What is Orbera Weight Loss? A Real Solution—Without Surgery

You’ve counted the calories. Bought the apps. Tried the meal plans. Maybe even signed up for a gym membership that now just feels like a donation. Clearly, diet and exercise alone aren’t enough. You want real, measurable weight loss—but you’re not ready for surgery.

So, what is Orbera and could it be the solution that changes everything? Orbera is a non-surgical, non-invasive gastric balloon that’s designed to help you feel full faster and stay satisfied longer, so you can eat less and lose weight without feeling deprived. It delivers real results and helps you build healthy habits that last long after the balloon is removed.

If you’re tired of hearing “just eat less and exercise more,” Orbera is a medically-backed weight loss tool that delivers real results—without surgery or false promises. Read on to learn how it works, why it’s different, and if it’s right for you.

What is the Orbera Gastric Balloon?

Orbera is a type of intragastric balloon. It’s designed to support weight loss by taking up space in the stomach, which helps you feel fuller sooner and stay satisfied longer with less food. This leads to a natural reduction in caloric intake and gradual weight loss without feeling deprived.

The Orbera balloon is made of soft silicone and is filled with a sterile saline solution after placement. It is a temporary tool designed to jumpstart weight loss, and it is removed after six months with no permanent changes to the body. The procedure is performed endoscopically through the mouth, without surgery, incisions, or any risk of scarring.
The Obera balloon is specifically designed for people who have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone. It offers a non-invasive, medically-guided weight loss solution for patients who are concerned about the invasiveness of bariatric surgery—or don’t meet the BMI requirements.

If you’re wondering whether Orbera is the right fit for you, a free consultation with the Bariendo team can help you understand your options and what to expect.

How Orbera Works

The Orbera gastric balloon helps support weight loss by making it easier to eat less without feeling constantly hungry. Once placed in the stomach and filled with a saline solution, the balloon takes up space—so you feel full sooner during meals and stay satisfied longer after eating. Most patients naturally begin to eat smaller portions, reduce snacking, and lower their calorie intake without the restriction of strict dieting.

Orbera goes beyond what’s happening in your stomach by helping you reset your habits. With less hunger getting in the way, many people find it easier to make meaningful changes to the way they eat. Whether it’s planning more balanced meals, breaking the cycle of emotional eating, or learning to listen to your body’s signals, Orbera creates the space to do things differently—with medical guidance and structured support throughout the six months the balloon is in place.

Patients don’t have to make these changes alone; expert help is built into the program to increase confidence and long-term success.The balloon gives you a head start, but the real transformation is ongoing even after the balloon is removed—as those small, steady changes continue to add up.

The Orbera Balloon Procedure

The Orbera gastric balloon procedure is performed endoscopically, meaning the balloon is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach using a thin, flexible tube equipped with a camera and specialized tools attached. Patients are lightly sedated during the process, which usually takes about 15 minutes. Once the balloon is in place, it’s filled with a sterile saline solution until it reaches the size of a grapefruit.

Because there are no incisions or alterations involved, the procedure is performed in an outpatient setting. After a short monitoring period, patients are able to go home the same day. Most patients take 1-3 days off work to rest and recover before returning to their normal routine.
The first few days after placement can involve some discomfort, including nausea, bloating, or cramping as the stomach adjusts to the balloon. These symptoms are temporary and usually subside within a few days, often with the help of medications prescribed by the care team.

After six-months, the balloon is removed using the same endoscopic technique. Removal is generally even quicker than the initial placement, and recovery time is minimal. 

What Makes Orbera Different from Dieting Alone?

Dieting is all about eating less, but it ignores what is happening inside your body. When you significantly cut calories, your body responds by increasing hunger hormones like ghrelin, slowing your metabolism, and making it harder to burn fat.

These biological processes are designed to protect you from starvation, but they can make significant weight loss through diet and exercise alone incredibly difficult. Orbera takes a different approach by working with your body, not against it. 

Controlling Hunger and Cravings

With the balloon in place, your stomach physically holds less food, which helps you feel full sooner and stay satisfied longer. This directly counteracts the spike in hunger hormones that often comes with calorie restriction. Patients experience fewer cravings, especially for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, and find it easier to stick to their nutrition goals without feeling deprived or constantly fighting their appetite.

Building Better Habits

By reducing hunger and cravings, Orbera gives patients a unique opportunity to focus on building lasting habits. Over six months, you have the chance to develop a new routine around food—learning how to plan balanced meals, recognize true hunger cues, and eat more mindfully. These habits become the tools that support long-term success after the balloon is removed.

Why Consider the Orbera Balloon for Weight Loss?

Every weight loss option comes with trade-offs—some are too extreme, others don’t come with enough support. What makes Orbera special is that it fills a gap between traditional dieting and surgical procedures. It’s designed for people who want medical support, structure, and results—without the permanent changes, risks, and recovery times that come with bariatric surgery.

Non-Surgical and Non-Invasive

The risks and long recovery times associated with bariatric surgery are often the biggest barriers to seeking help for obesity. Orbera overcomes these obstacles because it is non-invasive and non-surgical.

Orbera is a very low risk option compared to bariatric surgery. There’s no hospital stay, and most patients are back to their normal routines within a few days. For patients who aren’t candidates for surgery—or who simply want a less invasive path—Orbera provides a safe, clinically supervised alternative that gets real results without relying on willpower alone.

Effective Weight Loss

Orbera is more effective than diet and exercise because it addresses one of the biggest challenges in weight loss: managing portion sizes and appetite control. By limiting how much you can comfortably eat at each meal, the balloon helps create a calorie deficit in a way that feels more natural and less restrictive.

Most patients lose an average of 10-15% of their total body weight during the six months the balloon is in place. This kind of gradual, steady weight loss is often more sustainable than rapid weight loss through crash dieting. For many, the structure and support that comes with the program also contributes to continued success after the balloon is removed.

Improved Health Outcomes

Moderate weight loss can lead to significant improvements in overall health. Many Orbera patients see positive changes in areas like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar regulation, which is especially beneficial if they’re managing conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, or prediabetes.

Losing excess weight can also reduce strain on the joints, improve sleep quality, and increase energy levels—making everyday tasks feel easier and more manageable. This can play a meaningful role in improving long-term health and preventing disease progression.

Cost-Effective and Accessible

Orbera is significantly more affordable than bariatric surgery. While surgical procedures can cost tens of thousands of dollars and involve hospital stays and extended time off work, Orbera is a simple outpatient procedure with a far lower upfront and ongoing cost.

It’s also more accessible. Orbera is available to patients who don’t meet the strict BMI or health requirements for surgery and may not be eligible for insurance coverage under traditional bariatric guidelines. And for those concerned about out-of-pocket expenses, flexible payment plans are available for qualified patients—making it easier to take the first step without financial barriers.

Ongoing Medical Support

Orbera weight loss includes a comprehensive support program designed to help you build healthy habits during and after the six months the balloon is in place. Patients receive professional support in key areas like nutrition planning, behavior change, and lifestyle coaching.

The program is designed to help you learn how to navigate real-life situations, manage emotional eating, and stay consistent long-term. While the balloon itself jumpstarts weight loss, the habits and strategies you build during the program are meant to carry you forward, allowing you to maintain your progress and continue moving toward your goals.

Is Orbera Right for You?

Orbera is designed for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher who have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone. Patients with a BMI of 27-29.9 may also qualify if they have an obesity related health condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, or fatty liver disease.

You may be a good candidate for Orbera if:

• You’re looking to lose 20 to 50 pounds
• You want a non-surgical, temporary solution
• You’re ready to make real lifestyle changes

Orbera may not be suitable if you’ve had prior stomach or esophageal surgery, certain gastrointestinal conditions, or other health issues that could pose a risk. Take this quick, 5-minute quiz to see if you qualify.

Considering Orbera Weight Loss? Here’s What to Do Next

If you’re ready to take control of your weight with real support and lasting change, Bariendo is here to help you take the next step. Our team will guide you through the entire process, from exploring your options to deciding the best path forward.

You can learn more about Orbera weight loss by scheduling a free consultation with our team. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how the procedure works, what kind of results to expect, and how we’ll support you every step of the way.

Lasting weight loss starts with a choice—and for many, that choice begins with Orbera. If you’re ready to explore a proven, medically guided approach that puts your goals within reach, we’re here to help you get started.