BIB Gastric balloon procedure

You’ll be lightly sedated whilst your clinician uses an endoscope to pass a deflated gastric balloon into your stomach. Once in place, the balloon is filled with saline (salty water) via a small tube. The balloon valve seals when the tube is withdrawn.

The whole process normally takes around 20-30 minutes.

You’ll rest in the clinic for 1-2 hours for observation before being discharged. You can then be taken home.

For the first few days, as your stomach adjusts to the balloon, you’ll almost certainly feel uncomfortable. You may well experience nausea, bloating, diarrhoea and cramping. 

These side-effects are typically experienced for the first few days and potentially up to about two weeks. If necessary, your clinician can prescribe suitable medication to manage them.

The balloon is removed in just a few steps. Whilst mildly sedated, an endoscope and some endoscopic instruments are used to deflate it before it’s withdrawn. You’ll be home within two or three hours. Most people need little or no time off work.