Is a gastric balloon worth it? An honest cost-benefit
For the right patient it is a supervised head start. For the wrong one it is €2,800 of temporary discomfort.
Who it genuinely suits
BMI 27-33 patients who do not qualify for surgery, patients who need to lose weight before another operation, and those who want to test whether they can adapt to smaller portions before committing to surgery.
What the numbers look like
Typical loss is 10-20 kg while the balloon is in place over 6-12 months. Studies show that patients who receive structured dietary support maintain far more of that loss at two years than those who do not, the balloon buys time, the programme buys permanence.
The first week is genuinely unpleasant
Cramping and nausea for 3-5 days as the stomach adapts. Medication is prescribed in advance. Roughly one in twenty patients cannot tolerate it and asks for early removal. That possibility should be discussed openly beforehand.
When it is the wrong choice
BMI over 40, uncontrolled reflux, previous gastric surgery, or the expectation that it will work without dietary change. In those cases the money is better spent on the operation that actually addresses the problem.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
Can the balloon be repeated?
Yes, after a break, though most patients who need a second one are better served by surgery.
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What Stands Behind The Plan.
