Gastric Botox and gastric balloon are both procedures that are performed with endoscopy. Although technically, both are surgical weight loss methods, they are not considered operations in the general sense. That is one of the main reasons it is preferred more. The two ways actually have similar characteristics. Both methods are effective for six months. It is predicted to lose 20-25 kg in about six months. They are considered one of the methods of rapid weight loss. Its basic mechanisms make it easier for a person to go on a diet and lose weight quickly, increasing saturation time. If we talk about these two methods separately,
Gastric Botox: The patient comes to the hospital on the day of the procedure without eating or drinking anything. They are taken to the prep room of the endoscopy department. After completing the preparations, they are taken to the endoscopy department. The endoscopy is performed while the patient is slightly sleepy, i.e., the procedure is started under sedation. If there is no severe peptic ulcer or gastritis, injections are made in about 40 areas of the stomach.
The aim here is to reduce the contraction of the stomach muscles, ensure that the food eaten stays in the stomach longer, prolong the feeling of satiety and thus ensure a more pleasant diet. In addition, the injections in the stomach region known as the fundus prevent the release of the hunger hormone called ghrelin from the stomach and provide a hormonal feeling of satiety. Its effects last for six months and can be performed at 6-month intervals. Four hours after the procedure, the person can resume their everyday life. After the procedure, there are no symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, or flatulence.
Gastric Balloon: The patient comes to the hospital fasting on the day of the procedure. They are taken to the prep room of the endoscopy department. After completing the preparations, the patient is taken to the endoscopy department. The endoscopy is performed while slightly sleepy, i.e., under sedation. If there is no severe peptic ulcer or gastritis, the procedure is started. A 600cc or 720cc balloon filled with liquid or air is placed in the stomach depending on the patient’s tolerance. This balloon takes up space in the stomach, creates a feeling of satiety, and allows the person to stick to the diet and lose weight quickly.
Balloons can be inflated with air or water, depending on the type. We usually prefer the water-filled balloon because if the balloon bursts in the stomach, the blue water we fill up will appear in the urine and feces, warning us. So we’ll do an endoscopy right away and remove the burst balloon. We predict 15–20 kg of weight loss in 6 months in gastric balloon patients.
The person can go home four hours after the procedure. But after this procedure, bloating, nausea, and cramping pains last about two days. Due to the balloon ejection in the stomach, patients can experience pain, cramps, and nausea. But after two days, these feelings disappear entirely. During this period, the patient is given anti-seizure and anti-nausea medications. After six months, another endoscopy is performed, and the balloon is removed. If necessary, the balloon can be reinserted at the same time.
Therefore, both Gastric Botox and gastric balloon are performed endoscopically. Both methods predict weight loss of 15-25 kg in 6 months. Both ways make dieting more manageable by creating a feeling of satiety and promoting healthy weight loss. The advantage of Gastric Botox is that there is no need for a second endoscopy and removal of the balloon, as is the case with gastric balloons.
The procedure is performed with a single endoscopy. Since no balloon is placed in the stomach, there are no nausea, cramps, or flatulence symptoms. The day after the procedure, the person can continue their everyday work. There is a slight chance that the gastric balloon will rupture. This risk does not exist with Gastric Botox. In addition, Gastric Botox is a much more economical method than gastric balloon.
