AspireAssist®
AspireAssist® (AA) is a non-surgical and reversible weight loss procedure that involves having a tube placed through your stomach wall and skin, out to your abdomen for food contents in your stomach to be aspirated out.
The AspireAssist® allows you to remove food contents from the stomach through a tube into the toilet or sink. On average, 30% of the calories you consume are removed during an aspiration, helping you to lose weight.
Please Note: AspireAssist has now been withdrawn from the market. This withdrawal is entirely the result of economic factors, not the result of safety or effectiveness issues associated with or reported with the product. You may like to consider our other non-surgical procedures as an alternative.
The BMI Clinic Non-Surgical Weight Loss Procedures
Discover Effective Non-Surgical Solutions at The BMI Clinic
Gastric Balloons
Helps control food intake through inserting and inflating a small balloon in the stomach.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)
Uses sutures to constrict the stomach, making it smaller which in turn reduces your appetite and portion sizes, and leads to gradual weight loss.
From the start of the process, the BMI clinical was very helpful and informative with a fantastic team of people to work with to get to the bottom of my goal.
My process was about more than the weight, it was about lifestyle and quality time with my children and the ability to get healthy enough to carry another baby. In February of 2023 I had the Spatz3 balloon placed and started my journey. Throughout the process I went from a size 24 to 12 with the support of the team. While it wasn’t a smooth run, whenever I was having issues I knew I could call on the team to get advice on what was happening and knew what to expect at every turn.
Post removal, I am the healthiest I have been in my adult life and continue to use the nutrition tips, exercise plans and strategies given to me to continue on my health journey. I learnt more about how to listen to my body in those 12 months than I had in my life. Because this program doesn’t teach what not to eat, it teaches how to eat in moderation and how to fully listen to your body’s cues. These are things I will carry through with me on my continuing health journey.
– Maddison
*Maddison lost 29kg on the Spatz Gold Program
I was at my heaviest weighing 137 kg and could barely walk 100 metres without being in pain.
The (Spatz3) balloon was the only procedure left aside from the invasive bypass procedure. So I called a few places and BMI won me over. They sounded so caring and genuine on the phone and were not pushy at all.
Fast forward to today, I am down 44 kgs and feel amazing! The mentoring was amazing – I had an awful relationship with food and self-sabotage but with the help of Amelia, our dietitian, and Dr. Fiona and Dr.
Sophia I am able to make positive food choices and stay on track with my weight loss goals.
– Alex
*Alex lost 44kg on the Spatz3 Balloon Gold Program
This procedure has been life-changing and I would recommend looking into the The BMI Clinic to anyone that’s considering weight loss surgery/procedures.
Almost 8 months into my Spatz3 balloon and I’ve lost a total of 27 kgs (133 kgs in Feb, currently 106 kgs in Oct 2022.) What this balloon does is give me time to think if I’m physically or only mentally hungry and make the right choices in what I should be eating and how much I should eat.
I’m so happy I overcame the fear & shame I felt in the lead up to the procedure day because this was the best thing to ever happen to me.
– Jacky Lou
*Jacky Lou lost 30kg on the Spatz3 Balloon Gold Program
Without the help and support of the team, especially the education from Alexandra in regards to food I would have been lost.
I started at the The BMI Clinic at 119 kg (sadly not my heaviest!) I saw success with the VLCD and have also engaged with an exercise physiotherapist as well as Pilates. I did need to have my balloon reduced in size about 3 months in as it was too large for my body.
7 months into my journey I’m 25kgs down, exercising three times a week as well as eating a healthy and well-balanced diet. I’ve been able to return to work, but not only that I have also been able to do other things like improve my mobility and enhance my strength and endurance.
There have been easy days and hard days, the trick is not to give up and look at the long term goal!
– Monique
*Monique lost 32kg on the Spatz3 Balloon Gold Program
It took me a year to make the decision, but I’ll never look back.
From a young age, I have struggled with my weight and relationship with food. After years of contemplating I took the plunge. I took the platinum package which taught me the skill and techniques to combat my relationship with food.
With a dietitian and counsellor’s help, I have learned to get back on track when I need to. Having lost 21.5kg, I know now that I can do it.
– Scott
*Scott lost 21.5kg on the Spatz3 Platinum Gold Program
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the AspireAssist® work?
When we eat, food travels from the mouth into the stomach, is temporarily stored and digestion commences. It then passes into the small intestine where the calories are absorbed. The AspireAssist® is best used 20-30 minutes after eating meals and allows you to remove food contents from the stomach through a tube into the toilet or sink – this is called aspirating. On average, 30% of the calories you consume are removed during an aspiration, helping you to lose weight. If you chew your food very well, more can be aspirated leading to greater weight loss results.
What does the procedure involve?
The tube is inserted during a 15-20 minute procedure where you will be sedated (asleep). It will be performed in a day hospital setting so you will go home the same day. You will need to have a clear fluid diet for 24 hours before the procedure and you can eat and drink normally afterwards. You may have some pain in the first 2-3 days after insertion and the doctor will give you pain relief medication to manage this. Once you heal (usually around 2 weeks after the insertion) you can start aspirating (using the tube to empty the stomach contents). A specialist nurse and team will assist you in the use of the device. During the first week of aspirating, it’s useful to eat softer foods which can be chewed well, to enable you to see what a successful aspiration is.
What does a day look like with AspireAssist®?
You will need to aspirate your meals around 20-30 minutes after you eat. This generally takes around 10-15 minutes and you’ll need access to a bathroom with a tap, sink and preferably a toilet. Aspirating 3 times per day (after each meal) will usually achieve the best weight loss results. It is important to chew your food very well and take your time eating – which can be a difficult habit to introduce. You will also be drinking a lot of water with your meals to help break up the food particles and allow more to be aspirated.
How can I enhance my weight loss?
The AspireAssist® is a tool to aid weight loss, giving you a kick-start by allowing you to control portions as you develop healthy and sustainable habits. We know the AspireAssist® is most effective when accompanied by a lifestyle program, which is why at The BMI Clinic, the AspireAssist® is paired with either our Silver, Gold or Platinum lifestyle program, delivered by a team of weight loss specialists, including Bariatric Physicians, Nurses, Dietitians, Exercise Physiologists and Behavioural Coaches. Data from our own clinic demonstrates the more a patient engages with the team, the greater their weight loss.
How much weight can I expect to lose with the AspireAssist®?
The more you engage with your team, the more successful your weight loss journey will be. Patients who undergo the AA experience can expect to achieve a weight loss of around 20% Total Body Weight Loss (ie. a 100kg person could expect to lose 20kg on average) over 12 months. However, ultimately, the amount of weight you lose and maintain will depend on how closely you follow the advice of your medical and allied health care team.