Plastic Surgery Articles

When plastic surgeons first performed procedures involving intragastric balloons in the 1980s, they experienced several complications, including:

• Early deflations

• Balloon displacement

• Intestinal obstruction

Since the early procedures, there have been advancements in the intragastric balloon, which has significantly reduced the number of complications experienced after the procedure. Since the advancements, the procedure has become more popular in Europe, although it is still not available in the U.S.

Not a Long-Term Solution to Obesity

Use of the intragastric balloon is not meant to be a long term solution for fighting obesity. Once the balloon is removed, weight gain is possible. Medical professionals have noted that most individuals who undergo this type of surgical procedure tend to gain weight down the road if they fail to change their diet and exercise routines.

Doesn’t this make you wonder why medical professionals in India are pushing for this procedure to be used as an alternative to gastric bypass surgery? Meanwhile, it has been noted that plastic surgeons who perform this type of procedures do not offer reimbursements to patients who gain the weight back after having the procedure.

The current hype in India, surrounding the procedure, is meant to jumpstart obese individuals into a new diet plan. The procedure has been designed to get people down to their desired weight; however, after the surgery the patient is responsible for keeping the weight off by living a healthy lifestyle.

Written by: Sarah Strause