Overseas Patients

At the National Gastric Balloon Centre, we are delighted by the number of enquiries we receive from overseas; especially the United States of America.

Many patients, in fact, choose to visit us for their balloon.

As with our UK patients, our exclusive NGBC Balloon Programme™ (including BalloonPrep™) can readily be undertaken from a distance, and followed up by us via the internet.

Anybody from the United States, or indeed anywhere else in the World, wishing to take up this unique stomach balloon service should contact the National Gastric Balloon Centre for further details.

Our Centre is less than 20 minutes drive from Manchester International Airport, and we are at the hub of all major motorway and rail networks in the North West of England. The Manchester Metro Tram System is less than one minute’s walk from our Head Office and central clinic, and can be accessed directly from all the major central railway stations.

Within the immediate area there are many beautiful and interesting places to visit or stay; including the Lake District. Ireland is only a 45 minute plane journey away, as is London.

It really couldn’t be easier!!

SF from California says

“I have struggled with my weight for years, but with a BMI of only 35 I really didn’t want to undergo banding or anything else. I had been looking at the balloon for some time, but would have had to go to Mexico for it. I really didn’t fancy that.

Then I saw the NationalGastricBalloonCenter’s web site. The fact that they are the only center associated with the National Health Service in England encouraged me a lot. After contacting them, I realised how potentially possible it might be to have my balloon done in the UK. We did absolutely all the preliminary assessments and consultations over the telephone and through the internet. I have some family in the UK so arranged a visit to have a final consultation and my balloon placed at the same time. It was so simple.

The Center advised me to stay in the UK for up to one week following placement of my balloon, which I did. Since then, I have been reviewed at least every week by the Center’s patient liaison people, who contact me at pre-arranged times, and have helped me considerably. I have now lost 3 stones and am almost at my target weight. During the six months I had to visit the UK anyway, so arranged a follow-up appointment at that time too.

It was a strange thing to travel all that way for a gastric balloon, but I’m so glad I did.