An Easier and Minimally Invasive Way To Lose Weight.

I listened to a friend as she ranted about how easily she put on weight. She said she could eat half the meal a regular person ate but add double the weight. There are people who pray to have such a body and such genes but what these people fail to understand is the fact that this could lead to extreme lifestyle regulations and if they fail to adjust, they could easily tilt towards obesity.

There are also a group of people who just love to eat and as such, cannot control their cravings. This again, can pose a major issue as it could subsequently lead to obesity. Before now, procedures like sleeve gastrectomy and gastric banding were put in place to help obese people or people who needed to shed some weight. However, the thought of some of these procedures can be very terrifying. Imagine having to cut off a part of your stomach or cut off your entire stomach just so you eat less?

Aside from the time needed to heal, most of these procedures require surgery meaning they are very invasive. Many people wouldn't want to go through such torment and so they avoid the idea totally. However, with the advancement in technology, a different procedure was introduced and this has helped people who consciously want to lose weight. The name of the procedure–Intragastric Balloon Placement.

What are intragastric balloons?

Gastric balloons are silicon or latex devices inserted into the stomach through the mouth using endoscopy. Once in place, these balloons are filled with saline or gas, occupying space in the stomach leading to the reduction of the stomach's capacity.

There are different types of gastric balloons. We have single gastric balloons, double/dual gastric balloons and adjustable gastric balloons. As their names entail, they are either single double ore adjustable respectively.

Just like every medical procedure, there are advantages and disadvantages. The idea of just placing a balloon in one's stomach to occupy space and prevent one from eating excessively sounds very intriguing and so are the advantages. Some of these advantages include;

• Weight loss: there is usually a significant reduction in the body mass index (BMI) of the people who undergo this procedure, about 20-40% reduction. The most intriguing part is that this reduction happens within the first 6-12 months after the procedure.

• Non-surgical: to reiterate, this procedure is non surgical and as such no incision is made. All that is needed is an open month and within fifteen minutes, you have a restricting balloon inside your stomach.

• Reversibility: this procedure can easily be reversed if one changes their mind along the line.

• Low Risk: in comparison to surgical weight loss procedures, the risks are very minimal if any.

The advantages of these procedures seem very appealing but there are a few disadvantages or should I say side effects that come with lodging a balloon in one's stomach. Some of which include;

• Nausea and Vomiting: this is one of the side effects that come during the initial stage of adaptation.

• Abdominal Pain: this can also happen judging from the fact that a strange body is in one's stomach. Cramping and bloating sometimes accompany the pain.

• Balloon deflation and migration: this is one of the greatest disadvantages that comes with this procedure but the great thing is that this disadvantage is very rare. Deflation or migration of the balloon can be caused by a number of things including; wrong/small size of balloon, trauma to the abdomen, etc. If this happens, immediate medical attention is needed.

Just like many medical procedures there are requirements for the intragastric balloon placement and they are:

1. Age 18 years – 65 years
2. BMI ≥30kg/m²
3. A record of failed traditional weight loss methods
4. No previous gastric surgeries
5. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers are exempted
6. Severe gastrointestinal motility disorders
7. Gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcers.
8. Psychologically unstable individuals.

This procedure is still undergoing clinical trials in a few parts of the world but the individuals who have undergone the procedures are still very alive and with less weight.

Personally, I think this procedure is a very innovative one judging from the fact that it takes away the risks that come with surgery and is still very effective. Not many people know of this procedure and if I were struggling with obesity, I would give it a try. Simply put, the procedure makes one feel full faster leading to them taking in less amounts of food.

Intragastric balloon placement offers a valuable non-surgical option for weight loss in individuals looking to lose weight. While the procedure comes with potential side effects that wear off with time, the benefits can be substantiasubstantiall for those who struggle with traditional weight loss methods.

Liebe🤍

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