B2B Blog

Thermoplastic Polyolefins

Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) is a single-ply roofing membrane made up of a single layer of synthetics and reinforcing scrim. It is manufactured by the chemical combination of propylene, ethylene, rubber, and other filler materials

Advantages

1. Better impact resistance than standard Polypropylene (PP) grades, especially at low temperatures
2. Lightweight
3. Chemical resistance

Limitations

1. Lower stiffness than standard PP grades
2. Painting requires pre-treatments
3. Decreased performance at elevated temperatures

If you have already undergone a form of bariatric surgery and had complications or did not successfully lose weight, Revisional Bariatric Surgery Dallas might be an option for you.

About Weight Loss Revision Surgery

Revisional weight loss surgery is beneficial for correcting complications from a previous weight loss procedure or for enhancing weight loss results.

Typically, surgeons can perform revision procedures laparoscopically. You may need to have open surgery if your prior bariatric surgery caused extensive scarring.

At UPMC’s Bariatric Surgery Center, we will carefully evaluate you before considering Revisional Bariatric Surgery Dallas for inadequate weight loss.

This evaluation typically involves:

• An upper GI series to check the anatomy of your stomach or intestines
• A nutritional assessment to review your eating habits and lifestyle

Risks of Revision Surgery

Revision surgery carries increased risks, such as the potential for bleeding, especially if you have scarring from your original bariatric procedure.

Your bariatric surgeon will review all potential risks and complications with you prior to revision surgery.

Bariatric Revisions Surgical Options

Recovery time for bariatric revision surgery is about two weeks, if the procedure is performed laparoscopically.

• Gastric bypass surgery: Not reversible
• Gastric sleeve surgery: Not reversible
• Gastric (LAP) band surgery: Revision procedures available

The Orbera and ReShape gastric balloon, Dallas procedures usually takes no more than a half hour to perform (compared to about 2 hours for gastric sleeve), and most patients are out of the hospital on the same day.

Once you are set up in the treatment room, following are the steps:

1. Your throat will be numbed with a special spray. The numbing sensation may feel strange, but it will help your throat tolerate the instruments used in the procedure. If you wish, you can also ask for an injection to make you feel sleepy, but these options will be discussed with you beforehand.
2. After you are comfortable, the nurse will insert a plastic mouth guard between your teeth to keep your mouth open for the scope.
3. The scope will be passed through your mouth and into your stomach. This will not be painful, and you will be able to breath without worry. The doctor may also need to pass some air down the scope to have a clear view. This too can be a strange feeling, and it may make you want to belch.
4. The scope will be removed.
5. The deflated balloon will be passed into your stomach and inflated with either air or saline solution.
6. The scope will be passed into your stomach one final time to double check that the balloon is in the right position and properly inflated.

It’s not a magic weight loss pill, but the Obalon, Dallas  gastric balloon system, Dallas sure does sound like one.

Officially launching in January 2017, the Obalon, Dallas  is actually the third gastric balloon system, Dallas to be FDA approved in the U.S. It is, however, markedly different than its predecessors in a number of ways.

What is it?

The Obalon, Dallas  six-month gastric balloon system, Dallas is a swallowable, intragastric balloon for weight loss. Unlike the other FDA-approved weight loss balloons (which are filled with saline water), the Obalon, Dallas  balloon is inflated with gas.

Who is it for?

The Obalon, Dallas  system is recommended for adults aged 22 and older with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 40 kg/m2 who have not been successful with diet and exercise alone. Unlike other weight loss surgeries — namely gastric bypass and gastric sleeve— the Obalon, Dallas  system is not indicated for individuals who are morbidly obese.

How Does it Work?

The procedure involves swallowing a small capsule attached to a tiny tube that contains a balloon that is inflated with gas once it reaches the stomach. No anesthesia is required, meaning the capsule can be swallowed easily in the office. You drink a cup of water and swallow the capsule with the tube attached, exactly as you would any other pill. Once the capsule reaches your stomach, it releases the balloon. Next, your doctor inflates the balloon with gas, then the tube is removed, leaving the inflated balloon in your stomach to suppress appetite. The whole process takes about 15 minutes.

How Does it Feel?

The inflated balloons create a feeling of fullness, which is how weight loss is achieved.

How Well Does it Work?

The average weight loss after treatment with Obalon, Dallas  is around 15 lbs. In one study, those who swallowed gas-filled balloon capsules lost 1.9 times more weight than their counterparts who relied on diet, exercise and lifestyle changes alone. What’s more, the study showed that the weight loss was maintained for 12 months.

How Does it Come Out?

At the end of the six-month treatment period, all balloons are removed via outpatient endoscopy under conscious sedation (you are awake but not entirely aware).

Is it Safe?

Yes. Nausea and stomach pain are the most frequent side effects.

Is it For Me?

Talk to your doctor about Obalon, Dallas  and whether it makes sense for you. It may be contraindicated in the face of some pre-existing conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders.

How Much Does Obalon Cost?

The balloon pill may cost about $4,000.

A gastric balloon, Dallas is a non-surgical, short term weight loss option that creates a feeling of fullness quicker after smaller meals. It reduces your hunger allowing you to control your portion sizes and can be used as a stepping stone on the path to weight loss success.

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1. What is a gastric balloon?
A gastric balloon, Dallas is a soft silicon balloon that is inserted into your stomach. The balloon partially fills the stomach which leads to a feeling of fullness.

2. What is involved in a gastric balloon, Dallas procedure?
Whilst deflated the gastric balloon, Dallas is inserted into your stomach through your mouth and oesophagus. This is done using a thin, flexible tube that has a light and a camera on one end, called an endoscope.

3. New techniques
The gastric balloon, Dallas pill capsule is a new type of gastric balloon. You swallow a capsule that is attached to a thin tube. When it is in position at the top of your stomach, the balloon is inflated using gas through the tube.

4. Is a gastric balloon, Dallas the right option for me?
A gastric balloon, Dallas is recommended for patients who need to lose weight before an operation to reduce their surgical risk, or it can be used as a stand-alone, non-surgical treatment option for weight management.

5. Am I eligible for a gastric balloon?
Gastric balloon, Dallas is a popular weight loss option if you cannot lose a large amount of weight and keep it off by dieting, changing your behaviour and exercising alone; or if you have serious health problems caused by obesity. 

6. The benefits
One major benefit of the gastric balloon, Dallas is the avoidance of invasive surgery and the risks associated with surgery. As it only takes 15 minutes under a mild sedative you can go home the same day. This in turn means that a gastric balloon, Dallas is less expensive than many surgical options. It is only temporary, offering support whilst you start to lose weight and become more active.

7. Getting prepared for your gastric balloon
Before you have your gastric balloon, Dallas inserted your consultant will discuss with you a post-procedure diet. You may also receive advice on an exercise programme that will help you lose the weight.

8. Your commitment to weight loss
Once your gastric balloon, Dallas is inserted you will need to follow a healthy eating plan and undertake any exercises recommended by your surgeon. This will ensure you achieve the best weight loss appropriate for you.

9. How is the gastric balloon, Dallas removed?
Your gastric balloon, Dallas is deflated before being removed. It is then pulled through the mouth using an endoscopic tube. You will need to be aware that when the gastric balloon, Dallas is removed, your stomach will return to its normal size and shape.

10. Will I gain weight once the balloon is removed?
Because the balloon has no lasting effects on the stomach, it is important that you create and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Without the gastric balloon, Dallas taking up space in your stomach, you will be able to eat larger portions immediately once the balloon has gone. The success of the procedure is dependent on whether the recipient can carry on the same habits after the balloon is removed³.

Overview

The Obalon Balloon, Dallas  System is a nonsurgical weight loss option. It’s intended for people who haven’t succeeded in losing weight through diet and exercise alone. The treatment itself takes six months, but the entire program should take 12 months. Three gas-filled intragastric balloons stay in your stomach for the first six months. You must follow a dietary and exercise program during the entire period of 12 months.

Fast fact

A 2015 consumer survey done by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that 88 percent of individuals are bothered by excess weight. The Obalon Balloon, Dallas  System is a weight loss option approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It could help you lose the extra pounds and improve your diet and exercise routine.

Who’s a good candidate?

The best candidate is an adult 22 years or older, with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40. You should not use this treatment if you have had prior stomach surgeries, such as gastric bypass, and if you are extremely obese with a BMI much higher than 40. There are other limitations, so if you are considering Obalon, it’s best to talk to an Obalon-trained physician.

How does Obalon work?

The Obalon Balloon, Dallas  System uses three intragastric balloons that occupy space in your stomach to make you feel full faster. This should help you consume smaller portions of food and make weight loss easier. Your doctor places the first Obalon Balloon, Dallas at the beginning of the treatment. They will place the second balloon approximately one month later. The last balloon is placed approximately 2-3 months into your treatment. All three balloons then stay in the stomach for another three months, for a total treatment time of six months.

You should expect a professionally designed and supervised diet and exercise program to last for the first six months, and then continue for another six months after the balloons are removed from your stomach.

How much does Obalon cost?

The entire 12-month Obalon Balloon, Dallas program ranges between $6,000 and $9,000. The total cost will mainly depend on your geographic location and your physician’s fees.

The Obalon Balloon, Dallas System is currently not covered by medical insurance. Most offices offer financing options.

Preparing for Obalon

The Obalon Balloon, Dallas treatment has a relatively long treatment time, so it will require adjustments on your part, including lifestyle modifications. Before you start the treatment, make sure you are ready to make the long-term commitment.

You will need to find an Obalon provider in your area and schedule an appointment. Only Obalon-trained physicians perform the treatment. Discuss your medical history, as well as your expectations, with your physician. They should check your overall health condition and run initial blood tests. If you’re the right candidate for Obalon and you decide to go ahead with the treatment, your physician should design an individual treatment plan for you. You should also meet with your dietitian or nutritionist to discuss your diet and exercise plan.

Are there any risks or side effects?

The Obalon Balloon System, Dallas was approved by the FDA in September 2016. In the clinical trials prior to the approval, typical side effects included nausea and abdominal pain. Serious side effects were reported in less than 0.3 percent of cases.

Since the Obalon Balloons are filled with gas, and each one of them is said to weigh less than a penny coin, they have been associated with high stomach tolerability and only mild adverse events.

What to expect after Obalon

After the Obalon Balloons are removed from your stomach, you should follow the customized diet and exercise program and consult with your dietitian or nutritionist for the next six months. To keep the weight off long term, you’ll need to maintain healthy eating habits and continue to exercise regularly.

The results of the Obalon Balloon treatment are very individual and largely dependent on how rigorously you follow the diet and exercise program. In the Obalon clinical trial, participants lost twice as much weight with the Obalon Balloon System, Dallas than with diet and exercise alone. Approximately 89 percent of the total weight lost at six months was still kept off at one year.

Outlook

The Obalon Balloon System, Dallas may be a good weight loss option if you:

• have had trouble losing weight with exercise and diet alone
• have a BMI between 30 and 40
• haven’t had stomach surgery in the past
• are 22 or older
• are able to commit to the 12-month treatment plan, which includes diet and lifestyle changes

This treatment is noninvasive and should only be performed by an Obalon-trained physician. For best results, follow the diet and exercise plan recommended by your doctor. Continue to eat healthy foods and exercise after the treatment is complete.

Obalon procedure

Each Obalon, Dallas Balloon is folded in a capsule with a thin catheter attached to it. The procedure is the same for each balloon:

• You’ll swallow the capsule with a glass of water, while your physician holds onto the catheter so that the end of it remains outside your mouth.
• After swallowing the capsule, your physician will use an ultrasound system to make sure the capsule is safely in your stomach.
• The balloon is then inflated with gas through the catheter.
• The catheter is smoothly removed through your mouth, and you should be able to go back to your daily activities immediately.

The placement procedure usually takes about 10 minutes and no sedation is necessary.

Your physician will schedule placement appointments for the other two balloons, typically a month apart. You should follow your diet and exercise program during the entire Obalon, Dallas six-month treatment.

At the end of the six-month period, your doctor will remove all three balloons during a short endoscopy procedure:

• Your physician will give you a light sedation, but you stay conscious.
• Using a special endoscopic tube with a camera, the physician deflates the balloons in the stomach and then takes the balloons out one by one with a special tool.

The removal procedure usually takes about 15 minutes and is associated with minimum downtime.

Step 1: Plan Your Prep

Your doctor is your best source of information about how to get ready. When you schedule the procedure, you’ll get instructions. Read them over well before your appointment, and call your doctor if you have any questions.

Clear your schedule for the evening before and the day of your colonoscopy, and make plans for someone to go with you the day of the colonoscopy.

Shop for some key supplies several days ahead, too. Your list may include:

• A prescription or over-the-counter laxative specified by your doctor
• Low-fiber food
• Sports drinks, juices, and broths
• Moist wipes

Step 2: Tweak Your Diet

You can help the cleansing process by eating light 3 or 4 days before the procedure. Doctors recommend low-fiber foods that are easy to digest and leave your system quickly.

You can have:

• White bread, pasta, and rice
• Well-cooked vegetables without skin
• Fruit without skin or seeds
• Lean meat, chicken, or fish
• Eggs

Don’t eat:

• Seeds, nuts, or popcorn
• Fatty foods
• Tough meat
• Whole grains
• Raw vegetables
• Fruit with seeds or peel
• Corn, broccoli, cabbage, beans, or peas

Step 3: The Fast

The day before your procedure you can’t eat anything solid. you can only consume clear (see-through) liquids.  It is important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of clear liquids, such as sports drinks, clear juice like apple and white grape, and clear broth. Soda is OK, and so are coffee and tea, but without cream.

Step 4: The Purge

The night before your colonoscopy you’ll take strong laxatives to clear your digestive tract. The method recommended for most people is called split dosing. You’ll drink a half-gallon of liquid laxative in the evening. Then you’ll get up about 6 hours before your appointment to drink another half-gallon.

You probably won’t enjoy the taste of the solution, but there are tricks to help get it down:

• Mix it with something flavored, like a sports drink or powdered drink mix.
• Keep it well chilled.
• Drink it through a straw placed far back on your tongue.
• Follow it with a sip of something good tasting.
• Suck on a lemon slice or piece of hard candy after drinking.