Gastric Balloon Procedure Featured on Dr. OZ Show

Friday, November 20th, 2015 the Dr. OZ show aired a segment titled, “What you need to know about Weight Loss Balloon Surgery.” For those of you who are not familiar with the Gastric Balloon Systems, there are two balloon systems that have been approved by the FDA: The ReShape Integrated Dual Balloon System, approved on 7/28/2015 and the Orbera Managed Weight Loss System, approved on 8/6/2015.

The ReShape device itself is two soft connected, silicone intragastric balloons that are inserted non-surgically in a deflated state into the stomach and then inflated with sterile saline solution through a self-sealing valve once it enters the stomach. The Orbera device is also inserted non-surgically in a deflated state into the stomach; however there is only one silicone intragastric balloon.

The intragastric balloon will remain in place for a maximum of six months. During that six month period the patient will enjoy a feeling of fullness sooner and satiety will last longer after meals, which encourages portion control and helps manage hunger. In the 12 month ReShape or Orbera programs, the patient will participate in a professional support program providing personalized diet that will help to retrain the patient’s eating habits, individual exercise series, and a one-on-one motivational program including individual goal-setting and tracking meetings.

In the segment, Dr. OZ featured a patient who underwent the gastric balloon procedure two weeks previously and had already lost 13 pounds. The OZ show went on to discuss who is a good candidate for the gastric balloon procedure and stated that the patient would need to be prepared to make a major lifestyle change for a year.

Dr. Shawn Garber of New York Bariatric Group was one of the first in the U.S. to offer these procedures. As the surgeon with the most gastric balloon experience in the U.S. since its FDA approval, Dr. Garber is seeing dramatic weight loss in his patients.

“We were very excited to be one of the first practices in the USA offering this non-surgical procedure.  As part of a 12 month comprehensive program, patients are losing significant weight and learning to keep the weight off. Additionally, patients who may have been hesitant to have surgery or simply weren’t candidates for surgery now have another option.   With the most gastric balloon experience in the U.S. since FDA approval, we have seen tremendous success among our patients.  We have the ability to see patients from across the