Orbera Balloon for Weight Loss

The insertion of the intragastric balloon is minimally invasive and doesn’t require surgery. The Orbera gastric balloon procedure is performed under sedation (you are asleep but breathing on your own). A thin tube with a camera (endoscope) is passed down your throat into your stomach. The doctor then advances the deflated balloon down your throat to the stomach. Once inside the stomach, the endoscopist uses a syringe to fill the balloon with saline until it reaches the desired size. The balloon size is tailored to your body and needs. Once the gastric balloon is inserted, the balloon is typically inflated to around 500 ml – 550 ml. You’ll be monitored for a short period before going home, with a detailed plan and support from the weight loss team for the weeks and months ahead.

Results with the Orbera weight loss balloon are rapid, with most rapid weight loss occurring in the first 3-4 months. It is important for you to understand that the Orbera gastric balloon is a medical tool to aid weight loss and must be used in conjunction with diet, exercise, and a behavior modification program. This unique Orbera weight loss system is designed to help patients lose weight by changing their eating habits and lifestyle. The amount of weight you lose and maintain will depend on how closely you follow your diet and adopt long-term lifestyle changes. Clinical studies have shown that people lose an average of 13% of their body weight at 6 months. On average, patients lost 3.1x the weight of those who were on a diet and exercise program alone.

While the estimated weight loss with the Orbera balloon is around 13% at 6 months, people who have gastric balloons lose weight fast with most of the weight coming off in the first 3-4 months. Combining the balloon and a healthy diet is important to keep the weight loss going. 

Once in place, the gastric balloon is filled with saline to partially fill the stomach so that they may consume smaller portions of food. The gastric balloon may help you lose weight fast. Most weight is lost in the first three months, but while the Orbera gastric weight loss balloon is a temporary device, because the gastric balloon stays in for six months, you will learn the right amount of food to eat to maintain your new weight long-term.

The Orbera gastric balloon is a temporary intervention. Just like the placement of the balloon, the removal of the balloon is an endoscopic procedure. While you are asleep, the doctor introduces an endoscope through the mouth to the stomach. A needle is used to puncture the balloon. The fluid is aspirated then the doctor can remove the balloon through the mouth. The Orbera balloon removal procedure takes around 15 minutes. The Orbera balloon may be removed 6 months after placement or it may also be removed earlier if you achieve your goals or if you develop side effects after insertion of an intragastric balloon.

The gastric balloon may be suitable for patients who are not able to lose weight with diet and exercise alone and who are willing to commit to the nonsurgical weight loss program. Patients who suffer from obesity defined as a BMI of 30 and above are candidates for the gastric balloon. Patients who suffer from overweight, defined as a BMI above 25 but who also suffer from a weight-related medical condition may be candidates for the gastric balloon. However, the gastric balloon is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and careful evaluation is required.

Insurance does NOT cover the ORBERA balloon. You should check with your insurance provider as some plans may cover the cost of some aspects of the gastric balloon procedure typically office visits and such. However, we understand that the Orbera gastric balloon placement can be a significant investment in your health, so we offer various financing options to make the Orbera balloon cost accessible. 

Despite the proven benefits of gastric balloons, insurance plans do NOT cover the ORBERA balloon or any gastric balloons. It is unfortunate that insurance companies have not yet embraced the coverage for gastric balloon procedures in the management of obesity and its resulting comorbid conditions. For now, we offer financing options to help make the cost of the gastric balloon more affordable. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can use these to decrease the cost of a gastric balloon.

Both the placement of an intragastric balloon and the balloon removal take approximately 15 minutes.

After your intragastric balloon placement, you’ll start with a liquid diet, moving to soft foods as recommended to ease your body’s adjustment to the balloon. Regular physical examinations will assess your progress, focusing on your body mass index (BMI) to track health improvements. Aftercare also addresses internal factors affecting weight, like dietary behavior, while encouraging new exercise habits to improve overall physical health.

Orbera is a non-surgical weight loss procedure, which means no incisions, stitches, or scars. Placing an intragastric balloon does not alter your anatomy. It is an outpatient procedure that takes about 15 minutes; people go home the same day. It is typically performed under sedation, not general anesthesia (no breathing machine is required). And, importantly, the balloon is in place only temporarily, as opposed to permanent weight loss surgery. The cost of the procedure is much less than the cost of bariatric surgery. With these unique advantages, many patients and doctors regard the Orbera gastric balloon system as one of the best weight loss systems available today, combining both an effective solution and a minimally invasive approach.

Many people say it feels like they have eaten a large meal immediately after the procedure. In the first few days after placement, your body adjusts to the balloon in your stomach. You might feel sick for a few days as you get used to the balloon, but your doctor can prescribe medication that will help you proactively manage these symptoms. After a few weeks, the ability to “tell” where the balloon is goes away. It is not noticeable during exercise, and it is not visible from the outside.

Your physician will see you approximately 1-2 weeks after your balloon is placed. You will meet with your dietitian once a month for the entire 12-month treatment program. These sessions are typically conducted via secure video conference (telemedicine) from the comfort of your home. Your physician will be available to see you throughout the treatment period, though we do not require office visits on a set schedule. 

Published clinical studies of Orbera have shown that, provided you keep to the prescribed diet and exercise regime, you will maintain weight loss through dieting post-removal. So, if you stick to your new, healthy lifestyle, you will be well on the way to maintaining your weight loss after losing weight with a gastric balloon. The intragastric balloon is made to help you lose weight while the balloon is in your stomach, but it also gives you the opportunity to change your habits and lifestyle so you can maintain the weight loss results long-term with healthy eating and adhering to an exercise program without the balloon still in your stomach. 

Gastric balloons have been used in the management of obesity for over 20 years. Over this time, they have evolved in shape, size, and design resulting in a modern, durable product, which is now well-established as a safe weight loss procedure. Nearly 300,000 Orbera balloons have been distributed worldwide. Any weight loss therapy like the intragastric balloon can have some side effects, but these are rare and usually easily managed.

Orbera side effects are usually transient and they resolve in a few days. It is very likely that the presence of the balloon in the stomach will cause nausea or vomiting after placement. In some patients, it may last one to two weeks. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help minimize these potential Orbera gastric balloon side effects. You will need to immediately contact your doctor for any severe or unusual symptoms. The risk of serious Orbera side effects is about 1 in 10,000. Potential serious side effects of intragastric balloon include stomach ulceration, balloon deflation, bowel obstruction, intestinal perforation, and death.

The Orbera balloon is constructed from a very smooth and soft silicone material to minimize the risk of irritating the stomach wall. You will also be prescribed medicines that will reduce the acidity in your stomach and help protect your stomach wall. Patients with prior stomach surgery are not eligible for the procedure because of a higher risk of the balloon causing a perforation in the stomach. Some patients without prior stomach surgery have also had gastric or esophageal perforation, but this is typically following extended periods of side effects. Patients should be advised to immediately contact their physician for any unusually severe, worsening, or recurrent symptoms lasting longer than two weeks.

Orbera has been reviewed in over 250 published global clinical papers, and a balloon deflation or leak is a very rare event. However, if the balloon should spontaneously deflate, you may no longer feel full after eating. If you suspect this may be the case, notify your doctor immediately. A simple abdominal x-ray can determine whether either has occurred. If it has, your doctor will arrange to remove the deflated balloon.

Balloon deflation is a rare event, typically related to a balloon that has been in the stomach for over 6 months. This event is estimated to occur in less than 0.3% of patients (3 out of every 1000 patients). You will be required to have the balloon removed at 6 months.

Orbera results in significant weight loss. With the Orbera balloon, you can expect to lose 3 times as much weight compared to diet and exercise alone. On average, Orbera gastric balloon weight loss results range from 10% to 13% of your total body weight. Gastric balloon results depend on the level of commitment to the weight loss program and the adherence to the diet and follow-up plan with the dietitian. Commitment to the weight loss program is essential, otherwise, there is a risk that you may regain weight after the balloon is removed. Our commitment is to help you reach your weight loss goals. With dietary and lifestyle changes, and with the support of our weight loss experts, long-term weight loss can be achieved.

In the unlikely event that your Orbera balloon should deflate, you may no longer feel full after eating. If the balloon were to leave your stomach and enter the small intestine, you could develop symptoms of bowel obstruction, including pain, nausea, and vomiting. If you suspect this may be the case, notify your doctor immediately. A simple abdominal X-ray can determine whether this has occurred. If it has, your doctor will arrange to remove the deflated balloon.

The Orbera gastric balloon cost varies depending on where you are getting the procedure done and what is included in the weight loss program (beyond the insertion of the balloon). The Orbera cost in the US varies between $6,500 and $7,500. It is important to understand what is included in the total cost of gastric balloon package you sign up for. The Orbera price may be lower in some clinics, but you may need to pay extra for follow-up visits, dietitian visits, or balloon removal. So, when you are asking how much does Orbera cost, make sure you are asking about the whole program included in the balloon pricing.

If you are trying to lose excess weight, and you do not want bariatric surgery (such as gastrectomy and gastric bypass) or you do not qualify for bariatric surgery, you may want to consider non-surgical medical weight loss options such as the Orbera gastric balloon program. The balloon can aid in weight loss, but you need to be ready to change your lifestyle and eating habits so you can achieve weight loss long-term. The balloon program helps you lose weight and keep it off. The benefits of the gastric balloon go beyond weight loss. It helps you decrease your risk of developing obesity-related comorbid conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. 

The average cost of the Orbera® gastric balloon is usually a global fee for the whole program which would cover the cost of the balloon removal.