**Who is Suitable for Obesity Surgery?**
Obesity surgery is suitable for individuals who have tried all other treatment methods but have not been successful. The patient should be evaluated by all relevant units before the surgery and should be suitable for anesthesia. Patient selection is made based on the body mass index (BMI). If the BMI is over 40, the patient can undergo surgery. If the BMI is between 35 and 40 and there is an additional disease (such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea syndrome, heart disease with high triglycerides, hypoventilation syndrome, fatty liver, etc.), or if the BMI is between 30 and 35 and blood sugar cannot be controlled with medical treatments, surgery may be recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes.
**Types of Surgery for Obesity Treatment**
With the advancement of technology, various surgical techniques are available for obesity. The choice of surgery is decided jointly by the doctor and the patient, considering the patient’s condition.
**Gastric Balloon**
The simplest method to assist with weight loss is the gastric balloon procedure. In this method, a balloon filled with liquid or air is placed in the stomach using an endoscope, and the procedure is performed under light anesthesia. This procedure lasts 15-20 minutes. This reduces the stomach’s capacity to hold food and promotes quick satiety. With this method, patients can lose 7-8 kilograms in a few months. However, this balloon can stay in the body for up to 6 months, at most 1 year, and is removed endoscopically in 5-6 minutes. The advantage of this procedure is that it is simple to perform and does not cause permanent changes in the body. However, if the patient does not change their lifestyle and does not continue with a diet after the balloon is removed, the lost weight can be regained. During the 6 months to 1 year usage period, patients are trained on how to eat. Nowadays, the gastric balloon method is used as preparation for basic morbid obesity surgery for patients who are too high risk for surgery or are super obese. It can also be used by individuals who are not overweight.