Gastric Balloon in Türkiye

A gastric balloon is a soft silicone balloon placed into the stomach through the mouth — without surgery — and filled with saline so you feel full sooner and eat smaller portions. It is a temporary measure, usually removed after around six months, designed to kick-start weight loss alongside a supervised diet and lifestyle programme. It may suit adults who do not meet the criteria for bariatric surgery, or who would prefer to avoid an operation altogether.

Is this treatment right for you?

Suitable for: adults who want a temporary, non-surgical aid to weight loss because they do not meet the criteria for bariatric surgery, or prefer to avoid it.

Less ideal if: you have had major stomach surgery, an active stomach ulcer or a large hiatus hernia, or you are looking for a permanent stand-alone fix rather than a kick-start to lifestyle change.

Suitability can only be confirmed by a qualified clinician after assessing you, which is why every plan begins with a free, personalised review rather than a fixed promise.

Process & recovery

The balloon is placed during a short endoscopic procedure under sedation, typically taking around 20 to 30 minutes, and most people go home or back to their hotel the same day. Nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps are common in the first few days and are managed with medication, then usually settle within a week or two as the stomach adjusts. The balloon typically stays in place for around six months before being removed endoscopically. Risks include acid reflux, intolerance requiring early removal, stomach ulcers and, rarely, balloon deflation or perforation needing urgent treatment.

What is a gastric balloon?

A gastric balloon is a soft, medical-grade silicone balloon that sits inside the stomach and takes up space, so you feel full after smaller meals. Unlike gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery, nothing is cut, stapled or permanently changed: the balloon is placed through the mouth, left in position for a set period — typically around six months, sometimes up to a year — and then removed.

Because it works purely by reducing the room available for food, a gastric balloon is more accurately described as a tool rather than a treatment in itself. It creates a window of several months in which portion sizes shrink naturally, making it easier to follow a structured diet and build habits that can last. It sits within the wider range of obesity treatment options and is often considered by people who do not meet the criteria for bariatric surgery, who prefer to avoid an operation, or — in selected cases — as a preparatory step before surgery.

How gastric balloon placement works

Assessment first

Suitability is confirmed before anything is booked. The treating team reviews your medical history, current medications, any previous stomach surgery and conditions such as ulcers, severe reflux or a large hiatus hernia, which can rule the balloon out. You are given fasting instructions for the day of the procedure.

Placement day

Under sedation, the treating doctor first examines the stomach with a thin, flexible camera (an endoscope). If all is well, the deflated balloon is passed through the mouth into the stomach and filled with sterile saline. The procedure typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes, and most people are discharged the same day.

Two broad approaches exist, and the treating team advises which types are available and suitable for you:

While the balloon is in place

You follow a staged diet — liquids first, then soft foods, then smaller normal meals — with dietary guidance throughout. Anti-sickness and acid-reducing medication is typically prescribed for the early weeks.

Removal

At the planned time, the balloon is deflated and withdrawn in a short endoscopic procedure under sedation, much like the placement.

Recovery: what to expect

Everyone recovers at a different pace, and a small number of people find the balloon hard to tolerate; in those cases it can be removed early.

Results and longevity

Weight loss with a gastric balloon varies from person to person and depends heavily on how the balloon period is used. Combined with a supervised diet, activity plan and regular follow-up, it may deliver meaningful weight loss and improvements in comfort, mobility and confidence. On its own, however, it changes nothing permanent about the stomach — so once it is removed, results are only as durable as the habits behind them. Some weight regain after removal is possible, and some people later go on to consider surgical options such as a gastric sleeve or bypass. An honest conversation about realistic expectations is part of every assessment.

Having a gastric balloon in Türkiye

As a facilitator, we coordinate your gastric balloon pathway from first enquiry to aftercare at accredited, Ministry of Health–authorised partner hospitals. Before you travel, the treating doctor reviews your medical history and confirms suitability; once in Türkiye, airport transfers, accommodation and interpreter support at every appointment are arranged for you, so nothing is lost in translation. Because placement is a short procedure, the stay is typically brief, and the plan includes clear arrangements for the balloon’s later removal.

Aftercare continues once you are home: remote check-ins, dietary guidance during the months the balloon is in place and a direct line to the care team if anything concerns you. Packages are all-inclusive and transparent, and everything starts with a free consultation and a no-obligation personalised plan — you can read how each stage fits together on our patient journey page.