Gastric balloon in Medellín
From COP 12,000,000 to COP 18,000,000, with no surgery and same-day discharge
A gastric balloon, or intragastric balloon, is a device that takes up space in the stomach to help you control your portions. It is not surgery: nothing in the stomach or the intestine is cut or joined, it is an outpatient procedure and it is temporary. At MDE Care we tell you the cost before you decide, connect you with the specialist and coordinate your assessment and, if you are traveling from abroad, your stay in Medellín.
20 to 30
minutes to place it
Same day
you go home
4 to 12
months, depending on the type
10 to 15%
of total body weight, on average
USD 6,000 to 9,500
cost in the United States
Which gastric balloon is right for you?
There are three types of balloon and they are not used for the same thing. Based on your BMI, how you feel about endoscopy and how long you are willing to keep it, we show you which one is usually recommended, how much weight is lost with it and its cost.
1. Your height and your weight
Your BMI
33.8
2. Would you rather avoid endoscopy and sedation?
3. How long are you willing to keep it?
4. Do you have any of these conditions?
You may select several. If you have none, leave them unselected.
The three types, in numbers
Orbera
6 months
Placed by endoscopy. 10.2 to 13.2% of total body weight.
Adjustable Spatz3
12 months
Placed by endoscopy, adjustable volume. 15% of total body weight.
Swallowable
16 weeks
In a capsule, no endoscopy. 12.47% of total body weight.
Your guidance
Type usually recommended
Orbera balloon
Placed by endoscopy, for 6 months
- Placement
- By endoscopy, under sedation
- Duration
- 6 months
- Indicated BMI
- 30 to 40
- Published loss
- 10.2% to 13.2% of total body weight at 6 months
Gastric balloon, estimated cost
COP 12,000,000 to COP 18,000,000
Range for all three types of balloon. The cost of your case is confirmed after the assessment.
In the United States, an endoscopic balloon costs between USD 6,000 and 9,500.
* Guidance only, based on published criteria and studies. It does not replace the judgment of the specialist or the bariatric surgeon, who decide during the assessment whether a balloon is suitable and which type fits your medical history and test results.
How many kilograms could you lose with the balloon?
Using your weight, we calculate how many kilograms the average percentage of total body weight lost by patients in the published studies of each balloon type represents.
At 92 kg, this is what the average published loss for each balloon type represents in kilograms. We highlight the option the guide showed you.
Lifestyle changes only Control group of the trials
3.0 kg less, 3.3% of total body weight
You would be at about 89.0 kg
Orbera, FDA trial At 6 months
9.4 kg less, 10.2% of total body weight
You would be at about 82.6 kg
Swallowable, 11 studies At 4 months
11.5 kg less, 12.47% of total body weight
You would be at about 80.5 kg
Orbera, 44 studies At 6 months
12.1 kg less, 13.2% of total body weight
You would be at about 79.9 kg
Spatz3, pivotal trial Adjustable balloon
13.8 kg less, 15% of total body weight
You would be at about 78.2 kg
Most of the loss happens in the first 3 months
That is why nutritional support from day one is part of the treatment.
After removal, a maintenance plan
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guideline recommends continuing with diet, medication, a new balloon or surgery to maintain the result.
Averages from published studies, not a promise of results. How much each patient loses depends on adherence to the diet, physical activity and follow-up, and the specialist reviews it with you during the assessment.
What a gastric balloon is and how it works
An intragastric balloon is a device that takes up space inside the stomach. With less capacity, you feel full with smaller portions, which makes it easier to follow the eating plan while new habits form.
An endoscopic balloon is inserted deflated through the mouth and, once inside the stomach, it is filled with saline solution. At the end of the indicated time it is removed the same way. A swallowable balloon, on the other hand, is swallowed as a capsule and passes naturally. It is also known as a weight loss balloon, a capsule balloon or a gastric balloon without endoscopy.
It takes up space in the stomach
It helps you control your portions.
It is not surgery
Nothing in the stomach or intestine is cut or joined, and it is an outpatient procedure.
It is temporary
From 16 weeks to 12 months, depending on the type of balloon.
Types of gastric balloon: Orbera, Spatz3 and swallowable
| Type | How it is placed | How long | Indicated BMI | Published loss | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orbera | By endoscopy, under sedation | 6 months; removed by endoscopy | 30 to 40, when diet, exercise or medication did not work | 10.2% of total body weight at 6 months (FDA trial); 13.2% across 44 studies | FDA approved for adults with a BMI of 30 to 40. |
| Spatz3 | By endoscopy, under sedation; its volume can be adjusted | Up to 12 months outside the U.S. and up to 8 in the U.S. | 35 to 40, or 30 to 34.9 with at least one related condition | 15% of total body weight in the pivotal trial; 92% lost at least 5% | It has regulatory approval in Colombia, according to the manufacturer. |
| Allurion-type swallowable | Swallowed as a capsule, with no endoscopy or anesthesia, in a visit of about 15 minutes | 16 weeks; it passes naturally | 27 or higher, according to one clinic | 12.47% of total body weight at 4 months, across 11 studies | It is not FDA approved. In France it was suspended in August 2024 and returned to the market seven months later. |
How the gastric balloon is placed
In both cases you go home the same day.
By endoscopy: Orbera and Spatz3
Sedation
You are sedated during the procedure.
20 to 30 minutes
The balloon goes in deflated through the mouth and is filled with saline solution inside the stomach.
A few hours of recovery
You go home the same day.
At the end of treatment
It is removed by endoscopy; for Orbera, at 6 months.
Swallowable: in a capsule
No endoscopy or anesthesia
You swallow the capsule during the appointment.
About 15 minutes
That is how long the placement visit takes.
At 16 weeks
The balloon passes naturally, with no removal procedure.
It is not FDA approved. During the assessment, the specialist explains its benefits and risks compared with an endoscopic balloon.
Who is a candidate for a gastric balloon?
It is usually recommended when
- You are an adult and diet, exercise or medication did not work for you.
- Your BMI is 30 to 40, for the Orbera balloon.
- Your BMI is 35 to 40, or 30 to 34.9 with a related condition, for the Spatz3.
- For the swallowable balloon, one clinic accepts it from a BMI of 27; it is not FDA approved and the specialist decides whether it applies.
- You are willing to follow the nutrition plan during treatment and after removal.
With a BMI of 40 or higher, the bariatric surgeon usually proposes surgery. Learn about the options in bariatric surgery in Medellín.
It may be ruled out by
- Peptic ulcer.
- Hiatal hernia.
- Bleeding disorders.
- Liver disease.
- Substance use disorder.
- Previous gastrointestinal surgery.
Not sure which option fits you? Use the bariatric surgery guide, which compares your case with the options with and without surgery.
How much weight is lost with a gastric balloon
On average, about 10% of total body weight or 30% of excess weight, according to published references. These are the results of the studies for each type.
Orbera, FDA trial
10.2%
of total body weight at 6 months, compared with 3.3% with lifestyle changes only.
Orbera, 44 studies
13.2%
of total body weight at 6 months, in 5,549 patients.
Spatz3, pivotal trial
15%
of total body weight, compared with 3.3% in the control group. 92% lost at least 5%.
Swallowable, 11 studies
12.47%
of total body weight and 48.04% of excess weight at 4 months, in 2,107 patients.
Is the weight regained after removal?
There is no reliable published figure for how much weight is regained. That is why the AGA guideline recommends a maintenance plan after removal, with diet, medication, a new balloon or surgery.
What about diabetes?
There is no reliable published figure for diabetes remission with the balloon. If your main goal is to control type 2 diabetes, the specialist will explain during the assessment which option offers the best results in your case.
Recovery and eating with the balloon
Eating, in phases
The day of the procedure
Clear liquids
Next
Purées
Then
Soft diet
From then on
The eating plan from your nutritionist
Your care team indicates how long each phase lasts, depending on how well you tolerate the balloon.
If the symptoms do not ease
Symptoms persist in fewer than 3% of patients. If you do not tolerate the balloon, it can be removed early, which happens in about 7.6% of cases; with the Spatz3, its volume can also be reduced. Let your care team know if the nausea or vomiting does not improve.
The first week
Mild digestive symptoms, such as nausea or discomfort, are normal for about a week while the stomach adjusts to the balloon.
Going back to work
There is no single published timeframe. The specialist tells you when to resume your activities based on how you feel in those first days.
Supplements
There is no mandatory supplementation defined for the balloon. If you need it, your care team will prescribe it.
Side effects and risks of the gastric balloon
Digestive symptoms at the start are common; serious complications are uncommon. The specialist reviews them with you during the assessment, and follow-up visits exist to detect them in time.
Common symptoms at the start
Percentage of patients, according to a meta-analysis.
Nausea
63.33%
Abdominal pain
58.55%
Vomiting
55.29%
Serious complications
Approximate frequency, according to published references.
- Persistent symptomsunder 3%
- Balloon hyperinflationabout 2%
- Deflation or migrationabout 1.5%
- Perforation0.1%
7.6%
Early removal
Mostly due to intolerance, according to a review of studies.
0.90%
Serious events with the swallowable balloon
Across 11 studies; 3.6% did not complete the program.
Gastric balloon compared with the endoscopic sleeve, medication and surgery
The balloon is the least invasive and a temporary option, but it also has the smallest weight loss: about 10 to 15% of total body weight, compared with 30 to 40% for bypass procedures.
Gastric balloon
COP 12,000,000 to COP 18,000,000
- No surgery, outpatient and temporary.
- From 16 weeks to 12 months.
- About 10 to 15% of total body weight.
- Digestive symptoms are common at the start.
Endoscopic sleeve
COP 14,000,000 to COP 32,000,000
- Reduces the stomach with sutures from the inside.
- By endoscopy, with no incisions in the abdomen.
- It is not a device that is removed.
See endoscopic sleeve
No procedureWeight loss medication
Wegovy: COP 938,601 to COP 1,550,000 per month
- Among Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro, it is the only one approved by INVIMA for obesity.
- Pharmacy price, per month of treatment.
- Always with a prescription and follow-up visits.
- Together with a nutrition plan.
See non-surgical treatment
SurgeryGastric sleeve
From COP 23,000,000
- Laparoscopic surgery, permanent.
- 60 to 70% of excess weight at 18 to 24 months.
- With a BMI of 40 or higher; 35 or higher with a related condition; or 30 to 35 with a metabolic condition, evaluated case by case.
See gastric sleeve
See every technique, with and without surgery, in bariatric surgery in Medellín.
Your gastric balloon in Medellín, step by step
Placement is an outpatient procedure and you leave the same day. The specialist determines how many days to stay in Medellín; keep in mind that digestive symptoms usually last about a week and that the balloon requires follow-up visits throughout the treatment, which we arrange from the start.
Step 1
Contact us on WhatsApp
Tell us about your case, your height, your weight and which type of balloon interests you.
Step 2
Video call with the specialist
Initial assessment without traveling.
Step 3
Preliminary tests
Those the specialist indicates for your case.
Step 4
Quote in dollars
With a breakdown of what is included.
Step 5
Placement and first days
With the option of a recovery house with nursing care: USD 270 per night in a standard room.
Step 6
Follow-up and removal
Follow-up by telehealth and an agreed date for removal, if your balloon is endoscopic.
About the gastric balloon in Medellín
How much does a gastric balloon cost in Medellín?
How much weight is lost with a gastric balloon?
Does balloon placement hurt?
Is it normal to feel nauseous with the balloon?
How long does the balloon stay in?
What BMI do you need for a gastric balloon?
What happens if I do not tolerate the balloon?
Is the weight regained after the balloon is removed?
Not sure whether the balloon is the right option for you?
The bariatric surgery guide compares your case with every option, with and without surgery.
Other weight loss options
Request your gastric balloon quote in Medellín
Tell us your height, your weight and where you are traveling from. We will send you the cost of your process and coordinate your assessment with the specialist.