Swallowable gastric balloon (Allurion)
A small capsule you swallow at the clinic, which becomes a balloon in your stomach so you feel full on less. No surgery, no endoscopy and no anaesthetic.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammad N. Alajmi · Updated
How is the balloon placed?
You swallow a small capsule attached to a very thin tube. We check its position with a simple X-ray, fill the balloon with fluid through the tube, then remove the tube. The session takes about 20 minutes and you go home the same day.
How does it work?
The balloon takes up part of the stomach and slows emptying, so you feel full on smaller portions. While it is in place you build new eating habits with a nutrition plan and clinic follow-up.
How does it come out?
At the end of its time, between 3 and 6 months, a small valve opens, the balloon empties and it passes out of the body naturally, with no endoscopy or procedure to remove it.
Who is it for?
- People with excess weight who do not want, or are not suited to, surgery.
- People who need to lose weight before an operation or a planned pregnancy, on the doctor's advice.
- People ready to follow a nutrition plan and attend follow-up during and after the balloon.
It is not suitable during pregnancy, after previous stomach surgery, or with some digestive conditions. The doctor checks this at your assessment.
What to expect
In the first days there may be nausea, vomiting or cramps, and we give you medicine to ease them. Weight then comes off gradually. The most important stage is after the balloon passes, so we plan how to keep the weight off and may combine it with medication when needed.
Common questions
Does the balloon need an endoscopy or anaesthetic?
No. The Allurion balloon is swallowed as a capsule at the clinic, with no endoscopy or anaesthetic, and passes naturally at the end of its time.
How long does the balloon stay in the stomach?
3 to 6 months, then it empties by itself and leaves the body.
Does the weight come back after the balloon passes?
Some can return if old habits come back. That is why follow-up after the balloon passes is a core part of the treatment.
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