Existing Balloons

• Have you had a stomach balloon placed by another clinic?
• Perhaps you went over to Europe for your balloon - read Claire's story
• Are you unhappy with the care, follow-up or results?

Every week, patients who have had a stomach balloon inserted elsewhere contact us for help and advice about some aspect of their care, or lack of it.

Many are unhappy with the service they have received. Almost all feel that the aftercare and support is woefully poor, with disappointing amounts of weight loss.

Unfortunately, but understandably, a significant number are just downright scared.

We are always happy to see them all, but picking up the pieces after the event is never ideal.

Consequently, at the National Obesity Surgery Centre, we decided to offer a formal service for these unfortunate patients. What this service will involve for each particular patient will be governed by their own specific needs, including how long the balloon has already been in.

If you find yourself in this unfortunate position, please don't panic. Feel free to contact the National Obesity Surgery Centre. Rest assured that you will receive a sympathetic ear, and we shall discuss your own particular requirements and try to put a package together to help you still get the very best from your stomach balloon.

Do you have arrangements in place for the removal of your balloon?

It absolutely MUST come out after six months.

We have come across centres in Eastern Europe that do not make any arrangements whatsoever for balloon removal. Most have certainly not included balloon removal in their quoted price. One even says that the balloon will simply “dissolve” when it is ready. We regularly receive approaches from extremely frightened patients who now realise that going over to Europe was not necessarily the wisest course of action; or in fact the cheapest in the long run. Do NOT leave your balloon to just wear out and (hopefully) pass spontaneously. It may well do that, but for your own safety you must assume that it will not.

The whole point of the stomach balloon is that it is very simple and very safe. After all, that’s probably why you chose it in the first place. Don’t create any wholly unnecessary complications at this late stage by risking a potentially life threatening bowel obstruction.