Purple Surgical, a leading UK manufacturer of surgical devices, established since 1909 and present in over 80 countries worldwide, are now confirmed as the UK's exclusive distributor of Obalon. Obalon is a revolutionary weight loss treatment that involves the world’s first weight loss balloon that can be placed in just 5 minutes by simply swallowing a small capsule, the size of a large vitamin pill.
Purple Surgical, a leading UK manufacturer of surgical devices, established since 1909 and present in over 80 countries worldwide, are now confirmed as the UK's exclusive distributor of Obalon. Obalon is a revolutionary weight loss treatment that involves the world’s first weight loss balloon that can be placed in just 5 minutes by simply swallowing a small capsule, the size of a large vitamin pill.
Supported by clinical trials[1], Obalon offers a real weight loss solution for those who have previously been unsuccessful in losing weight or who do not meet the BMI criteria for a surgical weight loss procedure. Obalon is suitable for people with a BMI of 27 or over; giving them the chance to lose an average of 8kgs (1st 3lbs) with a non-invasive, 12 week treatment, which has minimal impact on their everyday life. Results are enhanced when Obalon is used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and diet and is an ideal trigger for long term weight loss success.
Having worked in the healthcare industry for many years, I was instantly fascinated by Obalon’s innovation and potential,” says Robert Sharpe, CEO of Purple Surgical. “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Spire Healthcare to be our exclusive clinical partner for Obalon to facilitate treatments outside of the M25. We believe that Spire’s expertise, high standards of care and nationwide coverage will provide both the desired quality and convenience for those seeking the Obalon treatment. Obalon is not just for a select few; it's for those looking for a helping hand in weight loss, so we need to ensure that it is accessible to people all over the country".
The Obalon treatment consists of an initial consultation with a weight loss specialist which involves an analysis of their medical history and the swallowing of a placebo capsule to verify the patient’s suitability. This is then followed by a short 5 minute placement procedure where the patient swallows a small capsule attached to a micro-catheter. Once the capsule arrives in the stomach, the outer layer dissolves. The balloon is then simply inflated to the size of an apple, through the micro- catheter, without the need for an endoscopy or sedation. Once inflated, Obalon sits comfortably at the top of the stomach sending messages to the brain to decrease the feeling of hunger, which encourages reduced food consumption and calorie intake. Following a healthy eating plan in conjunction with Obalon ensures enhanced weight loss. Unlike other balloon treatments, there is no need to eliminate certain foods; you simply eat less due to a reduced appetite.
The simplicity of Obalon is further demonstrated by how well it is tolerated. The safety and efficacy results from the clinical studies[2] of 119 patients across eleven centres in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain, highlighted just 10% mild nausea prevalence with Obalon; compared to 77% with alternate balloon treatments.[3] Other adverse effects such as vomiting, cramps and reflux presented themselves in fewer than 7% of participants.
The lack of adverse side effects is due to the revolutionary technology behind Obalon's design, weighing just 6g, whereas other balloons previously have weighed around 600g. Moreover, with a reduced volume of just 250cc and filled with gas instead of liquid, Obalon rises to the top of the stomach rather than the bottom of the stomach, significantly improving patient comfort, without compromising on weight loss results.
This remarkable tolerance level has facilitated the customisation of the Obalon treatment; allowing patients to have an additional balloon fitted during the treatment period to facilitate further weight loss. In the clinical studies almost half (48%) of patients opted for additional balloons and those with two balloons went on to lose more weight, with an average excess weight loss of 60%, compared to 40% with an additional two balloons.
These positive weight loss statistics and the fact that the same weight loss results with Obalon takes half the time of alternate balloon treatment (12 weeks compared to 24), provides a glimpse into Obalon's promising future.
Group medical director of Spire Healthcare, Dr. J. J. de Gorter: "We are very excited about working with Purple Surgical for the launch of Obalon. It is a one-of-a-kind treatment with minimum side effects and excellent outcomes. Obalon can put people on the right path for long term weight loss success, enabling them to adopt healthier lifestyles, so that their weight loss is sustainable. We look forward to being an integral part of this exciting innovation."
[1] Genco. A. et al. 2013. P.269 Novel, Non-Invasive, Swallowable Device for Weight Loss in Overweight and Light Obese Patients. Results of the European Obalon Study Group Early Experience. Obes Surg. pp.1183-1184
Lagardere. A.O et al. 2012. O-101 Weight Loss and Metabolic Improvement Using A Swallowable, Volume-Titratable Gastric Balloon System. Obes Surg. pp.1170-1171
Lagardere. A.O et al. 2012. O-102 A Less Invasive Gastric Volume Reduction with Safe and Effective Titration. Obes Surg. pp.1171
Mion. F. et al. 2013. Swallowable Obalon® Gastric Balloon as an Aid for Weight Loss: A Pilot Study. Obes Surg. DOI 10.1007/s11695-013-0927-x
[2] ibid
[3] Abdulhameed, A.M. 2005. Intragastric Balloon for Obesity: A Retrospective Evaluation of Tolerance and Efficacy. Obesity Surgery, 15, 101-105
Select a suggestion below...