Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Balloon in Singapore
Attempting to lose weight can be a discouraging and frustrating process. While there are many diet and exercise trends out there, not all are effective for everyone. For some people, regardless of how much they commit to a diet regimen, they’re still not able to lose a significant amount of weight.
As mentioned earlier, struggling to lose weight can cause great distress. Moreover, not being able to shed some kilograms may have serious consequences for your health. Obesity or being overweight increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, fatty liver, and other serious illnesses.
Luckily, there are various options out there for those who seek to start their weight loss journey. Two medical weight loss alternatives that are growing in popularity in Singapore are gastric sleeve surgery and gastric balloon procedure. These two procedures share their similarities, though they have differences that will be key to the success of your journey.
To help you decide which of the two best suits your desired results, here’s everything you need to know about gastric sleeve and gastric balloon in Singapore.
Gastric Sleeve in Singapore
Gastric sleeve surgery is a procedure that removes about 75% to 80% of your stomach. The remaining parts are joined together into a banana-shaped sleeve, leaving only 10% of your original stomach size. It only requires several quarter- to half-inch incisions in the abdomen, making it a simpler procedure compared to the more invasive surgery such as gastric bypass.
As your stomach is narrower, it limits the amount of food you can consume at a specific time, making you feel fuller longer. Other than allowing you to eat less, gastric sleeve surgery reduces levels of ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone that stimulates appetite and promotes fat storage. During the operation, the part of the stomach that produces this hormone is removed. Lower levels of ghrelin reduce cravings and feelings of hunger.
Gastric sleeve surgery in Singapore produces permanent results and can’t be reversed.
Gastric Balloon in Singapore
As the name suggests, the gastric balloon procedure in Singapore involves placing an inflated balloon through the mouth into your stomach. It is then filled with water through a catheter until it’s the size of a grapefruit.
As the balloon takes up space in your stomach, it makes you feel fuller even with smaller portions of food. It also lets food stay longer in the stomach, making you feel full longer. Furthermore, most gastric balloons come as part of a lifestyle and fitness program that assists you in adopting healthier eating habits. It helps you maintain your weight loss even after the balloon is removed.
Gastric balloon procedure doesn’t require surgery and you may opt for early removal if it hinders your overall health. With that said, the balloon is left in your stomach for around six months, then it is removed. You may opt to have a second balloon placed after the six months to continue losing weight through this method, which will again be removed after another six months.
Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Balloon
As mentioned earlier, these two methods are similar in the way they reduce your stomach’s capacity to store food. As a result, it makes you feel full faster and experience less hunger. Also, either of these two ways is not enough to result in a sustained weight loss journey. Make sure to practice healthy eating habits and exercise to keep shedding off unwanted body weight.
With that said, gastric sleeve and gastric balloon in Singapore have vast differences. First, gastric balloon procedure is noninvasive, while gastric sleeve surgery requires making incisions inside and outside the body. Even if it’s minimal incisions, invasive procedures can lead to complications such as blood clots, infection and leaking. Gastric balloon procedure doesn’t have these types of risks. Also, it requires little to no downtime, unlike gastric sleeve surgery where you need to recover for one to two weeks.
On the other hand, a gastric sleeve produces permanent results. Gastric balloons are temporary and can be removed after six months or less. However, it doesn’t mean temporary results, as gastric balloons come with a program that helps you sustain your weight loss. Furthermore, the permanent results of gastric sleeve surgery can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. While it makes you feel fuller, you may need to take daily supplements to make sure your nutritional needs from foods you can’t consume are being met.
If you’re still unsure which procedure to go with, consider the eligibility requirements for each procedure. You must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 40 to undergo gastric sleeve surgery in Singapore. If you have at least one obesity-related disease and a BMI of over 35, you can also undergo the said procedure. This surgery produces more drastic results, which is why it’s recommended for those looking for more significant weight loss.
The gastric balloon procedure only requires a BMI of over 27. If you are seeking to lose around 20 to 40 pounds, this may be the best option for you. People who have undergone the gastric balloon procedure in Singapore usually want to lose weight but do not qualify for weight loss surgery and have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise.
There’s no “better” way of losing weight. It depends on your body’s capacity to undergo a weight loss regimen, whether it be naturally or through medical procedures. If diet and exercise don’t work, we recommend undergoing a gastric balloon procedure as it’s non-invasive and has fewer risks.
With the growing popularity of gastric balloon in Singapore, there are many brands available out there. One that is making a name for its safety and innovation is Elipse.
Elipse Gastric Balloon in Singapore
Elipse helps you reduce your consumed food portions by taking up space in the stomach, making you feel full.
Unlike other gastric balloons, Elipse has no need for surgery, endoscopy, or anaesthesia. The balloon is encased within a capsule and attached to a thin catheter for easy placement. Your surgeon will help you swallow the capsule with a glass of water.
Once ingested, you’ll undergo X-ray to ensure proper placement. The capsule then dissolves and the balloon is filled with 550ml of water until it’s the size of a grapefruit. A second X-ray is done to make sure the balloon is properly filled. The whole procedure only takes up to 20 minutes.
After approximately 16 weeks, a time-activated release valve opens, causing the balloon to deflate. The remnants of the balloon is then naturally excreted out of the body when you go to the toilet. 45% of people don’t notice the balloon passing. Also, most Elipse users lost an average of 10-15 kg within these 16 weeks.
Again, a temporary balloon does not mean temporary weight loss. Ellipse helps you by setting up a fully-supported lifestyle program alongside your gastric balloon placement. You will work with a team, consisting of a plastic surgeon and nutritionist, to guide you in changing your weight loss diet and exercise regimen tailored to suit you. It creates a holistic approach to weight loss.
After the initial procedure, you're also set up with the Allurion smart scale and app, where you and your professional team can monitor your progress. To learn more about Elipse Balloon in Singapore, Dr.Shanker from Digestive Centre will be able to answer your questions.