If you have been struggling for many years trying to diet and exercise, but no weight seems to go, then it may be time for you to try a more drastic option. You may not feel like the situation is so bad that you need surgery and a permanent altering of your digestive system, however. If so, the gastric balloon may just be the answer that you have been waiting for. Presuming you are a suitable candidate, you will have to then make sure that you find a specialist that is right for your needs. Below are some important tips to help you achieve just that.

Experience and Certification

While the gastric balloon is not an invasive procedure, it is still important that the specialist is properly certified to perform it. One relevant board is the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, for instance. Having certification means that someone is trained in the procedure and has performed it, at least under supervision, several times. The more experience they have in actually completing the procedure, the better.

Knowledge of the Procedure

The gastric balloon is a reasonably new procedure, and one that has already gone through considerable changes. To date, there are two recognized balloon manufacturers, being ReShape and Orbera. However, a new type of balloon also exists, which is inserted by swallowing a tablet, rather than having it inserted through an endoscopy.

Price

You will also need to consider the price of the surgeon. There are numerous things that will affect the cost of the procedure, including:

  • The geographical location of the clinic, with different locations costing more than others.
  • The experience of the surgeon, with those with the greatest experience also costing the most.
  • The type of clinic you go to, with clinics that specialize in a range of cosmetic and bariatric procedures being more expensive than clinics that specialize solely in the gastric balloon.

You may be eligible for a degree of coverage through your medical insurance plan. It is now recognized that the cost of medical interventions for weight loss is worth the expense, as it usually leads to a reduction in costs of other associated health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and more. However, whether or not you will definitely get the coverage depends on your personal plan. It is very important to speak to your carrier, therefore, and ask what they do and don’t cover you for. Your clinic may also be able to run an insurance check for you.

If you do not have insurance, or if your plan does not cover it, then you will have to pay for the procedure yourself. Some clinics offer payment plans, which tend to be based on your income. Not all do, however. There are also treatment loans that you could apply for, or you could consider a personal loan or even a credit card payment. These are all things that you have to think about before deciding to go ahead with a procedure.