I have implanted hundreds of intragastric balloons – all the varieties available – and have found that significant weight loss occurs in the first 3 months, with little effect in the remainder of the 6 month implantation period. Approximately 7% of patients are intolerant and have their balloons removed within the first 2 weeks. This has been published in the literature.
The Spatz balloon is the first to offer easy balloon volume adjustments after the initial implantation. I have adjusted the balloon volume successfully in my patients:
- Several for early intolerance – they now are more comfortable and continue to lose weight. With other balloons, we would have had no choice, but to remove them.
- Many for diminished weight loss after 3 months. They had a new burst of weight loss at 3 months, which I have not seen with other balloons.
My patients have always asked to keep their balloon in longer than 6 months. Now I can provide a 1 year balloon. Our 12 month results and those of our colleagues in Spain have revealed weight losses of almost 66 lbs. (30 kg) on average.
Patients with other balloons are already regaining some weight 6 months after removal of their balloons – so that at 1 year Spatz balloon patients have more than double the weight loss compared with other balloons.”
