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3,087 reviewsof the Weight Doctors® Group · 97% recommendation rateBlog · 21 July 2025 · 6 min read
A temporary companion how the gastric balloon can help with weight loss
A helper that reminds you when you are full: how the gastric balloon works, which four versions there are and what to expect in the first few days.
Medically reviewed byDr. med. Hans Werner SudholtSpecialist in internal medicineLast updated:
As of today: This article dates from July 2025; the App’s AI assistant is now called Mira. It no longer quotes prices – the current ones can be found on the gastric balloon page.
Your temporary companionSmaller portions,
Smaller portions,
without going hungry
Imagine having an invisible helper that gently reminds you when you are full. One that helps you enjoy smaller portions without going hungry. That is exactly what a gastric balloon can do – your temporary companion on the way to your desired weight.
A patient story
Anna: “At last I had an ally”
Anna, 42, had tried everything: diets, exercise, changing her eating habits – but the kilos kept coming back. “I felt trapped in an endless cycle,” she says today. Then she discovered the gastric balloon at Weight Doctors®.
Today, a year after her gastric balloon was removed, Anna is keeping her weight stable. She has lost weight and developed a new relationship with food. The first step was a no-obligation consultation.
“It was like a fresh start with an ally at my side who doesn’t let me down.”
What makes the gastric balloon special
A special companion
- There, without being pushyUnlike strict diet plans or major operations, the gastric balloon fits gently into your life. After a few days of getting used to it, you hardly notice it – only the pleasant feeling of fullness reminds you of it.
- Time to learn4 to 12 months: enough time to develop new habits. Not too short to really change something, not too long to feel dependent. We clarify which wearing time suits you in the consultation.
- Leaves when the work is doneThe gastric balloon is temporary: no lifelong change, no scars, no permanent restrictions. When its time is up, it disappears as discreetly as it came – what stays are your new habits.
The four variants
Which gastric balloon suits you?
- Allurion gastric balloon“I don’t want any anaesthesia.” The Allurion comes as a capsule, barely larger than a vitamin tablet. You swallow it with a glass of water, and after about 15 minutes everything is done. After around 4 months it dissolves and is passed out naturally – for anyone who shies away from medical procedures. Allurion gastric balloon
- 6-month gastric balloon“I need a solid fresh start.” Half a year is enough time to break old patterns and establish new ones. Placement takes only 15–20 minutes under sedation (twilight sleep). 6-month balloon
- 12-month gastric balloon“I want to take my time.” Four seasons with your companion – a whole year for your change, for example with the Orbera® for 12 months. Well suited if you have already experienced many setbacks and want to get everything right this time. Gastric balloon for 1 year
- Spatz3 with adjustment“I want to stay in control.” With the Spatz3, the filling volume can be adjusted: too much pressure? We reduce it. Need more support? We increase it. A special anchor system holds it securely in place – a solution that adapts to your needs.
Which type appeals to you? In your no-obligation consultation, we will find out together.
Honestly speaking
The first days
We believe in openness: the first 3–4 days can be challenging. Your body has to get used to its new guest. Nausea, a feeling of fullness and sometimes cramps are normal and pass.
“The first few days were hard. But the Weight Doctors® team was always there for me. They had a solution ready for every problem. And then, on the fourth day, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Suddenly everything felt right.”
More than just a balloon
Support around the gastric balloon
At Weight Doctors®, you get not just a gastric balloon but a whole support concept – digital and personal. More under Weight Doctors® 360°.
- Weight Doctors® AppYour digital success diary.
- Smart scaleYour weight progress is recorded automatically and effortlessly.
- Weight Doctors® MiraYour AI assistant, there for you around the clock and in 7 languages.
- Nutrition professionalsThey don’t forbid your favourite foods but adapt them.
- Exercise coachesThey develop programmes that are fun.
- DoctorsThey are reachable when you need them.
The question of cost
What the gastric balloon costs
The gastric balloon is a self-pay service. The cost depends on the balloon and the wearing time; you can find the current prices of the four variants on the Weight Doctors® GASTRIC BALLOON page and in the overview of services. Financing through our partner medipay is possible (subject to a credit check), more under Payment in instalments.
With a BMI above 40 (or above 35 with related conditions), a bariatric operation may be an option, for which there is a chance of cost coverage by German statutory health insurance where there is a medical indication in line with the guidelines. More under Health insurance and cost coverage.
Real people
Experiences with the gastric balloon
- “My life has turned around 180 degrees”Michael, 38, Spatz3: “As a field sales rep I was constantly on the road, and fast food was my constant companion. The adjustable Spatz3 was perfect – more support in stressful phases, less in calmer ones. Today I even cook for my colleagues.”
- “At last I can romp around with my grandchildren”Sabine, 55, 6-month balloon: “In my mid-fifties I thought it was too late for big changes. The gastric balloon proved me wrong. The best part: my knees don’t hurt any more.”
- “Just swallow it and you’re done”Lisa, 29, Allurion gastric balloon: “I’m terrified of medical procedures. The Allurion was my salvation – just swallow it and you’re done. The 4 months flew by.”
Every course is different: results vary from person to person.
What science says
Even after a year
- A study on the Allurion gastric balloon reports72% of the weight lost stayed off even 12 months after the balloon had been passed.
- The reasonThe gastric balloon gives you time for real change – not only in your eating behaviour, but in your whole attitude to nutrition and health.
Your journey begins with one stepA tool,
A tool,
not a miracle cure
Imagine where you could be in a year: lighter, healthier, more self-confident. The gastric balloon is not a miracle cure but a tool – one that can give you the time and support you need for real change.
Every great change begins with a brave decision. Anna made it, Michael too, and so did Sabine and Lisa. They all chose a temporary companion – without an operation and without a permanent change to the body. This is what to expect in your no-obligation consultation:
- a personal analysis of your situation
- an introduction to all balloon variants
- a transparent breakdown of costs
- answers to all your questions – without time pressure
Films
- Weight Doctors® on ProSieben Galileo: patients share their stories
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Your question isn’t listed? Your specialist will take time for it during the consultation.
Will I feel the balloon all the time?
After the short period of getting used to it, most patients no longer feel anything. You simply feel full more quickly – a pleasant, natural feeling.
What happens if I want the balloon removed earlier?
That is possible: the gastric balloon can be removed at any time. You keep full control.
Can I exercise normally?
Yes, once you have got used to it. Many patients even report that they enjoy exercise again with less weight.
What do I eat during that time?
In principle, everything – only in smaller amounts. Our nutrition advisers show you how to enjoy your favourite foods in a balloon-friendly way.
Locations
Stomach reduction near you
- Stomach reduction Aachen
- Stomach reduction Berlin
- Stomach reduction Dortmund
- Stomach reduction Düsseldorf
- Stomach reduction Eindhoven
- Stomach reduction Frankfurt
- Stomach reduction Freiburg
- Stomach reduction Hamburg
- Stomach reduction Hanover
- Stomach reduction Heidelberg
- Stomach reduction Leipzig
- Stomach reduction Munich
- Stomach reduction Nuremberg
- Stomach reduction Salzburg
- Stomach reduction Stuttgart
- Stomach reduction Wertheim
- Stomach reduction Wiesbaden
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