For patients in South Africa

Gastric balloon in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

A gastric balloon is a soft silicone balloon placed in the stomach through an endoscope and then filled with sterile saline or gas. It takes up space, so you feel full sooner and eat less. It is temporary and non-surgical, but it has to come out again, usually after about six months. For patients travelling from South Africa, that removal is the part to plan first.

Plan the removal before you book

Removal is a separate procedure, done under sedation through an endoscope: the balloon is deflated and taken out, which takes 20–30 minutes. It is planned in advance as part of the treatment. Because the balloon stays in for months, removal in İzmir means a second trip, with more flights and time off work. Before you book, ask which type of balloon is planned for you, the date it should come out and where that will happen. Do not book the placement until you know.

Who it suits

• People with a BMI generally between 27 and 40
• People for whom diet and lifestyle changes alone have not worked
• People who are not suitable for weight loss surgery, or who prefer a non-surgical, reversible option
• People willing to change their diet and lifestyle during and after treatment

Saline-filled balloons usually stay in for six months; gas-filled ones are lighter and often less uncomfortable at first; adjustable ones can have their volume changed. If you use Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy or another weight-loss injection, tell the doctor at the start so it can be planned for. More detail is on the gastric balloon treatment page, and all options are compared in our weight loss surgery guide for South African patients.

Assessment and placement

Assessment includes your medical history, an examination, blood tests, a nutritional and lifestyle evaluation and, if indicated, an assessment of the upper digestive tract. Under mild sedation the doctor guides the balloon into the stomach with an endoscope, fills it once it is in the right position and removes the endoscope. No surgery is involved.

The first days and the flight home

Nausea, bloating and stomach discomfort are common for the first few days while the stomach adapts, and you may be given medicines for nausea and to reduce stomach acid. You start on liquids and move gradually towards solid food, and most people are back to normal daily activities within a few days. Ask the doctor how long to stay in İzmir before flying; it is sensible not to start a ten-hour flight while you are still being sick, and to take enough of any prescribed medicine for the journey and the first weeks at home.

The months at home

Support during treatment typically includes nutritional advice, a gradual return to solid food, behavioural guidance and ongoing monitoring. Most of those months are spent in South Africa, so arrange a GP and, ideally, a dietitian before you go, and carry a note of the balloon type and its removal date. If you have severe or constant abdominal pain, or vomiting that does not settle, seek urgent care at home and tell them you have a gastric balloon. Our team follows you up by message and video call; Turkey is one hour ahead of South Africa.

Results and risks

A balloon supports a change in habits; it is not a solution on its own. Results depend on your starting weight, how closely you follow the diet, your activity and how long the balloon stays in, and weight can return after removal if the habits do not last. Risks include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, acid reflux, irritation or ulcers in the stomach and, rarely, the balloon deflating. Under our treatment guarantee, complications and clinically necessary revisions within a year are treated in İzmir at no charge for that treatment; flights and accommodation are your own. See our clinic facts and complaints process.

What we will not do

We will not place a balloon before its removal has been planned, promise a weight loss figure, or treat you if your health makes it unsafe.

Frequently asked questions

Is a gastric balloon permanent?

No. It is temporary and is removed endoscopically, usually after about six months; some types stay in for up to twelve months.

Do I have to come back to Turkey to have the balloon removed?

If removal is done in İzmir, yes: it means a second trip months later. Agree where and when the balloon will be removed before you book the placement.

Is gastric balloon placement painful?

It is done under mild sedation without incisions. Nausea, bloating and discomfort are common for the first few days and are managed with medication.

Can weight come back after the balloon is removed?

Yes, if the new eating and activity habits are not kept up. The balloon supports change; it does not replace it.

Will my medical aid cover a gastric balloon in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover planned treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes it. Ask your scheme before booking; we cannot promise cover.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.