Losing Weight with Intragastric Balloons

Thanks to modern advancements in gastric health, it is now possible to lose significant amounts of unwanted weight with minimal effort. Knowing whether or not some of the available options are right for your weight loss endeavors is only a matter of assessing your current condition with your healthcare professional and then creating a plan of attack against the unwanted fat. One of the most popular methods for losing weight is the use of what’s known as intragastric balloons.

What Are Intragastric Balloons?

It isn’t too difficult to understand what an intragastric balloon is or how it works when you break down the word itself. Intra = inside, and gastric = your digestive system. In short, intragastric balloons are usually rather small, saline-filled ventricles that are used to occupy space in your stomach. In other words, this non-invasive and typically outpatient procedure can help you lose weight by making you feel fuller while eating less.

How Safe Are These Intragastric Balloons to Use for the Average Person?

For the most part, intragastric balloons are relatively safe for just about anyone who is suffering greatly from being overweight or obese. There are some pretty common side-effects associated with the placement of one, however. It is important that you know about the following possibilities so that you know what to expect if you ever get one. As a general rule, you will probably experience:

· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Abdominal cramps
· Feeling full
· Significant weight loss
· Behavioral changes

Although each and every person will react differently to receiving intragastric balloons, those symptoms are pretty much par for the course. Your doctor will have more information for you on the subject, so it might be a good idea for you to compose a list of questions before your scheduled visit.

What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor Before Getting an Intragastric Balloons?

You want to make sure that you approach your weight loss goals with intragastric balloons in a healthy and responsible way, and that begins with asking your healthcare provider all the right questions. You should make yourself aware of which foods you should and shouldn’t eat, as well as when you should become concerned. It is probably also a good idea for you to know how long recovery is typically supposed to take so that you can tell if something goes wrong. At the end of the day, losing weight is great, but it is only so if you do it the right way.