While both options allow you to manage your diet and speed up your weight loss journey, there are some significant differences. Doctors recommend that patients understand both options to make an informed decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surgery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The main difference between both is that the gastric balloon doesn\u2019t require surgery, while the gastric band does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you undergo the gastric balloon procedure, it will take the doctor less than 30 minutes to place the balloon in your stomach. Your stay at the hospital will only last a few hours, there\u2019s no scarring, and you won\u2019t need general anesthesia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the gastric band will require surgeons to make an incision. The procedure is 1 to 2 hours long, and you\u2019ll have to stay in the hospital for 8 to 12 hours post-surgery. Moreover, the surgical incisions around your abdomen can leave small scars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Side Effects <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the gastric band is generally safe, there are a few risks that come with it. There are chances of anesthesia complications or surgical site infection following surgery. Long-term side effects include displacement, in which case patients require a surgical procedure to remove the band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the gastric balloon does not require undergoing a surgical procedure, it also comes with some side effects. While your body adapts to the balloon, you may experience nausea for a few days. In the long term, there is a risk of balloon displacement and rupturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Besides limiting your food intake, the gastric balloon also requires changing your eating habits. For starters, you\u2019ll have to cut back on portion sizes and the kind of foods you eat. Though the balloon does not stop you from eating, you need to start being picky about what you eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the gastric band is the size of a golf ball and occupies a small area in your stomach. Despite its size, it can help reduce food intake significantly, making it suitable for patients trying to eat only half the calories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time Frame<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The gastric band is a long-term solution that significantly changes your stomach’s anatomy. In addition, you\u2019ll have to schedule visits to your doctor so they can inflate the band. Your physician will pass a needle through the abdomen and into the band’s port to add or vacate the saline solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gastric balloon has a short time frame, so many consider it a temporary procedure. You won’t experience any permanent changes in your stomach’s anatomy, and you have to remove it after every 6 to 12 months. But it\u2019s important that you continue eating smaller portions after getting the balloon removed. Otherwise, you risk losing all the progress you made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n