Gastric balloons are long-established weight loss tools that can be used as alternatives to bariatric weight loss surgery. These state-of-the-art weight loss devices are designed to provide patients with a holiday from hunger, and a break from their usual habits.
For patients looking to lower their body weight or minimise the effects or risk of obesity related health problems such as high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, heart disease or even some forms of cancer, a gastric balloon is a great solution. A temporary weight loss balloon can help patients to develop the healthy habits necessary to make lifestyle changes, long after the deflated balloon is removed.
Following your gastric balloon procedure, you are given empowered to follow the dietary principles that have been laid out by your Allure dietitian. We understand that the ultimate goal following your procedure is to lose weight, and we will provide you with all the tools needed to lower your body mass index (BMI), and lead a healthier lifestyle. But how should you prepare for the gastric balloon placement itself?
Preparing the Mind
Your Relationship with Food
It is important that you prepare yourself for your gastric balloon placement with Allure in more ways than one. Not only will this be a journey of physical changes, but hopefully psychological ones too.
What we mean by that is your relationship with food should evolve to become more mindful and attuned to what you are consuming. You will have help from our weight loss team after your procedure, but it is important to try and learn as much as you can about your current diet and the changes that need to be made as early as possible. Being prepared in advance of your placement will allow you to maximise your weight loss.
It is important to recognise a gastric balloon as a weight loss tool, and losing excess weight also relies upon lifestyle habits changing. Once you have your gastric balloon removed you will need to maintain these changes to ensure that you can benefit from sustainable weight loss. While your balloon is in place you can lose weight quickly, it is important to take the lifestyle changes just as seriously as the procedure itself so that you don’t regain the weight after the removal of your balloon.
Discomfort
It is integral that you prepare yourself for initial discomfort. Your body is, after all, adjusting to a foreign object, and while it does that, you aren’t going to be at your best.
Although you may be able to completely escape the side effects of a balloon placement, that isn’t always the case and you should be prepared for some symptoms in the first three days. These symptoms can include nausea, cramping and bloating, with other potential symptoms – these are completely normal.
You will have regular meetings with your bariatric nurse to ensure you are keeping hydrated, remembering to take your medication, and everything is going to plan. Remember, the initial discomfort will pass, and it is possible that after a few days you won’t even notice that your gastric balloon is there – aside from feeling fewer hunger symptoms that is.
Preparing the Body
Preparing for Weight Loss
Typically, patients achieve 50% of their weight loss within the first month so it is important to make sure that your body is prepared to undergo this accelerated weight loss.
Make sure you are keeping hydrated up until your gastric balloon placement and are mindful of keeping hydrated after the fact. Water is incredibly important to the human body and comes with a plethora of health benefits so upping your consumption is a great habit to get into early on.
You should also make sure to attend your first dietetic meeting before placement. This will ensure you have all the right information going forward.
Take Your Medication
You will be prescribed with specific medication before your intragastric balloon placement. Make sure you remember to take it and understand how regularly you should be taking it.
If you have any questions at all make sure to call or email the Allure team as soon as possible. They will be able to clear everything up for you. This medication will help alleviate symptoms that may occur as a result of gastric balloon placement.
Travel Arrangements
Plan Ahead
You may live around the corner from your gastric balloon clinic, however that isn’t the reality for all of our patients.
When you’re planning your journey to your placement centre, make sure to account for traffic, the weather, and how you will be getting home! Whether by car or train, it is always better to be early than late. This will help to minimise stress before your gastric balloon placement, and hopefully give you some time to relax. Make sure you know where you are going to arrive in advance and get in touch with a member of our team if you are unsure.
Getting Home
As having an Orbera 365 or a BiB 6 month gastric balloon placed means that you will need to be sedated, you will not be able to drive following your procedure. Due to this, you will need to find somebody to drive you home if you plan on driving to the clinic.
Contact Us
Should you have any questions relating to your gastric balloon placement with Allure or are looking to start your journey with a CQC registered company, contact us today.
