One of the more recent developments in the field of bariatrics is the the gastric balloon procedure.  The bariatric surgical team of Dr. Jason Balette, Dr. Drew Howard, and Dr. Brad Waggoner are one of the few weight loss surgery centers in the Houston area to offer the gastric balloon procedure as an option.

The ReShape® Integrated Dual Balloon is an FDA approved, non-surgical approach to weight loss that is proven to help people achieve and maintain significant weight loss. It is completely different from any diet, program, or procedure you may have tried or considered before.

ReShape was specifically designed for patients with a lower BMI (between 30–40). With ReShape, two connected balloons filled with saline (salt water) are placed temporarily inside your stomach in an outpatient medical setting. The procedure lasts about 20 minutes while you are comfortably sedated under light anesthesia.

An endoscope is used to insert the balloons into the stomach, and saline is used to inflate the balloons when they are properly positioned. Once the balloons are inflated, the endoscope is removed and the insertion procedure is complete. The balloons remain in the stomach for 6 months.

When filled with saline, the balloons help you lose weight and encourage healthy eating habits by taking up room in your stomach, so there is less space for food. You can still eat the healthy foods you enjoy, but the balloons act as built-in portion control, helping you feel full and less hungry.