Gastric Balloon Vs. Liposuction
Spatz3 is the world’s only Adjustable Gastric Balloon System
Many wanting to lose weight look at gastric balloons vs. liposuction. Liposuction is a fast-sucking procedure that can be used on multiple parts of the body, with stomach liposuction being the most common. Liposuction can be done in four different ways, ranging from outpatient to surgery. Meanwhile, gastric balloons are inserted in an outpatient setting. They are also managed and removed during an outpatient procedure with no surgical intervention.
Receive your free 4 -step guide today!
In each step, you’ll learn new tips to help you choose the RIGHT weight loss solution!
How Does Stomach Liposuction and Gastric Balloons Work?
As noted, abdominal liposuction is a fat-sucking procedure. The medical care provider marks your body in the areas where you wish to have fat removed. Depending on the amount of fat and other circumstances, the doctor will perform one of four types of liposuction:
- Tumescent or traditional liposuction: The most common type of procedure involves a sterile injection of salt water and a pain numbing agent to your skin. The surgeon will thinly cut into your skin and will insert a tube called a cannula, which uses a vacuum to suction the fat and fluid out of the treated area.
- Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL): This procedure may be used with traditional liposuction. In UAL, a metal rod is inserted under your skin.
- Ultrasonic energy from the rod breaks down fat-cell walls and fat making it easier to remove.
- Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL): In LAL, a high-intensity laser that’s inserted under your skin breaks down the fat deposits. It’s then suctioned out with a cannula.
- Power-assisted liposuction (PAL): A cannula vibrates rapidly under the skin, which lets the surgeon remove tough fat more rapidly and effectively. There tends to be less pain and swelling with this technique. PAL is most often used if there’s a lot of fat that needs to be removed or if you’ve had liposuction before.
Liposuction is not considered a “weight loss” strategy, but rather it’s a fat removal procedure that permanently removes fat cells. Though fat is permanently removed, without lifelong diet and fitness changes, remaining fat cells can grow in size and volume.
Meanwhile, in gastric balloon procedures, weight is lost more naturally. The gastric balloon insertion is a simple procedure in which the balloon is endoscopically placed into your stomach and then expanded to a reasonable size. The gastric balloon creates the sensation of feeling full, so you naturally eat less. Your fat cells will shrink naturally as a result of the gastric balloon intervention.
Side Effects of Abdominal Liposuction and Gastric Ballons
If you’ve read about gastric balloon procedures, then you know that gastric balloon weight loss methods have few side effects. You may have a little heartburn, nausea, or vomiting during the early days, but you will eventually acclimate to the balloon. Depending on how much effort you put into your therapy with diet and exercise, you will lose upwards of 10% or more of your starting weight (with some balloons like the adjustable Spatz3, it’s normal to expect to lose 15% or more of your body weight). There are no side effects in terms of removal. With non-adjustable gastric balloons there is a much lower success rate, but with the Spatz3 most people (9/10) tolerate the balloon.
Meanwhile, with stomach liposuction, side effects vary with body shape being the most dramatic alteration. If your skin’s elasticity is weak, then it’s possible you’ll have what’s called contour irregularities, which is where your skin will appear bumpy, wavy, or shriveled after fat is removed. Damage may also occur from the cannula that’s inserted for the removal. Other liposuction side effects may include:
- Temporary pockets of fluid accumulating under the skin that needs needle drainage.
- Skin infections.
Temporary or permanent numbness where the fat was removed. - Internal organ puncture during the procedure. This is rare, but a potential side effect / risk of abdominal liposuction is the cannula going too deep and hitting an internal organ. Emergency surgery is required when this happens.
- Fat embolism, which is just like a pulmonary embolism in which a clot travels through the bloodstream and becomes lodged in the lungs or brain. In this case, a piece of fat causes the clot. This is another type of emergency risk / side effect.
- Heart, lung, and kidney problems may occur during the procedure as fluids are injected and then suctioned out.
- Lidocaine toxicity could cause central nervous system or heart problems. Reactions to this local anesthetic are rare, though.
- Post procedural swelling and bruising and pain (this is typical and eventually resolves after a few weeks).
Usually, after a liposuction procedure, you’ll be asked by the surgeon to wear compression garments, so if you have a stomach liposuction, then you’ll need to wear some kind of belt. This will be the time period where your body looks and feels most irregular. It takes a little while for your body to adjust after the fat is removed.
Gastric Balloon Vs. Liposuction Weight Loss Outcomes
The last thing to look at with considering gastric balloon vs. liposuction pertains to weight loss. How much weight is lost? Does the weight stay off? Where does the weight come from?
With gastric balloon weight loss, as noted, you’ll lose 15-30% of your weight—mostly depending on how long the balloon stays inserted and the effort you put in. Typically, weight comes off of your body in a proportional fashion that is…you’ll lose weight everywhere, and your body will maintain a normal shape.
Liposuction weight loss is a little different with the fat only coming off of the area addressed by the surgeon. Over time, your body will adjust, and lumpy or bulky areas will smooth out. If and only if you keep the weight off, you’ll continue to enjoy the results of the intervention; however, if you gain weight, it’s possible that you’ll gain it in different places than before. For example, if you have liposuction on your thighs, you may build fat around your stomach more readily than in the past. Your body’s fat distribution will change.
In both cases of gastric balloon vs. liposuction, the critical component is the effort you put in. If you adopt a clean diet and exercise plan and adhere to it, then you’ll enjoy the benefits of the intervention. Gastric balloons are less invasive and have far fewer side effects. Liposuction is more localized and focuses on removing fat from specific areas of the body rather than fat being lost from the entire figure. Again, the key to the success of gastric balloon procedures and of stomach liposuction really comes down to commitment.
With an adjustable gastric balloon like the revolutionary Spatz3 balloon, you have time to acclimate to a lifelong diet and exercise plan, so you’re more likely to keep the weight you lose off after the balloon is removed. Contact Spatz Medical today to see if you qualify for this renowned and highly effective weight loss intervention!
Contact a Spatz3 representative
near you
