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With so many fad weight loss claims floating around social media, it can be challenging to cut through the static. And, even among methods with proven results, it’s a challenge to identify the option that’s right for you and your body. Orbera is a non-surgical, FDA-approved weight loss balloon offered at NuBody Concepts in Nashville and Memphis. We sat down with experts at NuBody Concepts and the Orbera device manufacturer to hear all about this unique offering. Read on to learn about the procedure and the results, and to find out if you might be an ideal candidate for this approach.
Orbera is an intragastric balloon that is placed endoscopically without surgery, incisions, or cuts. The deflated balloon is placed in the stomach using a camera and then inflated with about 600 cubic centimeters of saline. Once placed and inflated, the balloon stays in the stomach for six months, helping to slow down digestion and making you feel full faster and longer.
Orbera is a six-month weight loss system offered at NuBody Concepts in Nashville and Memphis. It’s designed for individuals who have tried diet and exercise in the past but were unable to lose weight or keep it off.
“It’s a procedure for weight loss — it’s not a medication or an operation,” explains Dr. James McDowell, the bariatric surgeon who performs the procedure at NuBody Concepts Nashville. “The weight and volume of the balloon equals about a pound-and-a-half or two pounds, and that’s going to help you with your satiety and hunger issues.”
The procedure itself is relatively simple and painless. From start to finish, it takes about 15 minutes, and patients are put under IV sedation. When it comes time to take out the balloon, the procedure is the same. Dr. McDowell adds that some patients may experience a bit of a sore throat for a few days, but most people resume normal activities almost immediately. Some patients may also experience nausea, but the doctors at NuBody Concepts prescribe a powerful anti-nausea medication to help alleviate that potential symptom.
Patients typically see results almost immediately after the balloon is placed. Throughout the six-month process, a NuBody Concepts team member coaches patients on how to develop new diet and exercise habits.
Patients typically start seeing results almost immediately, and the average person loses up to 3.1 times the weight they would lose if they were doing diet and exercise alone, which can range from 30 to 50 pounds. Most weight loss happens in the first four months once the balloon is placed; after that, your weight is likely to plateau. However, it’s important to note that Orbera is simply a stepping stone in someone’s weight loss journey. It’s meant to jumpstart your weight loss and give you positive reinforcement, so you feel encouraged and motivated to adopt a new diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
“What we’re finding with our patients, after they have the balloon removed, is that they continue to have the same habits that they formed over those six months,” explains Rhianna Bennett, Patient Care Coordinator and Medical Consultant at NuBody Concepts Nashville. “They’re eating better, eating less, and feeling full longer. We also recommend that people continue working out, eating healthy, and continuing to keep the weight off.”
When patients have the balloon placed, they’re encouraged to adopt new eating and lifestyle habits. When the balloon is removed, these newly learned techniques help patients keep off the weight they lost.
Orbera differs significantly from other weight loss options like bypass surgery or gastric sleeve surgery. Unlike other procedures, Orbera is entirely non-surgical and does not alter your anatomy. “When the balloon is removed at six months, your anatomy returns to how it was,” adds Hannah Vassaur, Marketing Director at the Orbera device manufacturer. “There’s no permanent effect on how your stomach absorbs food or the size of your stomach.”
The ideal candidate for Orbera is someone with a BMI between 30 and 40. This might include women who have tried diet and exercise in the past but could not lose weight or keep it off. “The ideal candidate is someone who is not big enough for bariatric surgery,” adds Dr. McDowell. “It’s meant for someone who just needs a little help, but they don’t need surgery and don’t want their anatomy permanently altered.”
While Orbera has been around for 20 years and FDA-approved since 2015, NuBody Concepts remains a top provider for the procedure. “We have an actual gastric surgeon placing the balloon, meaning if something were to go wrong — we’ve never had that happen — he can go in and do the surgery to remove it,” explains Rhianna. “You’re going to have the same surgeon from start to finish.”
“Orbera has been around for 20 years, and it’s been FDA approved in the United States since 2015,” explains Hannah Vassaur, Marketing Director at the Orbera device manufacturer. “It’s been well established as efficacious and safe in clinical literature.”
Throughout the process, the team at NuBody Concepts is with you every step of the way. You’ll begin with a 20-minute consultation with the gastric surgeon, who discusses contingencies, shows you the balloon, and walks you through the procedure. As the balloon remains in your stomach, the experts at NuBody Concepts coach you on how to adopt new eating and exercise habits. Once the balloon is removed, no follow-up is required, but a NuBody Concepts staff member typically calls patients one month after the balloon is taken out to see how they are doing.
If you’re interested in Orbera, now is the perfect time to take advantage! NuBody Concepts is offering $500 off the procedure through Tuesday, January 31, 2023. To learn more about Orbera and see patient testimonials, click HERE.
NuBody Concepts is located at 1187 Old Hickory Blvd, Suite 200, in Brentwood (Nashville), and 9037 Poplar Ave., Suite 101, in Germantown (Memphis). To learn more, visit nubodyconcepts.com.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Results may vary. Consult with your doctor before modifying your regular medical regime.
This article is sponsored by NuBody Concepts
