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Gastric balloon (BIB)
If your diet is failing and you need another way to lose weight without surgery or drugs then the Gastric Balloon BIB® System, now available at Court House Clinics can give you that freedom. From Allergan, the makers of Botox®, this discreet non-surgical approach to weight management involves placing a soft silicone balloon filled with a saline solution inside your stomach, creating the feeling of fullness.
In just 6-months following Court House Clinics unique Body Management Programme, you could loose from 2-4 stone allowing for a slimmer physique and healthier lifestyle.
Before the treatment can take place a medical consultation and health screen at Court House Clinics assesses your suitability. Only individuals with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of over 27 are eligible for the treatment. If you are clinically obese and looking to reduce the associated health risks, preparing for vital surgery or as a preparation to cosmetic surgery, the Gastric Balloon, can help you achieve your healthy goals without going under the knife.
Benefits of the BIB™ System:
- Proven to deliver better weight loss than with diet alone
- Simple non-surgical procedure
- Does not require long-term drug therapy
- Helps create and maintain a feeling of fullness
- Makes it easier to adopt changes to your eating habits and lifestyle.
The 15-20 minute procedure does not require an overnight stay and is carried out by Upper Gastrointestinal Specialist Professor Nadey Hakim, World President of the International College of Surgeons. Professor Hakim has performed more gastric balloon and gastric band surgeries than any other surgeon in the UK. A mild sedative is required to minimise discomfort as the deflated balloon is inserted via a small endoscope. Once positioned, the balloon is then filled with saline to the appropriate volume. It’s the weight of the saline that gives the balloon the appropriate “presence” in the stomach, therefore creating a feeling of fullness, preventing overindulgence! Initially you will feel discomfort and nausea whilst your body adjusts to the balloon, but in three to four days you should be able to resume normal day to day activities. Your physician may prescribe some pain relief medicine and medication to keep your stomach acid levels down while your body adjusts.
Included within the cost of treatment Court House Clinics provide a holistic clinically supervised Body Management Programme to make a dramatic change to your lifestyle and wellbeing. A nutritionist and personal trainer provide an individually tailored, easy to follow, motivating diet and fitness package for optimum results. If this is followed over a six month period along with scheduled follow-up meetings, weight loss is inevitable. Removal after six months is simple. A tube is passed through your mouth into your stomach and the balloon is deflated and removed. Very few people experience side effects, but your doctor will keep you in the clinic for a couple of hours following removal so that any sedative effects can wear off and he can check you are fit to go home.
The Gastric Balloon helps you jump start weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. It will motivate you to stay on the path to health and happiness and the Court House Clinic team are there to support you every step of the way.
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Frequently asked questions
Am I suitable for a gastric balloon?
The BIB Programme is suitable for many people – both male and female. As a guideline, if your BMI is over 27 and you have a weight issue you are likely to be suitable for a gastric balloon.
Please note you may not be suitable for the BIB Programme if you have previously undergone gastric or any other upper abdominal surgery.
If you are clinically obese, looking for a short-term solution to weight loss to reduce health risks associated with obesity; as preparation to vital surgery or other cosmetic surgery (abdominoplasty, Liposuction) or as part of a supervised weight loss programme, then the BIB Programme may be helpful to you.
How does the BIB Programme work?
The gastric balloon (which is made of elastic, durable, high quality silicone) is swallowed via a long tube. It is then inflated with saline, partially filling the stomach and inducing the feeling of fullness.
This helps the patient reduce their food intake and adopt new eating habits. In conjunction with a supervised, healthy diet, and behaviour modification programme to help maintain weight loss, the tube is then removed after some time, also endoscopically.
How long will it take to insert a gastric balloon?
The procedure does not require an overnight stay is performed as a day case, as only local anaesthetic is required and is normally installed in under 1 hour. Haywards Heath clinic complete with theatre would be an ideal facility.
What results can I expect from having a gastric balloon inserted?
Patients have lost as much as 18.5 Kg (approx 3 stone) over a 6 month period provided they followed the body plan advice given as part of their treatment.
How long is the recovery period having a gastric balloon inserted?
It is recommended 1 week’s holiday from work to recover from having a gastric balloon inserted, as it is normal to feel tenderness and fatigue for a few days after the procedure.
Are there any after effects to a gastric balloon?
Immediately after the procedure, the patient is advised to sip water only occasionally and or suck on an ice cube. The first few days after having a gastric balloon inserted will be uncomfortable as the stomach gets used to the presence of the balloon. The patient may experience nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhoea and cramping during this time until the body adjusts.
Aside from normal, post-surgery discomfort, you should not experience side effects from the BIB Programme.
Can I combine a gastric band with other treatments?
Court House Clinics are committed to providing an effective weight loss programme for our patients. Alongside your gastric band procedure you are provided with a Dietician package which would be a tailor made, clinically supervised programme of diet and exercise to suit your lifestyle and help you achieve your target weight. On completion of the weight loss programme, many patients would then be suitable for Liposuction, Abdominoplasty “Tummy Tuck”, SmartLipo & Accent radiofrequency treatments for body reshaping to complete the overall result.
Before and after
Testimonial
Contact name/pseudo name:
Priti Patel Clinic Manager
What was the operation that the patient underwent?
Gastric Balloon
Patient’s age:
37
Where does the patient live:
Surrey
Does the patient have a partner?
Single
Why did the patient decide that they wanted to undergo the procedure?
Difficult to shift weight and re educate eating habits
How did the patient feel about the problem area before the procedure?
Not unhappy with size but concerned about stubborn areas such as stomach not budging with exercise, she needs the encouragement to get into healthy eating and exercise routine
How did the patient feel about the results of their surgery/non-surgical procedure?
So far after two weeks weight loss of around half a stone, everyone is commenting on the difference and she can definitely see the difference in her face and bust area. Already transformed the way she thinks about food, smaller portions have encouraged her to search for healthier options and she is eating far smaller portions of fresh food. Already decided to begin exercise, light exercise now that the nausea is wearing off
Weight Before procedure:
12 stone 4 pounds size 14-16
Target Weight:
10 ½ stones -11 stones
Diary of Priti Patel
15.05.08:
So today’s the day.
I’m not even nervous. I just want it done so that I can start to look good for the summer.
At the hospital, ok so I’m here, this is really going to happen today. I see that there is anther person waiting to see Professor Nadey Hakim, I engage in conversation and ask what she’s having done. She tells me that she is having her gastric balloon removed after losing 5 stones. This convinces me I am doing the right thing.
The nerves finally kick in as I’m being taken into the operating theatre but after about a few minutes on the table the sedative kicked in and the next thing I remember is waking up, and thinking I don’t feel anything, did I really do this!
A sudden feeling of nausea brought me quickly back to reality and didn’t know if I should stay in bed or stand or walk! The nurse said that I was fine to go if I could keep some water down. I did take a few sips but this made me feel worse.
Fortunately the nurse gave some anti-nausea injections so that I could travel home safely.
Once I got home I went straight to sleep but I found that if turned on my side I could feel the balloon move, so I slept on my back to make things more comfortable. I suffered a small bout of sickness during the night but managed to sleep quite well.
I felt tired the next morning and tried to have some water, which I normally have quite cold, and found I could not drink it. Instead I had some warm water and ginger which I managed to drink a mug full in a day. I also had about 3 spoons of jelly. This did not stay down for long!
16.05.08
This was the general pattern for the next day as well. I was only sick twice today, but the nausea arrives in waves but is gradually getting less as time goes on and I get used to the feeling of the balloon inside me. I have even given it a pet name!
17.05.08
I have started to feel a little hungry, so I had ½ a dry cracker and some jelly for breakfast which I did feel better for having. I’m still finding it hard to drink water I might mange a glass in a day, I need to drink 8 glasses a day in order for the balloon to float to the top of my stomach where the “I’m full glands” are located. I went shopping for food today, this is the first time I have ventured out of the house. I walk like an old woman; if I walk at my normal pace I feel nauseous. I had to leave the super market and sit in the car. I realize that I am hungry and need to eat! I have some porridge and felt better instantly.
I still have not managed to have a full nights sleep without experiencing nausea but I am generally beginning to cope with it better and I have the anti sickness medication provided at the hospital to help me through.
18.05 .08
I am starting to feel better today and I managed 3-4 spoons of cereal for breakfast.
I am noticing that if I experience pain, it subsides if I eat and although I am finding it difficult because of the nausea once I do eat I feel much better. Eating controls the acid reflux and calms my stomach.
19.05.2008
I start to read the diet information; it said that I will need to eat small amounts 4-6 times a day. This is normally after two weeks. So I was proud of myself that I had reached this point so soon after the procedure. Eating 4-6 times a day seems a lot to me. Bad habits in the past have led me to skip meals during the day and survive on tea or coffee or sugary snacks and have a heavy meal in the evening. This type of eating pattern is not going to help with the balloon inside me!
20.05.08
Today’s the day I go back to work:
I have a meeting and the journey will take 2 ½ hours so this is a challenge!
I have crackers in my bag and some yogurt, so if I get hungry I have back up!
This is the first time I have gone on a train since the procedure, I found it a little uncomfortable as the train journey was making my stomach feel unsettled but I arrived in one piece.
21.05.08
I still have a lot reflux and wake up at 4.00 in the morning with pain. I spoke to the Nutrionist, and she said I was not eating enough which was causing the problem.
So I have been trying to have regular food, which I admit is helping. I still wake up at 4.00 in the morning.
22.05.08
So I have had the balloon in for a week. I think I have lost weight on my face and people are commenting, so something is happening!
23.05.08 – 29.05.08
This is the second week.
I am having mainly different cereals and some vegetables in the evenings. I do look better already; I didn’t think I would so soon. I still have waves of nausea but since last week I have not been sick again. I still walk slowly, but think I am walking faster each day.
I have not had to have anymore time of work which has been great.
I am looking at my diet each day and trying to drink water has been the most difficult as I have not been able to drink more that about 2 glasses each day.
To be honest I am now looking at most foods that I would normally eat like a McDonalds burger and fries and thinking I can’t eat that! Which is a good thing.
I have gone off tea and coffee I just don’t like the taste anymore.
So its either water or milk.
30.5.08
I feel much better and am eating a little more.
I can sleep on both my sides and on my stomach. Which is brilliant! I can walk normally, and I don t have to sit on all train journeys.
I can drink at least 4 -5 glasses of water each day.
Most days I still get the odd wave of nausea, this is when I have not eaten BUT it only lasts for a minute.
01.06.08 -13.06.08
I am still loosing weight, although it is slower to date I have lost ½ stone, which is 7 lbs. I do look better and feel better for it.
I eat almost normally, but in small portions. I have reverted back to my old ways on a couple of occasions and as soon as I do my stomach plays up!
The other good news is that I have dropped a trouser size. I do look a lot healthier and slimmer. I have had a couple people ask what I have done to which I said I had lost some weight. So happy that I am getting more compliments.
I just have realize that the balloon is in for another 5 months and the weight will come off slowly which is the healthiest way to loose weight and to ensure it stays off. I have also started moderate exercise at the gym on the cross trainer.
Late June
So we are at the end of June and now I have had the balloon for over a month and I feel really great. I have been on holiday and did not experience travel sickness on the fight.
I packed information on the balloon in my suitcase in many different languages, just in case of a problem on the fight or abroad! I also have a card that says I have a gastric balloon in case of a medical emergency.
On the holiday I was far more careful with my diet than I would have been before the balloon. I also kept well hydrated. I did cheat a couple of times and had ice cream and a few Bacardi’s and coke, but I felt confident about my body on holiday and overall more healthy. In fact now the nausea has worn off I sometimes forget I even have the balloon. I swam in the sea which was great and did some walking.
July:
Since I have been back I have had soooo many compliments, I do feel a lot more confident. I have started to swim on Saturday mornings and will try to use the cross trainer at least twice a week.
I am can’t eat some foods, I am trying to very hard to keep to smaller portions as I find I cannot eat as much as I could before. Every time I think I want to eat something “BAD” I think of that I had to go through to get to this point!!
