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Losing weight with the gastric balloon, without surgery

Weight Doctors® GASTRIC BALLOON

A companion for a limited time, for 6 or 12 months – also swallowable, with no endoscopy at all. The soft balloon temporarily reduces the stomach and can help you feel full sooner, without surgery.

Book a consultationCosts
How your therapy is structured

Two building blocks.
One plan.

The Weight Doctors® MEMBERSHIP is the foundation of every therapy: medical oversight, progress monitoring and aftercare. The treatment you choose together with your specialist builds on it.

Building block 1

Weight Doctors® MEMBERSHIP

The foundation for every Weight Doctors® therapy – with the tools that support your treatment and record your progress for your medical consultations.

  • Weight Doctors® AppKeep an eye on weight, activity and sleep, for iOS and Android
  • Digital body scalesBluetooth scales – the readings flow straight into the app
  • 3D BodyscanMeasure body composition objectively, up to twice a year
  • Priority access to specialistsby phone, video or on site, without a long wait
  • 360 coaches and Weight Doctors® MiraNutrition and behaviour in everyday life, aftercare with your coaches
  • E-prescription servicePrescriptions issued digitally – after medical approval
More on the Membership
Building block 2

Weight Doctors® GASTRIC BALLOON

A companion for a limited time, for 6 or 12 months – also swallowable, with no endoscopy at all. The soft balloon temporarily reduces the stomach and can help you feel full sooner, without surgery.

Procedure
Temporary, also swallowable
Duration
6 or 12 months
Price
from €3,490
Costs

The Membership does not replace a medical decision: whether treatment makes sense, and which one, is decided by your specialist after a medical assessment.

In comparison

Gastric balloon types compared

The balloons differ in how long they are worn, in anaesthesia and in weight-loss goal.

  • Allurion gastric balloon

    Without anaesthesia
    Technology
    Allurion
    Recommended BMI
    26–29
    Duration
    3–4 months
    Weight-loss goal
    up to 10 kg
    Anaesthesia
    without general anaesthesia
    Hospital stay
    outpatient

    Financing from €75 / month

  • Gastric balloon, 6 months

    The classic
    Technology
    Orbera®
    Recommended BMI
    26–35
    Duration
    6 months
    Weight-loss goal
    up to 20 kg
    Anaesthesia
    Sedation (twilight sleep)
    Hospital stay
    outpatient

    Financing from €50 / month

  • Gastric balloon, 12 months

    A whole year
    Technology
    Orbera®365 / Spatz3
    Recommended BMI
    26–40
    Duration
    12 months
    Weight-loss goal
    up to 30 kg
    Anaesthesia
    Sedation (twilight sleep) or brief general anaesthesia
    Hospital stay
    outpatient

    Financing from €69 / month

  • Adjustable gastric balloon

    Adjustable fill volume
    Technology
    Spatz3
    Recommended BMI
    from 26
    Duration
    12 months
    Weight-loss goal
    more than 30 kg
    Anaesthesia
    Brief general anaesthesia
    Hospital stay
    outpatient

    Financing from €69 / month

Payment in instalments via our partner medipay, subject to credit approval. Results vary from person to person.

Personally here for youDr. med. Robert Jenner · Visceral surgery

Your guide

The gastric balloon at a glance

What you should know before making your decision – from the principle and the wearing time to the different balloons and what it can do for you.

Temporary stomach reduction: how the gastric balloon works

Reaching your desired weight and keeping it permanently only works with a balanced diet and enough exercise. In everyday life, it is often the other way round: too little exercise, together with unfavourable eating habits – and weight rises. This is where the gastric balloon comes in: as a temporary, minimally invasive stomach reduction, without a strict diet and without surgery, both of which can put a heavy strain on the body.

A soft silicone balloon is brought into the stomach via the mouth and oesophagus and filled there, usually with about 500 ml. It is then about the size of a grapefruit and takes up around a third of the stomach. It is available for 6 months or 12 months and as an Allurion gastric balloon for about 4 months.

  • The balloon works from day oneBecause less room is left in the stomach for food, you can only eat smaller portions, feel full sooner and stay full for longer; the feeling of hunger can decrease. Many experience this as a boost that motivates them to lose weight. At the end of the wearing period, the balloon is removed without leaving any residue.
  • The balloon is a temporary aidIt can make it easier for you to change your diet, but does not replace this – what matters is what you make of this time. How it is placed in the stomach is shown in the explainer film below; you can find more films in our media library.
Filled gastric balloon in a glass block on the consultation table at Weight Doctors®

Benefits of the gastric balloon

  • No incision and no scarsThe balloon reaches the stomach via the mouth; there are no incisions and no scars.
  • Only temporaryThe balloon stays in the stomach only for the wearing period and is then removed without residue – nothing is left behind in the long term.
  • No long-term medicationOnce the first phase after insertion is over, you no longer need to take any medication for the balloon; its possible side effects are therefore also avoided.
  • Adjustable fill volume (Spatz3)With the adjustable Spatz3, the fill volume can be adjusted, recommended after about 12 weeks: smaller if it is uncomfortable, larger if weight loss is low.
  • Also swallowableFor the Allurion gastric balloon, you need neither endoscopy nor anaesthesia.
  • App and digital scaleThe Weight Doctors® App with a digital scale is included; your values flow directly into the app, and our team can see your progress.

Who is the gastric balloon suitable for?

The gastric balloon is intended for adults with excess weight or early-stage obesity. Depending on the balloon, it is possible from a BMI of 26: the balloon for 6 months up to a BMI of about 35, the one for 12 months up to about 40. The BMI calculator shows you where you stand. In addition, the following applies:

Consultation at Weight Doctors®, with a gastric balloon on the table
  • If you have not made progress so far with conservative methods of weight loss
  • If you are ready to change your diet and take part in medically supervised therapy
  • Which balloon and which wearing period suit you depends on weight and BMI – we clarify this honestly in the consultation
  • Not the first choice with a higher BMI or if you want a permanent solution – the endoscopic stomach reduction Weight Doctors SLEEVE® or weight-loss surgery with Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® are then more likely options. A route with no procedure at all is the medically supervised Weight Doctors® GLP-⁠1 pharmacotherapy, and without medication, Weight Doctors® hydroGMA.
  1. BMI from 26Gastric balloon possible depending on the model
  2. BMI from 35rather the balloon for 12 months
  3. BMI from 40weight-loss surgery usually makes more sense
BMI scale according to the WHOCalculate your BMI

How the treatment works

The real work begins with the insertion – our team accompanies you from start to finish. This is how the treatment typically works:

Endoscopy team at work, with the doctor holding the endoscope in the foreground
  1. ConsultationIn a personal conversation, we discuss the exact procedure. Your treatment plan is based on your wishes and your initial findings.
  2. PlacementUnder sedation (twilight sleep) or brief general anaesthesia, the balloon is introduced into the stomach via the mouth and filled; this takes about 20–25 minutes. After about an hour of recovery, you can go. You swallow the Allurion gastric balloon as a capsule.
  3. Getting used to itIn the first days, the stomach gets used to the balloon: nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting are possible. Drink plenty then and follow the recommendations of your specialist; prescribed medication can ease the symptoms. This phase is generally over after about 5 days.
  4. SupportDuring the wearing period, you change your diet – smaller portions, new habits – supplemented by exercise therapy. We accompany you throughout, including via the Weight Doctors® App.
  5. RemovalAt the end of the wearing period, the balloon is removed endoscopically via the mouth and oesophagus; the body passes the Allurion gastric balloon out naturally. The new habits remain – the app, coaches and aftercare accompany you afterwards as well.

How safe is the gastric balloon?

Because there is no cutting or stitching, no wound has to heal, and many risks of an operation do not apply. With the Spatz3, an anchor system is also intended to prevent the balloon from slipping into the intestine should it ever deflate; the empty balloon can then be replaced by gastroscopy.

All balloons we use bear the European CE mark; for gastric balloons, Weight Doctors® is a premium partner of the supplier Medispar. They are placed by experienced specialist doctors – Prof. Dr. med. Deniz Uyak, for example, has been supporting patients with the gastric balloon since 2007 and has carried out around 5,000 procedures.

Doctor from the endoscopy team with the endoscope

“The balloon, which can stay in the body for up to a year, is great support in the treatment of obesity. It can be placed without great effort and is very flexible. This makes it easier for you to change your lifestyle in the long term.”

Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Dörte Wichmann, specialist in visceral surgery & specialist in endobariatrics
  • GermanyPD Dr. WichmannSpecialist in visceral surgery & expert in endobariatrics
  • GermanyProf. UyakSpecialist in internal medicine and emergency medicine
  • GermanyNetherlandsDr. MörmelSpecialist in internal medicine
  • GermanyDr. JohnSpecialist in internal medicine & gastroenterology

All specialists

What can I achieve with the gastric balloon?

How much weight you lose depends on the balloon and on you. The weight-loss goal is up to 10 kg with the Allurion gastric balloon, up to 20 kg with the balloon for 6 months and up to 30 kg with the balloon for 12 months. Results vary from person to person – your specialist will discuss with you what is realistic for you.

The greatest difference is made by the habits you build during this time. We therefore accompany you with nutrition tips and exercise therapy, and on request with personal nutrition coaching. You can read more about the support under Weight Doctors® 360°.

The progress shown below was measured with the Weight Doctors® 3D Bodyscan or photographed before and after treatment. The article Gastric balloon: the guide to losing weight without surgery explains in detail how the balloon works and who it is suitable for.

Dr. med. Roland Mörmel with a Weight Doctors® staff member on the open day

Results vary from person to person. The images show Weight Doctors® patients who have consented to their publication.

All success stories

Which gastric balloon suits you?

At Weight Doctors®, you can choose between different balloon technologies. They differ in how they get into the stomach, how long they stay and whether their size can be adjusted:

  • Allurion gastric balloon – swallowableThe very small, folded balloon reaches the stomach as a capsule, with no gastroscopy and no anaesthesia at all. After about four months, it is passed out naturally. More about the Allurion gastric balloon.
  • Gastric balloon for 6 months – the classicIt is placed under sedation (twilight sleep) via the mouth, floats in the stomach and takes up about 35% of its volume. Half a year in which to find the right amount for normal portions. More about the gastric balloon for 6 months.
  • Orbera®365 – for 12 monthsThe balloon is introduced deflated and only filled in the stomach, until it is about the size of a grapefruit. Insertion takes around 20 minutes, and after the usual recovery period you go home. It may stay in the stomach for a year.
  • Spatz3 – adjustable for 12 monthsIt is placed endoscopically and filled with blue-dyed saline solution. Its fill volume can be adjusted during the year, and an anchor system holds it in the stomach. More about the gastric balloon for 1 year.

What does the gastric balloon cost?

Weight Doctors® GASTRIC BALLOON is available from €3,490. The exact price depends on the balloon and the wearing period; we set it in the consultation.

The gastric balloon is a self-pay service; German statutory health insurers do not cover the costs. If you do not wish to pay the amount in one go, you can pay in instalments.

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All prices

Paying in instalments: how it works

If you would like to spread the costs over a longer period, payment in instalments via our partner medipay is possible. You decide the instalment amount and term yourself; medipay reviews your application promptly. You submit the application together with us during your consultation, by phone or entirely paperless online – more under Pay in instalments.

The requirement is sufficient creditworthiness. In detail:

  • Main residence in Germany
  • no negative Schufa entries
  • employed or retired, with disposable income
  • Students, trainees and homemakers can enter a second person from the same household as the borrower – a parent, child, spouse or partner

From just €50 a month** Financing via medipay, subject to credit approval.

Apply for instalmentsMore on instalments

Weight Doctors® on film

On film

When the video is played, data is transferred to YouTube (Google). More on this in the privacy policy.

How the gastric balloon is placed in the stomach

When the video is played, data is transferred to YouTube (Google). More on this in the privacy policy.

How the Spatz3 gastric balloon works
Instagram · GASTRIC BALLOON

Up close

Insights from the clinic, team and treatment – short and real, just like on our Instagram channel.

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Your specialists

In specialist hands.

39 doctors in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and South Africa – at the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik in Wertheim and at your location.

  • GermanyDr. JohnSpecialist in internal medicine & gastroenterology
  • GermanyNetherlandsDr. MörmelSpecialist in internal medicine
  • GermanyProf. UyakSpecialist in internal medicine and emergency medicine
  • GermanyDr. SudholtSpecialist in internal medicine
  • GermanyE. BeckerSpecialist in internal medicine
  • GermanyDr. ZimmerSpecialist in internal medicine / gastroenterology
  • GermanyM. Al RashdanSpecialist in internal medicine & gastroenterology
  • GermanyM. Al HamedSpecialist in internal medicine & gastroenterology
  • NetherlandsDr. StraathofSpecialist in gastroenterology & hepatology
  • United KingdomDr. BansiSpecialist in gastroenterology
  • South AfricaDr. NaiduSpecialist in internal medicine
  • GermanyNetherlandsDr. ScheffelSpecialist in general and bariatric surgery
  • GermanyAustriaProf. MillerSpecialist in general and visceral surgery
  • GermanyPD Dr. WichmannSpecialist in visceral surgery & expert in endobariatrics

All specialists

Frequently asked questions

Questions about Weight Doctors® GASTRIC BALLOON

Your question isn’t listed? Your specialist will take time for it during the consultation.

Is the gastric balloon better than a diet for losing weight?

The gastric balloon can be great support in losing weight. A significant weight loss is possible within a short time, and changing your diet can become easier for you. The balloon can also help reduce cravings.

How long does the gastric balloon stay in the stomach?

Depending on the model, about 4 months (Allurion gastric balloon), 6 months or 12 months. Which wearing period suits you depends mainly on your BMI and your weight-loss goal – we discuss this in the consultation.

How much weight can I lose with a gastric balloon?

Depending on the balloon, the weight-loss goal is up to 10 kg (Allurion gastric balloon), up to 20 kg (6 months) or up to 30 kg (12 months); with the adjustable Spatz3 also above that. Results vary from person to person and depend heavily on how consistently you change your diet.

How long does insertion take?

About 20–25 minutes, as an outpatient under sedation (twilight sleep) or brief general anaesthesia. After around an hour of recovery, you can go home. You swallow the Allurion gastric balloon, by contrast, as a capsule – without general anaesthesia, in about 15–20 minutes.

Does insertion hurt?

The pain is slight, because you sleep or doze during the short procedure; with the Allurion gastric balloon, no anaesthesia is needed at all. For many, the first days afterwards are more noticeable, until the stomach has got used to the balloon.

Is wearing the gastric balloon a nuisance?

Usually only in the first days, while your stomach gets used to the balloon. After that, you notice it mainly in that you can feel full sooner.

When am I socially presentable again?

Generally after 3–4 days. Work and everyday life are then usually possible again; even so, plan for some rest in the first days after insertion.

Can the size of the balloon be changed?

With the adjustable Spatz3, yes: by gastroscopy, the fill volume can later be reduced if the balloon causes discomfort, or increased if you are losing less weight than hoped. With the other models, the fill volume stays the same.

Is there a risk of the gastric balloon slipping into the intestine?

The adjustable Spatz3 has a special anchor system. It is intended to prevent the balloon from slipping into the intestine and causing an intestinal obstruction, for example if it deflates. The empty balloon can then be replaced endoscopically via the mouth and oesophagus. The other balloon models have no anchor system.

How is the gastric balloon removed again?

The same way it was inserted: endoscopically via the mouth and oesophagus, as an outpatient and under sedation. The Allurion gastric balloon deflates by itself after about four months and is passed out naturally.

Will scars remain?

No. The balloon reaches the stomach via the mouth; there is no cutting. After removal, nothing is left behind in the body.

What do I need to contribute to the success of the treatment?

The balloon can help you change your diet in the long term. What matters is that you give up unfavourable habits. We give you tips on how this can succeed permanently, and our app-based coaches accompany you in life after the stomach reduction as well.

How do I keep my weight once the balloon is out again?

What matters are the habits you build during the wearing period. The Weight Doctors® App, your coach and aftercare accompany you afterwards as well. For some people, medically supervised GLP-⁠1 therapy can make sense afterwards – more in the article GLP-⁠1 after gastric balloon or endo sleeve.

What does a gastric balloon cost?

Weight Doctors® GASTRIC BALLOON is available from €3,490. The exact price depends on the balloon and the wearing period; the Weight Doctors® App with a digital scale is included. Payment in instalments via medipay is possible. All prices at a glance: Costs & prices.

Does German health insurance cover the gastric balloon?

No. The gastric balloon is a self-pay service; German statutory health insurers do not cover the costs. If you want to spread the costs, you can pay in instalments.

Why Weight Doctors®

Good reasons for Weight Doctors®.

Specialised in one thing: lasting weight loss – from medication to surgery, with specialists at your location and our own Nationalklinik.

  • 23Locations in 6 countries
  • 39specialists
  • 5×ProvenExpert Top Recommendation in a row
  • 9treatments from gentle to surgical
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As seen on TV & in the media

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Other treatments

All paths.
From gentle to surgical.

Every method has its place. Here you can see at a glance how major the procedure is, how long it takes and what starting price you can expect.

Wide range of services
no procedure
Surgery
No procedure

Weight Doctors® GLP-⁠1 pharmacotherapy

Medication-based, no procedure

Medically supervised pharmacotherapy with regular progress monitoring – with no procedure at all.

Duration3–12 months
Pricefrom €599
No procedure

Weight Doctors® 360°

Nutrition coaching

Nutrition coaching and support in everyday life – in person, by video and in the app.

Durationper session
Pricefrom €65
Long-lastingNewAt the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik

Weight Doctors® hydroGMA

Endoscopic, no incisions

Losing weight without medication: lowering the hunger hormone endoscopically – no surgery, no incisions. On its own or combined with an endo sleeve.

Durationapprox. 30 min
Priceon request
You are hereNo surgery

Weight Doctors® GASTRIC BALLOON

Temporary, also swallowable

A temporary companion for 6 or 12 months – also swallowable, with no endoscopy at all.

Duration6 or 12 months
Pricefrom €3,490or from €50 a month*
No surgeryHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors SLEEVE®

Endoscopic, permanent

Permanent stomach reduction without conventional surgery – endoscopic, outpatient, without scars.

Duration30–60 min
Pricefrom €5,500or from €199 a month*
With surgeryHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors BARIATRICS®

Surgical, minimally invasive

Gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery for higher BMIs, incl. private medical preliminary examination and aftercare.

Duration1–3 nights
Pricefrom €2,500or from €278 a month*
With surgeryHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors® REVISION

Corrective procedure after weight-loss surgery

Corrective procedure when earlier weight-loss surgery has not brought the desired success.

Durationindividual
Pricefrom €900
LipoedemaHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors® Lipoedema surgery

Liposuction for lipoedema

Specialised liposuction that specifically removes diseased fatty tissue in lipoedema and can relieve pain.

Duration1.5–3 hours
Pricefrom €950
After weight lossHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors® RESHAPE

After weight loss

Post-bariatric body contouring after successful weight loss.

Durationindividual
Pricefrom €1,950

* For patients with German statutory health insurance: if the medical indication is established in line with the DGAV guidelines, reimbursement may be possible.

All treatments

Locations

Consultation at many locations

We advise you on the gastric balloon and stomach reduction in many cities, in person on site, by video or by phone – enter your postcode or choose your city:

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Consultation

On to your Weight Doctors® Experience.

The first step is a conversation: choose your treatment, location and appointment online here – consultation on site, by video or by phone.

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