Why a gastric balloon?
We are proud to bring the Allurion Balloon Program to Brisbane General & Obesity Surgery in 2023.
It has been a journey for our clinic to become an Allurion Clinic, and a decision that has not been made lightly. Gastric balloons have been around for years and they are shunned by many bariatric surgeons. I have offered endoscopic gastric balloons as a weight-management option for years, but I have always found it hard to offer a balloon to a patient.
I mean - why would I? When I can do other procedures that ultimately have better long-term weight-loss, and most of all, my experience with endoscopically-placed balloons were that they are poorly tolerated, and many patients wanted the balloon removed early due to intolerance.
Remembering why I chose surgery
The longer I have been a bariatric surgeon, the more that I have learnt to understand patients to be able to help them better. My practice has always been to listen to patients and relate to them at their level. I think this is one of the things that makes me successful in what I do. When I first became a surgical trainee on the program in 2010, the Charge Nurse of the surgical ward at Whangarei Hospital, New Zealand - Phillippa, (an amazing nurse who ran the tightest ship of any surgical ward I have ever come across and I was s#!+ scared of her) recognised early on that I was a little different. I had a holistic approach to surgical care and she told me never to change this or she would essentially kick my butt!
Years later in the current day, bearing dear Phillipa in mind, I realised that whilst bariatric surgery is right for some patients, not all patients who struggle with their weight need it or want it. What is more important, is to be able to offer patients a choice.
Recognising everyone is an individual, and sometimes the medical things that I consider to be the most important factors in making a decision are not the most important factors to the patient.
Helping more people improve their health
So the decision was made - we are not only going to offer surgery. We are going to do what we do best - help people. Help people across the board with lifestyle support, medication, non-surgical procedures and surgery.
Our approach is to empower patients to take action, take responsibility for their health and well-being, and provide them with the education and support to be able to choose what might be best for their situation.
By offering the Allurion Balloon, a much better tolerated balloon which comes with a comprehensive support program, patients who do not want surgery, but do want help with weight-loss when diets and exercise have failed, will now be able to utilise our unique and supportive program to achieve their dreams and goals.