Allurion Gastric Balloonswallowed, not implanted
A soft balloon inside a capsule. You swallow it with water, it is filled through a thin catheter, and around four months later it empties and passes on its own. No surgery, no endoscopy, no anaesthesia.
Five steps, one visit
The placement itself usually takes under half an hour, and you go home the same day.
- 01You swallow a capsuleA soft balloon folded inside a capsule, taken with water in clinic. No endoscopy, no sedation, no anaesthesia.
- 02Position is confirmedA quick imaging check confirms the balloon is sitting where it should be before anything is filled.
- 03It is filled with fluidThrough a thin catheter, which is then removed. The whole visit usually takes under half an hour.
- 04It occupies spaceA full stomach signals fullness sooner. Portions come down without you having to fight for it.
- 05It empties and passesA release valve opens on its own after around four months. The balloon empties and passes naturally.
The balloon is the smaller half
It creates a window of around four months in which eating less is markedly easier. What decides the outcome is what gets established during that window — protein, portions, movement and routine — and what is held afterwards. That is why nutrition and coaching run throughout, and continue after it has passed.
Suitability is confirmed first
Previous gastric surgery, a hiatal hernia, reflux, swallowing difficulty and certain medications all rule it out or need addressing beforehand. Assessment comes before booking, without exception.
Where the balloon makes sense
It sits between medication and surgery: more structural than a tablet, far less permanent than an operation.
Who it is not for
These either rule the balloon out or need resolving before it can be considered. The list is not exhaustive — your assessment is.
- Previous gastric or oesophageal surgery
- A large hiatal hernia, or a known structural abnormality of the gut
- Active peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease or severe reflux
- Difficulty swallowing, or any condition affecting the oesophagus
- Pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- Regular anticoagulants, aspirin or anti-inflammatories that cannot be paused
- A current or previous eating disorder, without specialist input first
- Unwillingness or inability to attend the follow-up programme
Bring a full list of your medications. Anticoagulants and regular anti-inflammatories matter here in particular.
What the four months actually involve
Including the first week, which is the hardest part and the one most pages skip over.
No cutting, no staples, no anaesthesia
Nothing about your anatomy is permanently altered. The balloon leaves the way it arrived.- 01
Assessment
History, examination, bloodwork and a check for anything that would make the balloon unsuitable.
Visit 1 - 02
Placement
Capsule swallowed with water, position confirmed, balloon filled, catheter removed. You go home the same day.
Visit 2 · ~30 min - 03
First week
Nausea and cramping are common and expected. Anti-sickness medication is prescribed in advance, not afterwards.
Days 1–7 - 04
Settling in
Liquids to soft foods to normal textures, guided by your dietitian. Most people are back to routine quickly.
Weeks 2–4 - 05
The programme
Nutrition, coaching and monitoring throughout. This is the part that determines the outcome.
Months 1–4 - 06
It passes
The balloon empties on its own and passes naturally. Most people are unaware of it happening.
~Month 4 - 07
Maintenance
Support continues after it has gone — because holding the result is a separate task from achieving it.
Ongoing
Side effects and risks
Most are early and expected. A few are serious and need same-day attention.
| Frequency | What you may notice | What we do about it |
|---|---|---|
| Very common | Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps in the first few days | Expected. Managed with medication prescribed before placement, plus fluids and small volumes. |
| Common | Reflux, burping, disturbed sleep in week one, temporary fatigue | Usually settles within a week or two. Tell us early rather than waiting for the next review. |
| Less common | Persistent vomiting with dehydration, intolerance requiring early removal | Removal is possible endoscopically if the balloon genuinely cannot be tolerated. |
| Rare but serious | Early deflation, gastric obstruction, perforation, pancreatitis | Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting or blue-green urine need urgent same-day assessment. |
Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or blue-green discolouration of urine may indicate deflation or obstruction and need urgent assessment. If you cannot reach us, contact your doctor or emergency services.
Balloon, medication or surgery
A general guide only. What is appropriate for you is decided at assessment, not from a table.
| GLP-1 therapy | Allurion balloon | Bariatric surgery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasiveness | Weekly injection | Swallowed capsule, no endoscopy | Laparoscopic surgery |
| Anaesthesia | None | None | General |
| Reversible | Yes, on stopping | Yes, passes on its own | No |
| Downtime | None | None to one day | 2–7 days |
| Duration | Ongoing while taken | Around four months | Permanent |
| Main risk area | Gastrointestinal, metabolic | Early intolerance, dehydration | Surgical and nutritional |
The part that decides the result
Once the balloon has gone, the restriction goes with it. Whether the weight stays off depends entirely on what was built during the four months.
- Protein targets and resistance training established well before it passes
- Review frequency increases around the transition, not after
- Body composition tracked throughout, not weight alone
- Maintenance support continues once it has gone
The Allurion balloon, answered
Does it hurt to swallow?
The capsule is roughly the size of a large vitamin tablet and is taken with water. Most people find it straightforward. If swallowing is difficult for any reason, we establish that before booking.
Do I need anaesthesia or an endoscopy?
No. Placement requires neither, which is the main practical difference from older balloon systems. A brief imaging check confirms position.
How long does it stay in?
Around four months, after which a valve opens by itself, the balloon empties and passes naturally. The exact timing is confirmed at your consultation.
Will I feel it inside?
For the first few days you will be very aware of it. After that most people stop noticing it, apart from feeling full sooner.
How bad is the first week, honestly?
For most people it is the hardest part — nausea, cramping and some vomiting are common. Anti-sickness medication is prescribed before placement. It typically settles within three to seven days.
Can it be taken out early?
Yes. If it genuinely cannot be tolerated it can be removed endoscopically. This is uncommon but it is a real option, and we discuss it before you decide.
How much weight will I lose?
That depends far more on the programme around it than on the balloon itself, and published averages are not a prediction for any individual. We set expectations against your own history at assessment.
Will I put it back on afterwards?
You can, if nothing else changes. The balloon buys a window; what determines the outcome is what is established during it and maintained afterwards. That is why coaching runs throughout and continues after it passes.
Can I exercise with it?
Yes, and you should. Movement is introduced gradually once the first week has settled, with resistance work to protect muscle.
What do I eat?
Liquids first, then soft foods, then normal textures, guided by your dietitian. Portions will be smaller and protein is prioritised throughout.
Can I have it more than once?
In some cases yes, after assessment. It is not an automatic repeat and depends on how the first one went.
What does it cost?
Cost covers placement and the full programme around it, and we set it out in writing before you commit, with no obligation.
Find out whether it suits you
Send your details and we will confirm a time. BMI is worked out for you.