Clinical Lead
Meva Clinic Bariatric Care Team
Gastric Balloon (Allurion)
- no surgery
- endoscopic procedure
- written quote in 24h
- English-speaking coordinator
Non-surgical weight-loss support: a swallowable balloon capsule that creates a feeling of fullness for about 16 weeks, then passes naturally. No anaesthesia or endoscopy.
Meva Clinic Bariatric Care Team
Patient Care Information
Patient Care Information
"Our clinical approach prioritizes patient safety, individualized treatment planning, realistic expectations, and long-term follow-up throughout the international care journey."
About This Procedure
Why Choose Meva Clinic?
Non-surgical weight-loss support: a swallowable balloon capsule that creates a feeling of fullness for about 16 weeks, then passes naturally. No anaesthesia or endoscopy.
A gastric balloon in Turkey suits people who want medical weight-loss support without surgery. The Allurion balloon is a capsule you swallow; a thin catheter then fills it with sterile saline inside the stomach, and its position is checked by X-ray. No anaesthesia, incision or hospital night is needed, and return to work is usually possible the next day. Optional: a Bosphorus-view partner hotel can be arranged on request (separate cost). The balloon helps you feel full sooner and is designed to empty and pass naturally after about 16 weeks; rarely, a procedure is needed to remove it. Suitability is assessed individually, often around a BMI of 27–35. If a larger change is needed, gastric sleeve surgery in Istanbul may be discussed. Results depend on nutrition follow-up and cannot be promised.
Medically reviewed by
Op. Dr. Cuma A.
General Surgeon · Obesity & Metabolic Surgery
Graduate of Istanbul University–Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine and specialist in general surgery. For more than 10 years his practice has focused on obesity and metabolic surgery — sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, gastric botox and gastric balloon — with more than 10,000 bariatric procedures performed. Holds the Turkish Ministry of Health–approved obesity surgery certification.
Is This Treatment for Me?
BMI 27-35
Fear of surgery
Jumpstart weight loss
Comprehensive International Patient Care Plan
Private airport transfer according to the confirmed care plan
Optional: a Bosphorus-view partner hotel can be arranged on request (separate cost)
Dedicated patient support during the confirmed care pathway
Aftercare guidance or materials according to the confirmed treatment plan
Follow-up guidance according to individual medical recommendations
The Clinical Procedure
Swallowing a capsule that inflates in the stomach.
Eligibility Evaluation
Comprehensive medical review, clinical history check, and BMI eligibility evaluation.
Capsule Placement
The patient swallows the capsule balloon containing the deflated balloon attached to a thin catheter.
Position Confirmation
Fluoroscopy (X-ray) or clinical verification is used to confirm the correct positioning in the stomach.
Balloon Inflation
The deflated balloon is gently filled with sterile saline solution through the thin catheter.
Catheter Release
Once filled, the catheter is gently detached and withdrawn, with no surgical incisions or cutting required.
Natural Elimination
Structured follow-up and nutrition guidance are provided. The balloon opens its valve and passes naturally after its intended period, where clinically appropriate.
Recovery & Transformation Journey
Phase 1: Placement Day
You swallow the capsule, a thin catheter fills it with sterile saline and its position is checked by X-ray. No anaesthesia is needed; after a short observation you can leave the same day.
Phase 2: First Days of Adaptation
Nausea, cramping or vomiting are common in the first few days while the stomach adjusts. Small sips of fluid and the prescribed medication help; most people return to work the next day.
Phase 3: Weeks 1–16 with Nutrition Follow-Up
The balloon helps you feel full sooner while you learn to eat smaller portions. Nutrition coaching, a smart scale and the app let the team follow your progress remotely.
Phase 4: After About 16 Weeks
The balloon is designed to empty and pass naturally; rarely, a procedure is needed to remove it. Support then focuses on keeping the eating habits built during these months.
The Meva Advantage
Depending on the programme and clinical provider selected, the Allurion pathway can include digital monitoring tools and structured nutritional counselling.
Medical Guidelines & Safety Protocols
Hospital-based procedures are coordinated through accredited partner hospitals, including JCI-accredited institutions where clinically appropriate. Below are the clinical guidelines, safety protocols, and medical reference documentation for this procedure.
Indicated / Suitable For
- Adults with a BMI of roughly 27–35 who want medical weight-loss support without surgery; the exact threshold is confirmed individually during assessment.
- People who have tried structured diet and activity changes but need extra help controlling portion size and hunger.
- Patients who fear surgery, prefer to avoid it, or are not yet ready for a bariatric operation such as a gastric sleeve.
- Those who can commit to about 16 weeks of nutrition coaching, regular weigh-ins with the smart scale and remote follow-up after returning home.
- Patients who understand that the balloon is a temporary tool and that lasting results depend on the eating habits built while it is in place.
Contraindications / Not Suitable
- Previous stomach or bowel surgery, including any bariatric operation, or known bowel narrowing, which may prevent the balloon from passing safely.
- Active stomach or duodenal ulcer, a large hiatal hernia, inflammatory bowel disease or a history of bowel obstruction.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or plans to become pregnant during the roughly 16 weeks the balloon is in place.
- Regular use of blood thinners, aspirin or anti-inflammatory painkillers that cannot be paused, or inability to take the prescribed acid-reducing medication.
- Difficulty swallowing, oesophageal disorders, or an untreated eating disorder or psychiatric condition that would make the programme unsafe.
Pre-Operative Evaluation & Diagnostic Checks
Eligibility Consultation: Review of BMI, weight history, previous diets, current medication and goals, based on the records and photos shared for the free online pre-assessment.
Blood Tests: Complete blood count, blood sugar or HbA1c, liver and kidney function and, for women, a pregnancy test before placement.
Digestive History Check: Screening for reflux, ulcers, swallowing problems and previous abdominal surgery; a gastroenterology opinion is requested if symptoms suggest it.
Medication and Nutrition Plan: Pausing blood thinners or anti-inflammatories where appropriate, starting acid-reducing and anti-nausea medication, and setting up the app, smart scale and first-week fluid plan.
Potential Risks & Complications
In compliance with transparent clinical reporting, Meva Clinic ensures patients are fully informed of the physiological risks associated with surgical procedures through accredited partner-hospital safety protocols where clinically appropriate.
Nausea, cramping and vomiting are common in the first days as the stomach adjusts; they usually settle within a few days with anti-nausea medication, small sips of fluid and plenty of rest.
Repeated vomiting can lead to fluid loss; a sip-by-sip drinking plan and daily contact with the coordinator help spot it early, and intravenous fluids are arranged if needed.
Heartburn or irritation of the stomach lining can occur while the balloon is in place; acid-reducing medication is taken throughout the programme to lower this risk.
Rarely, the balloon empties or is passed before the planned period, which shortens its effect; patients are told which signs to report so the team can review the plan.
Serious events such as blockage of the small bowel or a stomach perforation are rare but have been reported; severe or persistent abdominal pain, bloating or vomiting needs urgent medical review, and an endoscopic or surgical procedure may then be required.
The balloon's effect ends when it passes, and weight can return if eating habits slip; continued nutrition follow-up after the 16 weeks is the main protection.
Realistic Expectations & Outcomes
A gastric balloon is a temporary aid, not a cure for obesity. By taking up space in the stomach it helps you feel full sooner, which makes smaller portions easier while you build new habits. Published studies describe modest weight loss over the treatment period, and results vary widely: they depend on how closely nutrition coaching and follow-up are used. Nausea in the first days is expected and usually fades. The main result is judged when the balloon passes after about 16 weeks, and again several months later, because some weight can return once it is gone. No specific number of kilograms can be promised. If a larger or more lasting change is needed, a surgical option may be discussed.
Revision & Follow-Up Policy
Follow-up continues through the app, the smart scale and your coordinator during the 16 weeks, with remote nutrition reviews and a further check around 3 and 6 months after the balloon has passed. If weight loss is limited or weight returns, the next step is assessed individually by the specialist team. Options may include a second balloon, medical treatment or a surgical procedure, each considered only after a new evaluation and never as an automatic or free step. For 12 months after your treatment you can also send photos to the medical team whenever you wish and receive their feedback, and your questions are answered remotely.
Authoritative Medical References & Studies
- [1]Silva AF, Bestetti AM, Kum AST, Nunes BCM, de Oliveira Veras M, Bernardo WM, de Moura EGH. Effectiveness and Safety of the Allurion Swallowable Intragastric Balloon for Short-term Weight Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Obes Surg. 2024;34(10):3735-3747.View Source
- [2]Vantanasiri K, Matar R, Beran A, Jaruvongvanich V. The Efficacy and Safety of a Procedureless Gastric Balloon for Weight Loss: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Obes Surg. 2020;30(9):3341-3346.View Source
- [3]Muniraj T, Day LW, Teigen LM, Ho EY, Sultan S, Davitkov P, Shah R, Murad MH. AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on Intragastric Balloons in the Management of Obesity. Gastroenterology. 2021;160(5):1799-1808.View Source
Medical Disclaimer: This information about the swallowable gastric balloon is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Suitability, medication and the follow-up plan are decided by the specialist team after reviewing your history and test results. Seek urgent medical care for severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Treatments
Gastric Sleeve in Turkey (Sleeve Gastrectomy)
Gastric sleeve, also known as sleeve gastrectomy or stomach reduction surgery, is a laparoscopic bariatric procedure in which a significant part of the stomach is removed. Whether it is indicated, and the final plan, are decided by the specialist surgeon after a clinical assessment.
Gastric Bypass in Turkey (Roux-en-Y)
A bariatric and metabolic surgery option for eligible patients with severe obesity, including some patients with type 2 diabetes, after a multidisciplinary medical assessment.
Gastric Botox Injection
A non-surgical endoscopic procedure that temporarily slows stomach emptying and supports appetite control in eligible patients, as part of a nutrition plan.
Bariatric Revision Surgery
A second, carefully planned operation for patients whose gastric sleeve, gastric band or gastric bypass has led to reflux, weight regain, insufficient weight loss or a mechanical problem, decided after a review of the first surgery and current tests.
Medical Insights & Blog
How Much Does Weight-Loss Surgery Cost in Turkey in 2026? Prices, Inclusions and What Affects the Cost
A clear guide to the cost of bariatric surgery in Istanbul in 2026: starting prices, what the package includes, what you pay separately and how to compare offers safely.
Romania – Istanbul Travel Guide for Bariatric Surgery
Everything to know before travelling from Romania to Istanbul for bariatric surgery: documents, flights, money, packing, how long to stay and how to fly home safely.
Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Surgery: When Bariatric Surgery Can Help
What international guidelines and randomized trials say about bariatric surgery for type 2 diabetes, who may qualify, the limits of remission and which tests to prepare.
Procedure Details
Hospital Stay
None
Hotel Package
Optional, on request
Return to Work
Next Day
Anaesthesia
None