6-month endoscopic balloon
Placed and removed by endoscopy under sedation, and stays in for about six months.
- Placement
- Endoscopy under sedation
- Stays in
- About 6 months
- Removal
- Endoscopy under sedation
Gastric balloon Istanbul
Gastric Balloon in Istanbul non-surgical, with 6-month, 12-month and swallowable options and a 3–4 day stay
A gastric balloon is a saline-filled balloon placed in the stomach to help you feel full on smaller meals. It suits adults with a BMI of about 30–40 who prefer to avoid surgery. Plan three to four days in Istanbul, and expect some early nausea.
- 3–4 days in Istanbul
- No incisions or stitches
- About 20–30 minutes to place
Free medical review within 24 hours · No obligation · ★ 5.0 from 157 Google reviews
Editorially reviewed by the Vivid Clinic Surgical Board · Last reviewed September 2026
At a glance
What is a gastric balloon, and what to expect
A gastric balloon, or intragastric balloon, is a temporary, non-surgical weight-loss device. A deflated silicone balloon is placed in the stomach and filled, usually with sterile saline, to about the size of a grapefruit. You feel full sooner and stay full longer, so portion sizes naturally fall.
- Placement
- 20–30 minEndoscopic, under sedation
- Stay in Istanbul
- 3–4 daysUsually a day case
- Back to desk work
- 3–5 daysOnce nausea settles
- Balloon stays in
- 6 or 12 monthsSwallowable types: several months
- Diet stages
- Weeks 1–3Liquids, then purée, then soft food
- Average loss
- 10–13%Of body weight at 6 months, in studies
See all procedure details
| Procedure time | About 20–30 minutes (endoscopic placement) |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | Sedation; swallowable types usually need none |
| Hospital stay | Day case; overnight only if symptoms need it |
| Recommended stay in Istanbul | 3–4 days |
| Back to desk work | Usually after 3–5 days, once nausea settles |
| Exercise | Light walking straight away; normal exercise after about 1–2 weeks |
| Balloon stays in | About 6 or 12 months (endoscopic) or several months (swallowable) |
| Removal | Endoscopic under sedation; swallowable types pass naturally |
| Typical weight loss | Around 10–13% of body weight at 6 months on average (studies) |
| Stitches | None |
Candidacy
Who is a gastric balloon right for — and who should not have one?
A gastric balloon in Istanbul may suit you if
- Your BMI is about 30 to 40, or 27 and above with weight-related health conditions
- Supervised diet and activity changes have not given lasting success
- You prefer a non-surgical option, or need to lose weight before another operation
- You are ready to follow a structured diet and remote dietitian programme
A balloon is usually not suitable if
- You have had stomach surgery, or have a large hiatus hernia, active stomach ulcers or severe oesophagitis
- You have inflammatory bowel disease or a bleeding disorder, or need long-term blood thinners or anti-inflammatory painkillers
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have an untreated eating disorder or alcohol misuse
Check your number with our free BMI calculator. If your BMI is above 40, or 35 with diabetes, surgery such as a gastric sleeve in Istanbul usually achieves more substantial, lasting results.
Endoscopic or swallowable
Types of gastric balloon at Vivid Clinic
The right type depends on your goals, your BMI and how often you can travel. These are the mainstream balloon types.
12-month adjustable balloon
Also placed by endoscopy, but designed to stay for about a year. Its volume can be adjusted if you have persistent symptoms or weight loss slows.
- Placement
- Endoscopy under sedation
- Stays in
- About 12 months
- Removal
- Planned endoscopy
Swallowable capsule balloon
Swallowed as a capsule attached to a thin tube. Its position is confirmed by imaging, it is filled through the tube, and the tube is withdrawn.
- Placement
- Swallowed while awake
- Stays in
- Several months
- Removal
- Designed to empty and pass naturally
Which balloon products are available changes over time. Your doctor explains the exact device, its duration and its removal plan during your consultation.
Step by step
How a gastric balloon is placed
Endoscopic placement takes about 20–30 minutes at a hospital endoscopy unit in Istanbul. In most cases you return to your hotel the same day.
Medical review
History, medications and BMI reviewed; device and removal explained.
Fasting
No food for about eight hours beforehand, as instructed.
Sedation
Sedation for endoscopic balloons; swallowable types usually need none.
Placement
Balloon guided in by endoscope, or capsule swallowed with water.
Filling
Filled with sterile saline once its position is confirmed.
Observation
Rest, start anti-sickness and acid-reducing medication, then hotel.
Your Istanbul journey
Three to four days, fully coordinated
For endoscopic balloons, a short return trip to Istanbul is planned for removal at around 6 or 12 months.
Day 1
Arrival and consultation
A VIP transfer meets you at the airport. Your coordinator and interpreter help you settle in, and you meet the doctor to finalise the balloon type.
Day 2
Balloon placement
After fasting, placement takes place at a hospital endoscopy unit in Istanbul. In most cases you return to the hotel the same day.
Days 2–4
Adjustment period
Nausea, vomiting, cramps and heaviness are common. You sip fluids, take your medication and rest; intravenous fluids are arranged if needed.
Day 4
Review and fit to fly
A final check that you are drinking comfortably, then your airport transfer with your diet plan and medication.
Send your details. Get an honest answer.
Share your height, weight, medical history and medications. The medical team recommends a balloon type, or tells you honestly if another option would serve you better. Free, no obligation.
Recovery
Recovery and life with a gastric balloon
The balloon is a tool that makes a reduced-calorie diet easier to follow for several months. The habits you build while it is in place are what protect your result.
- Days 1–4The stomach adjusts to the balloon. Anti-sickness medication, small sips of fluid every few minutes and rest help most people through.Nausea is common at first
- Weeks 1–3Clear liquids, then full liquids, purée and soft foods, following the dietitian's plan. Most people return to desk work within the first week.
- From week 3Small, balanced meals: protein first, vegetables next, then small amounts of starch. Eat slowly, avoid fizzy drinks and keep drinks separate from meals.
- Months 2–12Most weight loss happens now. Regular activity, meal planning and dietitian check-ins matter more than the balloon itself.
- RemovalEndoscopic balloons come out with a short endoscopy at around 6 or 12 months; swallowable types are designed to pass naturally.
Gastric balloon results: what to expect
In the ASGE Bariatric Endoscopy Task Force meta-analysis, people with an endoscopic balloon lost roughly 10–13% of body weight at six months, on average. Individual results vary considerably.
Some weight is commonly regained after removal, especially if eating habits return to how they were. A Vivid Clinic dietitian supports you remotely throughout the balloon period, with regular weigh-ins and adjustments.
Non-surgical options
Gastric balloon vs gastric botox
In short: a gastric balloon has more consistent evidence for weight loss, but more nausea at the start. For higher BMIs, surgery gives the most substantial and lasting weight loss.
| Gastric balloon | Gastric botox | |
|---|---|---|
| Is it surgery? | No — non-surgical and temporary | No — non-surgical |
| Procedure | Endoscopy under sedation, or a swallowed capsule | A shorter, day-case endoscopy |
| Evidence for weight loss | More consistent | Limited and mixed |
| Early symptoms | More nausea at the start | Fewer early symptoms |
Read more on our gastric botox page. For higher BMIs, see gastric sleeve, gastric bypass in Istanbul and mini gastric bypass. All options are on our weight loss and bariatrics page.
Price and packages
What determines your gastric balloon quote
We do not publish prices. A quote is given after our medical team reviews your details, and the consultation is free. For wider context, see our bariatric surgery cost guide.
Your all-inclusive package
Typically covers:
- Consultation
- Balloon placement
- Medication
- Hotel accommodation
- VIP transfers
- Interpreter support
- Dedicated patient coordinator
- Nutrition programme
Your price depends on
- Balloon type: 6-month, 12-month adjustable or swallowable
- Whether one or two endoscopies with sedation are needed, and any tests beforehand
- Length of stay in Istanbul, hotel choice and companion accommodation
- Length of remote dietitian follow-up and the removal trip
Why Vivid Clinic
Meet our medical team
Why patients choose Vivid Clinic for a gastric balloon in Istanbul
- Hospital-based endoscopy in accredited Istanbul hospitals with monitoring
- Clear device information: which balloon, how long it stays and how it comes out
- All-inclusive coordination, including the removal trip
- Multilingual team and a dedicated patient coordinator
- 24/7 support line and remote dietitian follow-up for the whole balloon period
Safety
Risks of a gastric balloon and how we reduce them
A gastric balloon avoids surgery, but it still carries risks.
Possible effects
- Nausea, vomiting and cramps in the first days, occasionally needing intravenous fluids
- Acid reflux and indigestion, or early removal if symptoms cannot be controlled
- Rarely, balloon deflation or migration causing a bowel blockage that may need treatment
- Stomach ulcers and, rarely, perforation, pancreatitis or over-inflation
- Sedation and endoscopy risks for endoscopic balloons
How we reduce them
- Careful patient selection
- Placement in hospital endoscopy units
- Preventive anti-sickness and acid-reducing medication
- A 3–4 day stay in Istanbul and a 24/7 support line
- Planned removal dates
Contact us urgently for severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration. The NHS overview of weight loss procedures is a useful independent resource.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the gastric balloon
How long should I stay in Istanbul after a gastric balloon is placed?
Plan on three to four days in Istanbul for a gastric balloon. Nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps are common for the first two to four days while your stomach adapts. We want you close by, with anti-sickness medication and intravenous fluids if you cannot keep drinks down. You fly home once you are drinking comfortably and the team has checked you.
How is a gastric balloon removed, and do I need to come back to Istanbul?
An endoscopic gastric balloon is removed with another short endoscopy under sedation at around 6 or 12 months, depending on the type. Most patients return to Istanbul for a short removal trip, which we plan with you from the start. A swallowable gastric balloon is designed to empty by itself after several months and pass naturally, so it does not normally need an endoscopic removal.
Which gastric balloon type suits me: 6-month, 12-month or swallowable?
A 6-month endoscopic gastric balloon is the most studied option and suits most people starting out. A 12-month adjustable balloon gives longer support and its volume can be changed, but it needs two endoscopies. A swallowable balloon avoids endoscopy for placement but stays for a shorter time, usually several months. Your BMI, goals, travel plans and medical history guide the doctor's recommendation.
How much weight can I realistically lose with a gastric balloon?
Studies of endoscopic gastric balloons report an average loss of roughly 10 to 13 percent of total body weight at six months. This figure comes from an ASGE task force meta-analysis, and individual results vary widely. Some weight is often regained after removal. The habits you build with the dietitian while the gastric balloon is in place are what protect your result in the long run.
Can I have a gastric balloon if I have acid reflux or a hiatus hernia?
Mild, controlled reflux does not always rule out a gastric balloon. However, a large hiatus hernia, severe oesophagitis, active stomach ulcers or previous stomach surgery usually do. Everyone is screened for these before placement. The balloon can make reflux worse, so everyone takes acid-reducing medication while it is in place. If reflux is significant, the doctor may recommend an endoscopy first or suggest another option.
What can I eat in the first weeks with a gastric balloon?
You start with clear liquids, then move to full liquids, purée and soft foods over about three weeks, following the dietitian's plan. From around week three, you eat small, balanced meals: protein first, vegetables next, then small amounts of starch. Eat slowly, avoid fizzy drinks and keep drinks separate from meals. A Vivid Clinic dietitian supports you remotely throughout the balloon period.
When can I return to work and exercise after a gastric balloon?
Most people return to desk work after three to five days, once the early nausea settles. Light walking is fine straight away, and normal exercise usually resumes after about one to two weeks. The first days can be uncomfortable, so plan rest rather than work during your stay in Istanbul. Contact the team urgently for severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration.
Free assessment
Plan your gastric balloon in Istanbul
Send your height, weight, medical history and medications. It is free and there is no obligation.
- 1Share your details and photosHere, or by WhatsApp on +90 545 742 3565.
- 2Medical review within 24 hoursA recommended balloon type, or honest advice if another option would serve you better, with a plan covering placement, diet support and removal.
- 3Your personalised Istanbul planDates, hotel, transfers and your coordinator’s contact.
Get my free gastric balloon plan
Free · No obligation · Reply within 24 h
Related reading
Summarize this page
Open a summary of this guide in your AI assistant.
ChatGPT