Gastric Balloon

This plan acts as a “road-map” that gives you the exact natural foods needed to orchestrate biochemical changes for individualized weight and health goals such as cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes.
The program offers you a personalized nutrition plan based on an in-depth analysis of 37 different blood lab values and your medical history. Your personalized plan will indicate exactly which natural foods and the quantity you should eat them, in order to balance your personal “body chemistry” with the right “food chemistry”.
If weight loss is your goal, you can experience rapid weight reduction. Metabolic balance® is 100% natural! NO hunger, NO cravings, NO injections/pills/shakes, NO keeping “points” or counting calories.. You aren’t alone on the Metabolic Balance® program. Throughout the four phases (preparation, strict conversion, relaxed conversion, and maintenance) of your program you are supported by your Metabolic Balance® coach.
With the Balloon and the Metabolic Balance® approach let us help you lose weight.

As typically with gastric operations, the first few days and weeks of diet after the gastric balloon procedure is solely based on liquids, purees, and other soft foods. The transition from liquids to more solid food goes slowly step-by-step as it is necessary to get your body comfortable with the balloon and avoid nausea. After the initial liquid diet, you can move on to normal textured solid foods after around two weeks. It is vital to follow the diet recommendations and start eating healthy and exercising more.

Even though the gastric balloon procedure is non-surgical and straightforward, there are still some risks to be aware of:

• Dehydration – because of the balloon, there might be difficulty in consuming an adequate amount of liquids. However, this problem usually goes away after the stomach has adapted to the balloon.
• Severe nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting – usually normal and expected during the first few days. Not to worry – you will be given medication to help prevent and alleviate it.
• Ulcers – mostly caused by the balloon irritating the lining of the stomach. To reduce the risk, it’s essential to avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Doctors typically give patients omeprazole or other proton pump inhibitors to reduce stomach acid while the balloon is in place.
• Balloon deflation – occurrence is low. However, it can be a hazardous situation where the silicone balloon is compromised, deflates, and could move through the digestive system where it might cause a blockage. Deflated balloons must be removed endoscopically.
• Early removal – due to intolerance. Not very common, but patients are given medications to help them through their nausea if it happens.
• Gastric perforation – also very rare, but the higher risk is for the patients who have a prior history of stomach surgery.

Even if your physical condition (i.e. BMI) is suitable for the gastric balloon procedure, some contraindications might not give you the “green light” for that procedure:

• currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• serious liver damage (e.g. cirrhosis)
• history or current use of blood-thinning medications
• prior history of stomach or bariatric surgery (e.g., gastric bypass, nissen fundoplication, gastric surgery, or sleeve gastrectomy)
• anomalies in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., large hiatal hernias that is greater than 5 cm, acute inflammation in the esophagus or presence of stomach ulcers)

All in all, the gastric balloon procedure is an option for weight loss, especially if you haven’t succeeded with diet and exercise before. This safe, non-surgical, and simple procedure can give you the kickstart to get you on the path to a healthier life!