgery Options
While the gastric balloon can be extremely effective for a wide variety of patients, morbidly obese patients who need to lose a larger percentage of their body weight may want to talk to their doctor about other baritric procedures, namely the gastric sleeve.
Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Balloon
The gastric balloon is only intended to be temporary, and while it has proven to be very successful in helping patients lose weight during the six months that they have the balloon, other patients, especially those who need to lose over 100 pounds, need a more permanent solution. For this reason, the balloon is best for patients in the 30-40 BMI range, while patients with a BMI over 40 may be served best by the gastric sleeve.
For more information about the ORBERA system, or other types of bariatric surgery in Los Angeles, prospective patients can call Beverly Hills Physicians at 800-788-1416 to set up a free initial consultation. While all of the weight loss procedures offered by Beverly Hills Physicians have been proven effective, not every procedure is perfect for every patient, so it is important to have a conversation with one of our surgeons to ensure that you are getting to procedure that is right for you.