FAQs
Welcome to our comprehensive FAQ section, where we address your most pressing questions. This resource is designed to provide you with detailed insights and information. From understanding the basics of the procedure to exploring the unique features of the Allurion Balloon, our goal is to help you make informed decisions about your weight-loss journey. Dive into our FAQs to learn more about this innovative, non-surgical option and how it might fit into your health and wellness plan.
We’re delighted to share that the NHS is considering our safe, non-surgical weight-loss solution. Presently, access to the Allurion Programme on the NHS is limited to specific patients in one trust in the UK. For individuals who wish to undergo this non-surgical weight-loss procedure, it is available as a private service at Allurion accredited clinics throughout the country. Click here for a complimentary consultation with a weight-loss advisor or here to use our Clinic Locator to find a clinic close to you.
The gastric balloon is a medical device designed to assist with weight loss. It is a soft balloon filled with liquid or air that is placed in the stomach. All gastric balloons have the same mechanism of action to occupy space, promoting a feeling of fullness and reducing food intake4. They typically remain in the stomach for several months before being removed by endoscopy or, in the case of the Allurion Balloon, naturally eliminated.**
We understand that swallowing the capsule containing the Allurion Balloon may worry some people, particularly due to the gag reflex.
A clinical study conducted with 1,770 patients showed that 99.9% of patients were able to swallow the capsule. Only one patient was unable to swallow the device. In 35.9% of cases, patients required assistance from a stylet to facilitate ingestion1. In such instances, the doctor helped by gently guiding the capsule down using the stylet, which helps to stiffen the catheter.
After approximately 4 months inside your stomach, a time-activated release valve will open, allowing the balloon to empty and pass naturally through the gastrointestinal tract without the need for a removal procedure.4*
Curious about the specifics of the Allurion Balloon removal? Dive into this detailed exploration on what the process involves.
We understand that weight regain after balloon passage is a common fear and source of anxiety. This is why the Allurion Balloon is accompanied by nutritional coaching and medical support to help you change your lifestyle and develop a healthier routine. Once the Allurion Balloon is out of your body, the support from your follow-up team continues until the end of the Allurion Programme to help you maintain the same eating habits.
The Allurion Balloon is placed in the stomach during an outpatient consultation.4 The patient swallows a capsule containing the deflated balloon, which is attached to a thin tube (catheter). Once the presence of the capsule in the patient’s stomach is confirmed (by X-ray), the balloon is filled with liquid using the catheter. A second X-ray is performed to ensure that the balloon is properly filled. The procedure is then complete, and the catheter is gently removed. In the majority of cases, approximately 4 months later, the Allurion Balloon empties on its own and is naturally eliminated.4**
Clinical evaluation of the Allurion Device suggests that on average, patients will lose approximately 10-15% of their starting total body weight4. Individual results vary widely.
If weight loss achieved is less than desired and the patient still qualifies and is not contraindicated, a sequential Allurion Device may be placed.
As with any medical solution, results may vary from patient to patient, and some may not respond to the treatment. Please consult a doctor to assess the risks and benefits before making your decision.
The Allurion Balloon is a regulated health product that bears the CE marking in accordance with this regulation.
To learn more about the Allurion Balloon, assess the risks and benefits of this solution, read the important safety information, and discuss it with your doctor.
*Results may vary from one patient to another. The average of 14.2% (+/- 5%) was demonstrated by a clinical study conducted on 1,770 patients with an average BMI of 34.4 ± 5.3 kg/m² (1).
**The removal of the Allurion Balloon may, in very rare cases, require an endoscopic or surgical procedure. In rare cases, instead of being passed through the digestive tract, the deflated balloon may be expelled by vomiting.
***Eligibility for the placement of an Allurion Balloon will be assessed by a certified doctor after an initial consultation and a thorough review of your medical history. In the case of an extended Allurion Programme, your eligibility will be reassessed before each placement to ensure that you continue to meet the required conditions.
1. R. Ienca et al. The procedureless Elipse gastric balloon program: Multicenter experience in 1,770 consecutive patients. Obes Surg. 2020;30(9):3354-3362.
A multicentre, prospective, non-randomised, open registry study conducted on overweight or obese patients from January 2016 to June 2019 across 19 international obesity centres participating in the study. A total of 1,770 patients with an average BMI of 34.4 ± 5.3 kg/m² at baseline underwent treatment with the Elipse swallowable gastric balloon, with monthly visits and a total follow-up of 4 months. 63 patients (3.6%) did not complete the programme, and the balloon was removed before 4 months due to intolerance or other adverse effects.
2. World Health Organization - Key facts about obesity and overweight (who.int).
4. This information is extracted from the device's leaflet - Instructions for use - Allurion Gastric Balloon - CS137-02-ENG-ART. If you have any further questions regarding this document, please consult your doctor.
Important information to consider before the placement of an Allurion Gastric Balloon
- The Allurion Gastric Balloon is part of a behaviour modification programme that lasts for a minimum of 6 months, to which you must be fully committed. This device is designed to promote weight loss, but only by committing to changing your eating habits and increasing your physical activity will you be able to achieve and maintain a healthy weight in the long term.
- It is important to note that the Allurion Gastric Balloon may cause adverse events, some of which may require removal by endoscopy. Rare cases of spontaneous hyperinflation, small intestine obstruction, stomach dilation, oesophagitis, pancreatitis, or stomach perforation have been reported, requiring surgical intervention.1,4 Please consult the full list of potential complications available on the page Important Safety Information.
- The Allurion Gastric Balloon is not suitable for all patients. Pregnant individuals or those with a history of oesophageal or stomach surgery, among others, are not eligible for the procedure. The complete list of contraindications can be found in the device's instructions for use provided to doctors. Your doctor will review your medical history and conduct a physical examination to confirm your eligibility for the Allurion Programme.
- It is crucial that each doctor and patient carefully assess the risks and benefits of the treatment before using the Allurion device. To learn more about the Allurion Balloon, its effectiveness, and its tolerability, discuss it with your doctor.
- You must be available for follow-up with your doctor throughout the treatment period, especially if you experience the following symptoms, including but not limited to: persistent nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and/or abdominal pain. If you consult other healthcare professionals, inform them that an intragastric balloon is present. We encourage you to stay close to modern emergency care facilities during the time the balloon is in place, in case serious complications arise.