How Does the Allurion Gastric Balloon Work
A medical device designed to assist with weight loss.
How does the Allurion Gastric Balloon can help with weight loss?
- The Allurion Balloon takes up space in the stomach.
- It has the same mechanism of action as other intragastric balloons to promote satiety and reduce food consumption4.
- It is supported by nutritional coaching to help you learn mindful eating and make healthier choices.
How is the Allurion Gastric Balloon placed?
The Allurion Balloon is placed by a certified doctor during an outpatient consultation.4
Discover the placement step-by-step.
You swallow a capsule containing the deflated balloon, attached to a thin tube (catheter).
99.9% of patients are able to swallow the capsule on their own or with the assistance of the doctor.1
A first X-ray is done to ensure the capsule is placed correctly in your stomach.
The doctor uses the catheter to fill the balloon with 550ml of liquid.
A second X-ray is done to ensure the balloon is filled correctly.
The catheter is gently removed and the placement is complete. Once your doctor ensures you are comfortable, you may head home.
How is the Allurion Gastric Balloon removed?
The Allurion Gastric Balloon is designed so that approximately 4 months after placement, a valve opens, allowing the balloon to empty, and the balloon membrane is naturally eliminated through the digestive tract without the need for a procedure.1,4**
Rare cases of spontaneous balloon hyperinflation, small bowel obstruction, stomach dilation, esophagitis, pancreatitis, or stomach perforation have been observed, requiring surgical intervention.1,4
Allurion is more than just a balloon.
Medical expertise and support from your clinic care team.
Personalised guidance and support helps you re-engineer your eating habits and adopt healthier food and lifestyle choices.
Track your progress and get support from your care team through our digital tools like the Allurion Connected Scale and Allurion App.
The Allurion Balloon and Program may be offered to candidates that meet the following criteria:
Aged 18 and above
BMI 27 and above
Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Have not had stomach or esophageal surgery
This list is not exhaustive; the full list of contraindications is available in the device’s instructions for use, which is provided to doctors4. Your doctor will examine you and thoroughly review your medical history to confirm your eligibility.
The Allurion Balloon is a regulated health product that bears the CE marking in accordance with this regulation.
To learn more about the Allurion Balloon, assess the risks and benefits of this solution, read the important safety information, and discuss it with your doctor.
*Results may vary from one patient to another. The average of 14.2% (+/- 5%) was demonstrated by a clinical study conducted on 1,770 patients with an average BMI of 34.4 ± 5.3 kg/m² (1).
**The removal of the Allurion Balloon may, in very rare cases, require an endoscopic or surgical procedure. In rare cases, instead of being passed through the digestive tract, the deflated balloon may be expelled by vomiting.
***Eligibility for the placement of an Allurion Balloon will be assessed by a certified doctor after an initial consultation and a thorough review of your medical history. In the case of an extended Allurion Programme, your eligibility will be reassessed before each placement to ensure that you continue to meet the required conditions.
1. R. Ienca et al. The procedureless Elipse gastric balloon program: Multicenter experience in 1,770 consecutive patients. Obes Surg. 2020;30(9):3354-3362.
A multicentre, prospective, non-randomised, open registry study conducted on overweight or obese patients from January 2016 to June 2019 across 19 international obesity centres participating in the study. A total of 1,770 patients with an average BMI of 34.4 ± 5.3 kg/m² at baseline underwent treatment with the Elipse swallowable gastric balloon, with monthly visits and a total follow-up of 4 months. 63 patients (3.6%) did not complete the programme, and the balloon was removed before 4 months due to intolerance or other adverse effects.
2. World Health Organization - Key facts about obesity and overweight (who.int).
4. This information is extracted from the device's leaflet - Instructions for use - Allurion Gastric Balloon - CS137-02-ENG-ART. If you have any further questions regarding this document, please consult your doctor.
Important information to consider before the placement of an Allurion Gastric Balloon
- The Allurion Gastric Balloon is part of a behaviour modification programme that lasts for a minimum of 6 months, to which you must be fully committed. This device is designed to promote weight loss, but only by committing to changing your eating habits and increasing your physical activity will you be able to achieve and maintain a healthy weight in the long term.
- It is important to note that the Allurion Gastric Balloon may cause adverse events, some of which may require removal by endoscopy. Rare cases of spontaneous hyperinflation, small intestine obstruction, stomach dilation, oesophagitis, pancreatitis, or stomach perforation have been reported, requiring surgical intervention.1,4 Please consult the full list of potential complications available on the page Important Safety Information.
- The Allurion Gastric Balloon is not suitable for all patients. Pregnant individuals or those with a history of oesophageal or stomach surgery, among others, are not eligible for the procedure. The complete list of contraindications can be found in the device's instructions for use provided to doctors. Your doctor will review your medical history and conduct a physical examination to confirm your eligibility for the Allurion Programme.
- It is crucial that each doctor and patient carefully assess the risks and benefits of the treatment before using the Allurion device. To learn more about the Allurion Balloon, its effectiveness, and its tolerability, discuss it with your doctor.
- You must be available for follow-up with your doctor throughout the treatment period, especially if you experience the following symptoms, including but not limited to: persistent nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and/or abdominal pain. If you consult other healthcare professionals, inform them that an intragastric balloon is present. We encourage you to stay close to modern emergency care facilities during the time the balloon is in place, in case serious complications arise.