Home / Procedures / Allurion Balloon

You swallow a capsule. You walk out of the office.

Allurion Balloon
in Mexico (Cancún).

No anesthesia, no sedation, no endoscopy. You swallow a capsule in the office, and four months later the balloon empties itself and leaves on its own. No OR involved.

~4 meses Treatment duration
CE 14247260 UNAM cédula
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Dr. David Lomelí explicando el balón Allurion en consultorio
Office · Cancún

01 · What it is

A balloon you swallow. That leaves on its own.

Diagrama del balón Allurion dentro del estómago
~550 mL of saline inside the balloon

The Allurion (also known as Elipse) is a gastric balloon placed by swallowing a capsule. The capsule comes attached to a thin catheter. Once in the stomach, a single radiograph confirms position and the balloon is filled with approximately 550 mL of sterile saline through the catheter. The catheter is then removed orally.

No anesthesia. No sedation. No endoscopy. The office visit takes approximately 15–20 minutes total (Ienca et al. EVALUATE 2022; ASMBS Position on Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies 2022).

At 16 weeks (~4 months) a timed-release valve inside the balloon opens, the balloon empties, and is naturally eliminated through the digestive tract. There is no removal procedure — this is what sets the Allurion apart from any other gastric balloon.

02 · Who it's for

Not for everyone. And I tell you in the first consult.

These are the general indications. Real candidacy depends on your BMI, medical history, and your readiness for the dietary and behavioral change during the 4 months the balloon is in place.

27–40

BMI in the 27–40 range

Overweight to obesity. Typical candidate range for the Allurion based on published clinical studies (Ienca et al. EVALUATE multinational study 2022).

No qx

No anesthesia, no endoscopy

Patients who want a weight-loss intervention but won't accept anesthesia, sedation, endoscopy, or surgery. The Allurion is the least invasive option available.

4 meses

Want a short treatment

Patients who prefer a shorter commitment: ~4 months with the balloon vs 8–12 months for the Spatz3, and where 4 months are sufficient to reach goal.

Without real commitment to dietary and behavioral change during the 4 months, the balloon does not work. If you're not ready for that change, we talk about it before — not after swallowing the capsule.

03 · The procedure

A ~15-minute visit. No anesthesia, no endoscopy.

~15 minutes in the office · no anesthesia · no endoscopy
01

Pre-procedure evaluation

Medical assessment, clinical nutritional evaluation, and review of gastrointestinal history. We confirm there are no contraindications for intragastric balloon placement.

02

Swallowing the capsule

In the office, under direct observation, you swallow a capsule attached to a thin catheter (Ienca et al. EVALUATE 2022). No anesthesia, no sedation.

03

Radiographic confirmation

A single radiograph confirms the capsule is correctly positioned in the stomach. No endoscopy is used at any step of the procedure.

04

Filling and catheter removal

The balloon is filled with approximately 550 mL of sterile saline through the catheter. Once full, the catheter is detached and removed through the mouth. The full visit takes approximately 15–20 minutes.

05

4-month treatment

During the following 16 weeks, the balloon occupies gastric volume and prolongs satiety. Structured nutritional support throughout. The first week is the heaviest adaptation — cramping or nausea in the vast majority of patients.

06

Natural elimination

At ~16 weeks, a timed-release valve inside the balloon opens, the balloon empties, and is naturally eliminated through the digestive tract. No removal procedure required. Nutritional follow-up continues to maintain results.

04 · Outcomes

It isn't surgery. And the numbers reflect that.

The balloon is a reversible intervention of lower magnitude than bariatric surgery. These are ranges supported by published clinical studies. Your real outcome depends on dietary and behavioral adherence during treatment.

10–15%

Total weight loss at 4 months

%TWL (total weight loss) range reported at the end of the ~4-month treatment (Ienca et al. EVALUATE multinational study 2022; Ienca et al., Obesity Surgery 2020 (1,770 patients)).

~95%

Cramping or nausea in the first week

Reported frequency of adaptive symptoms at the start of treatment, typically self-limited with medical management (Ienca et al. EVALUATE 2022).

3–5%

Early deflation due to intolerance

Rate of patients who require balloon deflation before completing treatment due to symptoms that cannot be managed (Ienca et al. EVALUATE 2022).

Sources: Ienca et al. EVALUATE multinational study (2022); ASMBS Position on Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies (2022); Ienca et al., Obesity Surgery 2020 (1,770 patients). Additional risks: early deflation and severe vomiting requiring intervention exist but are rare per published series.

05 · Cost

I don't publish prices. Here's why.

Each case has a different profile: nutritional follow-up program, imaging services, medical conditions to manage. Publishing a single number would be dishonest — it would either undersell complex cases or overprice simple ones.

WhatsApp me your weight, height, and any medical conditions. I respond within 24 hours with a real quote and financing options if you need them.

Get a quote on WhatsApp →

06 · Allurion vs Spatz3

Allurion or Spatz3? Depends on how long, and how much you fear sedation.

Allurion Balloon · This page

When the Allurion is the better option

  • You don't want anesthesia or endoscopy at all — the Allurion is swallowed as a capsule.
  • You want a short treatment: ~4 months instead of 8–12 months for the Spatz3.
  • You prefer a ~15-minute office visit without entering an OR.
  • BMI between 27 and 40, where 4 months under balloon are enough to reach goal.
  • It eliminates naturally at end of treatment, with no removal procedure required.
Spatz3 Balloon

When the Spatz3 wins

  • You need a longer treatment: 8–12 months under balloon.
  • You want the option to adjust the balloon volume during treatment — the only adjustable option in its category.
  • BMI in the higher range, where more time under treatment is needed to reach goal.
  • You accept endoscopic sedation for placement and removal.

Ask me about Spatz3 on WhatsApp →

07 · Frequently asked

Your questions deserve honest answers.

You swallow a capsule with a thin catheter under direct observation. A radiograph confirms the capsule is in the stomach. The balloon is then filled with approximately 550 mL of saline through the catheter. The catheter is removed through the mouth. At ~16 weeks (4 months), a timed-release valve opens, the balloon empties, and is naturally eliminated through the digestive tract. No anesthesia or endoscopy at any step (Ienca et al. EVALUATE 2022; ASMBS Position on Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies 2022).
Approximately 10–15% of total body weight at 4 months (Ienca et al. EVALUATE multinational study 2022; Ienca et al., Obesity Surgery 2020 (1,770 patients)). It's a lower-magnitude intervention than bariatric surgery, indicated for BMI 27–40.
The first week the vast majority (~95%) experience cramping or nausea that typically resolves with medical management (Ienca et al. EVALUATE 2022). Approximately 3–5% of patients require early deflation due to intolerance. Risk of early deflation or severe vomiting requiring intervention exists but is rare per published series.
Varies by nutritional follow-up program, imaging services, and medical conditions to manage. I don't publish a single number because it would be dishonest — it would either undersell complex cases or overprice simple ones. WhatsApp me for a real quote within 24 hours, along with financing options if you need them.
Typical candidates: BMI 27–40, patients who want to lose weight without anesthesia, without endoscopy, and without entering an OR. Especially appropriate if you want the option of a shorter treatment (4 months vs 8–12 months for the Spatz3) and prefer not to undergo sedation. WhatsApp me your weight, height, and medical conditions — I'll tell you whether the Allurion makes sense or whether another option is better.

Next step

I don't publish prices. So you write me, not a call center.

WhatsApp me your weight, height, and any medical conditions. I respond personally with a procedure quote and financing options if you need them.

Get a quote on WhatsApp
Reply within 1 hour · 24/7
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