Compare gastric balloon alternatives: bariatric surgery, gastric band, and more

What is bariatric surgery?

Bariatric surgery can be highly successful for people living with obesity. Aside from weight loss, it can also help to manage obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Weight loss can also help to reduce the risk of other conditions like heart disease.¹

Bariatric surgery – also known as gastric surgery or metabolic surgery² – is probably better known than more recent treatment options like gastric balloons. However, unlike balloons, bariatric surgery – as the name suggests – is invasive medical procedure carried out in hospital. As with any surgery, it comes with risks.

It’s also important to note that no single weight-loss treatment is a ‘cure’ for a condition like obesity. All options still require a commitment to a healthier lifestyle in order to achieve sustained habit change and long-term weight loss.¹

Types of bariatric surgery

Here are some common types of weight-loss surgery:¹

• gastric bypass
• gastric sleeve
• gastric band

Gastric sleeve

Gastric sleeve surgery – also called sleeve gastrectomy – is when a part of your stomach is removed. This reduces your stomach to about 25% of its original size and means you can’t eat as much food as you did prior to the operation. As a result, you feel full faster.³ This procedure works by ‘restriction’; it restricts the amount of food you eat.
 

The operation is performed under general anaesthesia. It requires around 1 or 2 days in the hospital after surgery.⁴

After gastric sleeve surgery, you could lose up to 30% of your total body weight loss at 1 year follow-up.⁵ However, as with any weight-loss treatment, a healthy diet and regular exercise are needed to keep the weight off. You may also need to take vitamin and mineral replacement therapy over the long term to guard against deficiencies.⁶

It’s important to note, however, that gastric sleeve surgery cannot be reversed. In addition, the restricted stomach area can expand after surgery, reducing the impact that the surgery had on fullness and thus weight loss effectiveness. Gastric bypass surgery can sometimes be performed later to address this.³
 

Gastric band
 

During gastric band surgery, a band is placed around the top section of your stomach to create a small pouch. The band is then connected to a device under your skin. This is used to tighten the band in the weeks after surgery to help regulate the amount of food you eat.^1,3 This procedure works by ‘restriction’; it restricts the amount of food you eat. 

The pouch acts like a small, artificial stomach. It fills faster than a full-size stomach, meaning you feel full faster. As a result, you won’t eat as much as you did before gastric band surgery.
 

Gastric band surgery is the least invasive of the three main types of weight-loss surgery. It’s performed under general anaesthesia and usually requires 2 or 3 days in the hospital. It’s also worth noting that gastric band surgery can be reversed.³

Gastric bands can lead to an average 24% total body weight loss at 1-year follow-up.⁷ It can help you achieve your target weight goals, but it does not work in isolation. A healthy diet and regular exercise are still needed to help make surgery a success. Even so, you may need to take vitamin and mineral replacement therapy over the long term to guard against deficiencies that result from your reduced food intake.⁶

As with any surgery, there’s a risk of complications with gastric band surgery. For example, it tends to be associated with a high incidence of band removal surgery or secondary surgery to adjust placement.³
 

Gastric bypass

During gastric bypass surgery, staples are used to ‘partition’ the top section of your stomach. This creates a small pouch that is then connected directly to your small intestine.³
 

Food passes through the pouch and ‘bypasses’ the main part of your stomach. This means you feel less hungry as you need less food to make you feel full.  This procedure combines both restriction and malabsorption; restricting the food you eat and reducing its absorption. In addition, some bariatric procedures are also known to lead to hormone and neurological changes which help to regulate appetite and eating patterns.

Gastric bypass surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and requires around 3-5 days in hospital afterwards.³You’ll likely need to stick to a liquid diet for at least a few weeks after the operation, and also plan up to a month off work. In addition, vitamin B12 and iron replacement therapy is usually needed over the long term. Your bone health will also need to be monitored for calcium deficiencies.³ Reversal is rare and requires highly specialised surgery.⁸

Gastric bypass can result in 32% total body weight loss at 1 year follow-up. This weight loss can be sustained, but as with all other treatments, only if a healthier lifestyle is sustained.^1,5

As with any major surgery, there is a risk of complications, including staple failure and pouch leaks.³
 

What are my other non-invasive options?

Always speak with your healthcare team and discuss all options available to you, especially when some surgery options can be difficult – or impossible – to reverse. And don’t be shy! Ask lots of questions to make sure you’re comfortable with the recommended treatment before agreeing to go ahead .

Don’t forget to ask about potential outcomes and compare the long-term effectiveness of each option. For example, the 12- to 17-month Allurion Programme (two sequential Allurion Balloons), which does not require surgery or anaesthesia, delivers similar weight loss to bariatric surgery at one year.
 

How does the Allurion Balloon work? It occupies space in your stomach, helping you feel fuller while eating less. Alongside this temporary gastric balloon, you’ll get personalised nutrition coaching to change your eating habits and a suite of digital tools to track the weight loss and help you stay in touch with the medical care team.

A 6-month single balloon programme can result in 10-15% of total body weight loss after 4 months. A second balloon placement to extend the programme to 12-17 months can deliver total body weight loss of an average of 23% (in fact some people have lost up to 41%).⁹

Another tip? Think long term – don’t fall into the trap of thinking that surgery (or any treatment, for that matter) can result in a quick, one-off fix. Any weight loss approach needs consistent and sustained lifestyle changes to help sustain the weight lost.

An increasing number of people who have bariatric surgery go back for follow-up surgery after putting weight back on. Some 15% of bariatric surgeries now performed are ‘repeat’ surgeries and weight gain is the reason given in 50% of these instances.¹⁰ It’s worth noting that repeat surgery tends to be more complex and more prone to complications than initial gastric surgery.¹¹

Am I eligible for bariatric surgery?

Everyone is different – the criteria for bariatric surgery can differ depending on the treatment type. Your eligibility may also depend on what’s available locally in terms of healthcare services. The criteria for bariatric surgery vary across countries and across the private and public sectors.

It’s best to speak with your healthcare team about your weight-loss goals and your individual situation. Your medical history and any other conditions you may be managing may affect the type of weight-loss surgery that can be recommended to you. For example, there may be a minimum body mass index (BMI) threshold, but this may be lower if you have an obesity-related condition – such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure – that may benefit from weight loss. 

Bariatric surgery is not to be considered lightly, as with any invasive surgical procedure.
 

How your starting weight can affect your bariatric surgery outcome
 

For some patients with a higher BMI, they might need to lose a substantial amount of weight before they can undergo surgery.

Plastic surgeon Dr Edward Chamata advises that your pre-surgery weight plays an important role in the success of your surgery. "The higher the patient’s BMI, the higher the risk of complications, and the less optimal their result will be."

A systematic review also showed that weight loss before bariatric surgery is associated with greater weight loss postoperatively.¹³

So getting your weight ready for cosmetic or weight loss surgery gives you a higher chance of getting the results you want. Again, the Allurion Gastric Balloon can be a great option to consider here.

In addition to optimizing surgical results, the Allurion Programme is also sometimes used as a 'bridge' to surgery; delivering rapid weight loss that helps to reduce the risk of surgical procedures (for weight loss or other reasons like orthopedic surgery).
 

What happens at a bariatric surgery consultation?
 

If you think bariatric surgery may be a good option for you, the first step is to speak with your doctor or local weight-loss clinic and arrange a bariatric surgery consultation.

Your healthcare team will assess your suitability for bariatric surgery, as well as suggest and discuss alternatives.

You may be asked a range of questions relating to your day-to-day health and lifestyle. The assessment may involve:

• taking down your medical history, including other previous or current health conditions or treatments
• recording your weight and height
• measuring your blood pressure
• asking questions about your eating or exercise habits
• referrals for further tests, such as blood tests or an ECG, which is a test to check your heart health

During follow-up appointments with your healthcare team, you might discuss the results of any tests and start to narrow down possible treatment options.

What are the risks of bariatric surgery?

Gastric surgery has proven to be a safe and effective form of treatment over a number of years now.^1,10 Even so, as with all forms of surgery, there are risks associated with all types of bariatric surgery.

There are complications that – depending on the surgery type – can result from bariatric operations. Potential risks and complications can range from blood clots, wound infection and a blocked gut to excess skin, malnutrition and respiratory failure. There are also treatment-specific risks, such as gastric band slippage.¹ 

Your healthcare team will be able to talk you through the bariatric surgery risks associated with each option and answer any questions you may have. You should always raise any worries or concerns with your doctor or surgeon. You can discuss risks in advance and ask for advice about managing any complications if they arise.

Living with bariatric surgery

Let’s be clear – no weight-loss treatment is a magic bullet. While bariatric surgery can lead to significant weight loss, you will still need to commit to long-term lifestyle changes regardless of the surgery type you choose.

You’ll need to look at:

• Changes to your diet, including up to several weeks of liquids and soft foods after surgery. On a longer-term basis, you will need to ensure you follow a healthy, balanced diet in line with the recommendations from your healthcare team.
• Regular exercise to help maintain healthy, long-term activity levels.
• Attending regular follow-up appointments that may include blood tests, physical health checks and emotional support.

Depending on the treatment type, you may also need to agree to long-term nutritional support to help ensure your body gets the vitamins and minerals it’s missing due to the altered make up of your stomach.⁶

There are other considerations, too, in terms of long-term healthcare plans. While weight loss can help improve fertility outcomes for women living with obesity, bariatric surgery can mean delaying pregnancy by 12 to 18 months after your operation.¹

Bariatric surgery vs gastric balloon – which is suitable for you?

 

Everyone is different, which is why different types of treatments are suitable for different people and their individual situations.

Bariatric surgery can be highly effective for people living with obesity, but it is an invasive form of treatment, and it can be difficult – or even impossible – to reverse.

Gastric balloons are also proven to be safe and effective – and they support non-surgical weight loss. They can be ideal for many people who don’t want to undergo an operation, as well as those who are simply not eligible for surgery.

Unlike surgery, gastric balloons are designed to be temporary. They do not alter the shape or size of your stomach or result in any permanent changes to your body – other than weight loss.

The Allurion Gastric Balloon is suitable for people with a BMI of 27 and above. Research shows an average total body weight loss of 10-15% after 4 months on the Allurion Programme.¹² However, people with a higher BMI of 35 or more tend to lose an average of 15% after 4 months. Additional weight loss – on average 23% of total body weight – can come with two balloons over a 12- to 17-month programme.⁹