- Price
- Personal quote
- Stay in Istanbul
- 1 to 2 days
- Recovery
- Usually same day or 1 night; nausea for a few days; back to desk work after a few days.
- Procedure time
- About 20 to 30 minutes
- Anaesthesia
- Sedation
- Hospital stay
- Same day or 1 night
- Back to desk work
- After a few days
Updated:
Who is it for?
It suits adults who are overweight or living with obesity, often with a BMI of around 30 to 40, who want help changing their eating habits without surgery, or who are not candidates for surgery. It is a temporary aid: lasting results depend on the habits you build while the balloon is in place. Your doctor decides whether a balloon is suitable for you.
How is it done?
Under sedation, a thin camera (endoscope) is passed through the mouth into the stomach, the empty balloon is placed and then filled with saline. The procedure usually takes 20 to 30 minutes and there is no cut. Depending on the type, the balloon is removed endoscopically after about 6 to 12 months, or a newer swallowable type empties and passes naturally. Your doctor explains which type suits you and how removal is planned.
Recovery timeline
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Endoscopic placement under sedation; usually home the same day or after 1 night. |
| Days 1 to 3 | Nausea, cramps or vomiting are common while the stomach adjusts; medication helps. |
| Days 1 to 2 | Check-up and flight home. |
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Liquid, then soft food; back to desk work after a few days. |
| Months 1 to 6 | Smaller portions and new habits; most of the weight loss happens now. |
| After about 6 to 12 months | Removal or natural passage, depending on the balloon type. |
Gastric balloon: price
Personal quote You receive a fixed written price after your free assessment.
- Hotel during your stay
- Hospital stay
- Accommodation for one companion
- Breakfast
- VIP airport and hospital transfers
- Blood tests
- Follow-up visits
- Complication insurance
- 1 year of online aftercare
Flights are not included.
What does the complication insurance cover?
Complication insurance for treatment in Turkey is included in the price and paid by the clinic, with no extra payment for you. The exact cover, limits and duration are set out in the written policy; ask your coordinator to explain them before you book.
For your personal fixed price: Message us on WhatsApp
What happens after you contact us
- Send your photosShare a few photos and your wishes on WhatsApp or by email. Everything stays confidential.
- Doctor's reviewOur doctor reviews your photos and you receive a written treatment plan with a fixed price.
- Plan your datesChoose dates that suit you; your coordinator organises the rest of your trip with you.
We usually reply within a few hours. Our coordinators speak 15 languages, including English.
Free assessment
Leave your number and your personal coordinator will message you on WhatsApp. After a surgeon's review, we'll send you a written treatment plan with a fixed price.
Risks and possible complications
Every operation carries risks. Your surgeon explains them in person, and checks your health before deciding whether surgery is right for you. The most important ones are:
- Nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps in the first days
- Reflux or stomach pain
- Early removal if the balloon is not tolerated
- Rarely, deflation and movement of the balloon into the intestine
- Rarely, ulcer, stomach injury or pancreatitis
- Weight regain after removal if habits do not change
Life after the operation
- Liquids, then soft food in the first days, as instructed.
- Small portions, eaten slowly; protein first.
- Avoid fizzy drinks and very large meals.
- Contact your coordinator or a doctor if vomiting continues or you have severe pain.
- Use the balloon period to build habits that last after it is gone.
Why patients choose EstheBeyond
- Operations by experienced bariatric (obesity) surgeons in licensed, fully equipped partner hospitals.
- Partner hospitals hold the Turkish Ministry of Health authorisation for international patients, and complication insurance is included.
- One fixed, written price after a free assessment, with hotel, hospital stay, transfers, tests and check-ups.
- One personal coordinator on WhatsApp, in English or your own language, from your first question to your aftercare at home.
- 1 year of online aftercare after you fly home.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Gastric balloon or gastric sleeve?
A balloon is temporary, non-surgical and usually leads to less weight loss; a sleeve is a permanent operation with larger, longer-lasting results. A balloon may suit a lower BMI or someone not ready for surgery. Compare them in our sleeve vs bypass vs balloon guide.
How much weight can I lose with a gastric balloon?
Results vary. Studies commonly report losing around 10 to 15% of body weight while the balloon is in place. Keeping it off afterwards depends on the eating and activity habits you build.
Is a gastric balloon painful?
Placement is done under sedation, so you usually do not feel it. The first few days can bring nausea, cramps or vomiting; medication helps and this usually settles within a week.
What can I eat with a gastric balloon?
Liquids first, then soft food for about a week or two, and then small portions of normal food. Eat slowly, start with protein and avoid fizzy drinks.
When can I fly home after a gastric balloon?
Usually after 1 to 2 days in Istanbul, once nausea is under control and your doctor has checked you.
How is the balloon removed?
It depends on the type. Most balloons are removed with another short endoscopy after about 6 to 12 months; some newer swallowable balloons empty and pass naturally. Your doctor tells you which type is planned and how removal is arranged before you decide.
What are the risks of a gastric balloon?
Nausea and vomiting are common at first. Serious problems, such as the balloon moving into the intestine, an ulcer or pancreatitis, are rare. Contact a doctor straight away if you have severe pain or cannot keep fluids down.
Before you decide
- Gastric sleeve vs gastric bypass vs gastric balloon: an honest comparison
- Gastric sleeve
- Gastric bypass
Related procedures
Information on this website is general and does not replace a medical consultation.