“TOGA” or “Transoral gastroplasty” could be the new safer route for people looking for surgery as a solution to their weight loss surgery.

While more and more obese people are looking to surgery as a way to lose weight there are possible complications both during and after surgery, due to the patients poor health and the added stress of surgery on their bodies.

But TOGA could mark a real difference to all this.

Rather than normal weight loss surgery the patient has to undergo a medical procedure TOGA can be done without even making a single incision. The entire medical procedure is done by using flexible instruments that are passed down a patient’s throat to reach the stomach.

There the stomach is stapled to around the size of an egg; this then restricts the amount of food the patient can eat at any one time, which should lead to a loss of weight.

Researchers in Chicago, have presented this procedure for the first time and although it’s not yet available to the public early results look promising.

Dr. Kai Nishi a bariatric surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center reported that it’s too early to tell if people will lose as much weigh with this as other conventional treatments, but he was hopeful.

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Firstly, what is a Gastric Balloon?

A gastric balloon is basically a surgical balloon, that’s inserted into the stomach to reduce the space in the stomach, so that the patient can’t eat as much and feels full faster. It works along the same principle as having your stomach stapled or lap band surgery.

How is the balloon put in?

It’s a relatively simple procedure that’s done under sedation or general anesthetic. It usually takes around 20 minutes to complete the procedure and then the balloon is filled with either liquid or air.

What are the pros of having a gastric balloon?

• It’s a simple and quick procedure.
• More people can qualify for the procedure as the guidelines aren’t as strict as having gastric bypass or lap band surgery.
• Your digestive organs aren’t cut or tampered with like a gastric bypass so things can easily be reversed by just removing the balloon.
• Can be left in for up to 6 months with results of 5 stone of weight loss being recorded.

What are the cons’s of having a gastric balloon?

• To get the best results you still need to keep an eye on your diet and exercise.
• Can cause a feeling of nausea and discomfort. Early balloons were filled with liquid but new ones filled with air are showing better results.
• May leak and deflate in the stomach.
• Only a short term aid, so correct eating habits need to be followed after the balloon has been removed.

So, is a gastric balloon right for you?

If you previously considered weight loss surgery but were put off either by the thoughts of major surgery or the strict guidelines of lap band surgery, a gastric balloon could be ideal for you.

But, if you’re looking for a permanent solution to your weight problems where you don’t need to make any changes to your lifestyle you may be disappointed with the results you get.