Obesity left untreated can cause serious health problems over time. You can take action today. Discover your options.
Obesity left untreated can cause serious health problems over time. You can take action today. Discover your options.
The Elipse balloon is a new type of intragastric balloon which doesn’t require surgery, endoscopy* or anaesthesia. Instead, a capsule that contains the Elipse Balloon is swallowed during a 20 minute walk-in procedure. It’s then inflated with liquid. With the balloon in your stomach, you can eat less without feeling hungry. 16 weeks after placement, the Elipse Balloon self empties and passes naturally.
The balloon is placed in your stomach during a brief 20-minute outpatient visit with one of our surgeons. You will swallow a vegetable-based capsule that contains the deflated balloon. The balloon is connected to a long thin tube. Once the capsule has entered your stomach you will have a first x-ray to confirm the correct position of the capsule.
Your surgeon will then use the tube to fill the balloon with 550mL of water and then a second x-ray will confirm the balloon is correctly filled. Once the balloon is filled, your surgeon will gently remove the tube and you’ll be on your way.
Most people can swallow the capsule containing the Elipse Balloon without any problems. However, if you do have difficulty swallowing it, your surgeon can use a thin wire (stylet) to help guide the capsule into place – still without endoscopy or anaesthesia.
People on average lose between 10 and 15kg over four months of balloon therapy.
Most people can return to normal activity within a day or two. However, some people do experience nausea, abdominal cramping and, occasionally, vomiting after balloon placement. In most cases, your doctor can prescribe commonly used medication to help manage these symptoms.
After approximately 16 weeks, a time-activated release valve on the balloon will open, allowing it to empty and pass naturally without any medical intervention when you use the toilet. In rare cases, at the time of passage, the balloon may be vomited.
After your balloon passes, the support from your healthcare team continues. This is to help you consolidate your new lifestyle habits and focus on keeping the weight off.
As with any procedure there are some risks of having the Elipse Balloon place.
The most common side effects of balloon placement are vomiting, nausea, dehydration, abdominal pain and reflux. We have medications to help with the management of these symptoms, however, there is a 5% chance of needing the balloon removed via endoscopy due to intolerance.
There are also, more rare, side effects which your surgeon will discuss with you before your procedure.
The procedure may not be as effective if you do not make the recommended changes to your diet and lifestyle after the procedure or if you do not keep contact with your healthcare team.
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