Spatz3® Adjustable Intragastric Balloon
The Spatz3® Adjustable Intragastric Balloon is a soft, silicone balloon which is inserted into your stomach via a scope (camera) through your mouth before being inflated with sterile salt water.
The Spatz3® gastric balloon can stay in your stomach for up to 12 months and can be adjusted in size if needed. At The BMI Clinic we combine the 12-month Spatz3® balloon with our Silver, Gold or Platinum lifestyle program, to provide you with essential support and professional advice to sustain the habits the balloon assists you to create.
The Spatz3® system is exclusively available at The BMI Clinic.
How does the Spatz3® work?
The Spatz3® balloon helps you lose weight by inducing early satiety (ie. a sense of fullness). It achieves this in two ways:
- Delaying gastric emptying – since the emptying time of the stomach is prolonged, you feel fuller for longer
- Reducing stomach capacity – helping you to reduce your portion sizes
What is the advantage of an adjustable balloon?
Having the option of adding or removing fluid from your balloon can be very useful, as it enables you to get the most out of the balloon. Your doctor may suggest an adjustment if:
- Your appetite increases
- Your portion sizes increase as you adapt to the balloon
- Your weight loss plateaus
- You are having symptoms or side effects from the balloon and require less fluid
What does the procedure involve?
The balloon insertion is a 20-minute procedure done in a day hospital. You will be sedated (put to sleep) and the deflated balloon will be placed into your stomach via an endoscope (camera on a thin tube) through your mouth. It will then be inflated through a port on the balloon. You can expect to be at the hospital for 4-5 hours including paperwork, procedure and recovery.
After 12 months, the Spatz3® balloon is removed through the mouth in a similar way as it was placed.
How can I enhance my weight loss?
The Spatz3® balloon 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 – habits that will last well beyond the 12-month balloon placement. We know the balloon is most effective when accompanied by a lifestyle program, which is why at The BMI Clinic, the Spatz3® balloon 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 Spatz3® balloon?
The more you engage with your team, the more successful your weight loss journey will be. The average weight loss with the Spatz3 balloon is 15-20% TBWL (Total Body Weight Loss; ie. a 100kg person would lose 15-20 kg, on average), 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.