The newest procedure that is available to patients in the United States is the intragastric balloon. This is a saline-filled silicon balloon. The surgeon will place the empty balloon inside a patient’s stomach, then fill the balloon with fluid through a tube. Once the balloon is full, the tube is disconnected, leaving the balloon inside the patient’s stomach. The balloon takes up space within the stomach, so the patient can’t eat a lot of food. It also has a weight to it, which helps the patient feel that they have eaten a large meal. This sense of fullness in the stomach helps a patient eat less and lose weight.

What complications can occur from weight loss surgery?

What is a lap band?