The Allurion gastric balloon is a 16-week behavioural modification tool which is ideal for people with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 40. You can check using our BMI Calculator. If your starting BMI, prior to your balloon placement, is higher than this you might find that a balloon will help you achieve only a kick start towards the amount of weight you would like to lose.  For those people who would prefer to avoid surgical intervention, it is possible to have a second balloon (otherwise known as a sequential balloon) to further your weight loss.  The timing of this second balloon would form part of a discussion you would have with your doctor.  

What If I Feel I Am Not Reaching My Goals with The Balloon

It is always best to speak with your support team regarding your weight loss results if you are unhappy with your progress.  Often there may be dietary and lifestyle factors that could need extra attention to propel you towards your weight and health goals.  It is better to address these during your balloon journey so that you can achieve, maintain and continue your weight loss.

What If I Suspect Something Has Gone Wrong with My Balloon?

When the balloon is first placed, there is a 24-48hour period where you may feel nausea, abdominal cramping and loss of appetite as your body adjusts to the presence of the balloon.  These symptoms can arrange from mild in nature to severe.  Your doctor will provide you with medications to help manage these symptoms and can offer help with re-hydration if your fluid intake is affected.  

If you are ever concerned about your balloon, we recommend that you speak to your support team during your follow up appointments. At best, we will suggest ways of managing or correcting your concerns.  At worst, if your team becomes suspicious of the balloon’s behaviour, we may request an abdominal X-ray to check the positioning of the balloon.  Although extremely rare, if the balloon is found to be somehow faulty or if your body is unable to tolerate its presence and it needs to be removed, a minor surgical procedure will be scheduled to relieve the situation.