A new and unique method using silicon balloon implants is the current hot topic in weight loss circles among women. Contrary to its name, these implants actually help to trim your tummy and lose weight, by taking a toll on your appetite.
In this technique, a silicon balloon is filled with water and then implanted into the stomach. This gives an inverse sense of partial fullness while eating food, thereby reducing the person's appetite.
Experts found that with the balloon in place, one can easily lose around 10 to 15 kilos (about 20 to 30 pounds) within a span of a few months.
With obesity on the rise and at an all-time high, this latest weight reduction technique of putting a silicon balloon into the tummy is a ray of hope to those who are keen on reducing their weight, but do not want to undergo any operations, such as the bariatric surgery - a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach.
"Young girls looking to get married prefer this technique, also referred to as gastric balloon. Also, the balloons do not have to be kept inside forever. They are taken out as soon as there is significant weight reduction to avoid any side-effect." said Ashish Bhanot, head of the Institute of Bariatric Surgery at Apollo Spectra hospitals, Delhi. On average, he performs seven to eight of these surgeries in a month.
Therefore, women prefer it over bariatric surgery as it is incision free and non-invasive.
In this procedure, by using an endoscope the silicon implants are placed in the stomach and then inflated. A typical gastric balloon can be inflated with about 350 to 400 milliliters (12 to 14 ounces) of fluids.
Further, the newer balloons even come with a cap to control the volume of fluids contained inside them. Hence, the fluid amount can be regulated just in case the person using it feels nauseous as a side effect.
The cost of this technology is between Rs 150,000 and Rs 200,000 ($2,255 to $3,007) depending on the quality of the gastric balloons used.
These surgeries are particularly helpful in cases wherein the patients are extremely obese and cannot undergo surgery.
A few patients had shown symptoms of rebound hunger, which could lead to subsequent weight gain, said Delhi-based gastroenterology expert, Abhay Singh. However, the number of such cases is supposedly extremely low.
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