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weight loss
A gastric balloon, also known as an intragastric balloon (IGB) or a stomach balloon, is an inflatable medical device that is temporarily placed into the stomach to help reduce weight. It is designed to help provide weight loss when diet and exercise have failed and surgery is not wanted by or recommended for the patient.
A gastric balloon, also called an intragastric balloon (IGB) or stomach balloon, is an inflatable medical device that is temporarily placed into the stomach to help reduce weight. It is designed to support weight loss when diet and exercise have not worked and when surgery is not wanted by, or recommended for, the patient. The balloon takes up space in the stomach, which limits the amount of food it can hold; this induces weight loss by increasing satiety, delaying gastric emptying and reducing the amount eaten at each meal, creating an earlier feeling of fullness. It is positioned as an alternative to bariatric surgery, which is not generally offered to people with a body mass index below 35. The device is intended for people with a body mass index above 27, or between 30 and 40 with a weight-related co-morbidity. It should not be used in people with certain intestinal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or delayed gastric emptying, in those who are pregnant, or in those taking blood-thinning medication such as Coumadin; low-dose aspirin (100 mg) is permitted. Results are strongly influenced by adherence to nutritional and dietary programmes, and long-term studies suggest better outcomes when balloon treatment is combined with exercise and a healthy diet.
Other clinically reasonable options for the same condition. The right alternative depends on the patient's specific anatomy, comorbidities, and goals — discuss with a treating clinician rather than self-selecting from this list.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty
More durable non-surgical alternative; sutured restriction outlasts balloon removal.
Source ASMBS — Clinical Practice Guidelines for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
GLP-1 receptor agonists
Pharmacological alternative without endoscopy or device retention.
Source ASMBS — Clinical Practice Guidelines for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Specialty-board certifications and facility-level accreditations relevant to this procedure. Verify on the issuer's public register before booking — most issuers publish a searchable directory.
IFSO Centre of Excellence
Issuer International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity
Facility + surgical-team accreditation for bariatric surgery; requires minimum case volumes, multidisciplinary follow-up, and outcomes reporting.
Verify on the issuer's register →Ongoing research studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov whose intervention involves gastric balloon. This is a neutral pointer to public research — not an endorsement, not a recruitment drive, and not medical advice. Trial status changes often; confirm eligibility and current status with the study team via each record.
Showing 6 recent ongoing studies. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov — all matching trials (U.S. National Library of Medicine, public domain). Retrieved 2026-08-02.
Average recovery for Gastric Balloon is 0 days. Individual recovery varies — always follow your surgeon’s specific guidance.
Immediate
First 24–48 hours post-procedure. Monitoring, anaesthesia recovery, initial pain management. Most clinics expect you to remain on-site or nearby.
Early recovery
Wound care, swelling or bruising peaks, restricted activity. Typical window for follow-up visits and drain removal if applicable. Travel is usually not advised.
Intermediate recovery
Gradual return to non-strenuous daily activity. Many international patients fly home during this window. Surgeon may require medical clearance for long-haul travel.
Full recovery
Return to full activity, exercise, and work. Final results may still be settling. Final follow-up with local doctor recommended.
Browse all destinations offering Gastric Balloon→Detailed cost breakdown →
It is an inflatable medical device, also known as an intragastric balloon, that is temporarily placed into the stomach to help reduce weight. It is designed to help when diet and exercise have failed and surgery is not wanted by or recommended for the patient.
The balloon takes up space in the stomach, limiting how much food it can hold. This increases satiety, delays gastric emptying and reduces the amount of food eaten at each meal, creating an early feeling of fullness that leads to reduced intake and weight loss.
It is intended for people with a body mass index above 27, or between 30 and 40 with a weight-related co-morbidity. It is offered as an alternative to bariatric surgery, which is not generally offered to people with a body mass index below 35, or to those who do not want to commit to surgery.
It should not be used in people with certain intestinal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or delayed gastric emptying, in those who are pregnant, or in those taking blood-thinning medication such as Coumadin. Low-dose aspirin (100 mg) is permitted.
No. A gastric balloon is a device that is temporarily placed into the stomach, rather than a permanent implant.
Results depend heavily on diet and exercise. In an international study of the non-endoscopic Elipse balloon, patients achieved weight loss of 14.4 kg, or 13.9% of total body weight, after four months of treatment, and 95% of that loss was maintained at one-year follow-up.
Other weight loss procedures in our registry