Gastric Balloon Group

FAQ

Reviews

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  Helena Gowan

  Had an Allurion 4 month balloon in October 2022, found it a great addition to help with weight loss. I lost 2 stone (which I have never done before) and I have been able to maintain that loss & have even lost a few more pounds on top of that! Support was there when needed and everyone was lovely. I don't have anything negative to say.

  26-04-2023
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  Polikseni Jarazi

  I did had the gastric balloon on the 13th of February. And i wasn't the easiest one,but i was warned and i knwo it. What it did make it easy was the great support i had from all the staff at Spire Park Way Hospital and Gastric balloon group as well. They call me all the time to check and advise and as well as answering me any time i call them. Nutrition advise is available daily and the app helps a lot,with food dietary and exercise and a lot of other struggles you might have. I did lost 9kg and is just 1 month time. I am very happy overall and who ever is struggling with weight lost and being on diets like i was,i do recommend to have it done the gastric balloon for 1 year. Thank you everyone at Spire Park way Hospital,special thanks to Gastric balloon group patient support for the untried work with me.

  26-03-2023
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  Noir Bella

  Avoid this company! Save your money! I contacted GBG after doing research on gastric balloons last year April. The initial person I spoke with was very polite and helpful which led me to book my procedure and pay a deposit as I chose the monthly payment option. On the day of insertion the consultant informed me of the side affects and possible outcomes after the procedure. My friend was with me as support and was not impressed by the consultants approach and was not at all comforting especially as I was nervous due to past experiences. I then waited 5/6 hours before I was taken into theatre which was so upsetting at one point I wanted to leave and cancel as I was saying it must be a sign I should not proceed (now I wish I did walk out then). Surgery went well balloon was successfully inserted now it all goes downhill from here. Hours after inserting I had cramps (pain out of this world) and vomiting which I was expecting however the pain did not subside where I was taken into hospital and admitted. The doctor that reviewed me and advised that I should get it removed - where I contacted the care team and explained so the nurse advised I speak with the doctor that done my procedure where the doctors PA was very rude and basically asked why am I calling them I need to speak with the company. I was going round in circles however the care team finally advised I keep it in and allow it to settle (I should have been adamant to have it removed then). I was constantly off work, admitted to hospital where I had to receive morphine for the pain it was hell and there was no support from the company. The nurse I spoke with was very sympathetic but the company does not care for you after payment is made and the balloon is in. Every other week I was in and out of hospital constantly speaking with the care team where I decided after 2/3 months to take it out because I was constantly off work not able to eat or drink as well as in so much pain I could hardly walk. Despite all of this I am expected to pay the outstanding balance which is unfair and inconsiderate especially after it was their team that advised I keep it in. Please please avoid this company and this procedure it is a waste of money, it cost you more as you will be off work, the pain and the discomfort is not worth it. The customer service is horrible after you have done your procedure and they have collected your money. I am now recovering letters from the company to pay the balance but what about the loss of earnings I have had who can repay this to me from GBG how could I work with all the pain, being hospitalised, dehydrated, fainting? AVOID AVOID AVOID

  26-03-2023
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  Tracy Alwin

  Great company guided me everystep of the way and lots of support

  26-03-2023
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  Toni Curran

  Lovely, informative staff . Toni and Liz 💗

  26-02-2023
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  Raj Cruez

  Very poor service from Elizabeth Heppenstall and I do not feel that they were at all concerned about my care throughout the discussions. Would never recommend this company to anyone

  26-02-2023
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  RiRi M

  - Does not work! - I weigh more now than I did before the procedure - You can never get through to the team - You receive conflicting advice - Aftercare doesn’t exist - They send texts at even 3am in the morning - Overall absolutely terrible experience

  26-02-2023
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  Saman

  So far having a very poor experience. I had my balloon fitted 8 days ago and have been extremely unwell with not tolerating the balloon. I understand that not everyone can tolerate it but I do feel GBG and the consultant I had are not very forthcoming in risks prior to having the procedure. The true side effects vs those listed by them are worlds apart. Uncontrollable (even with several prescription strength meds) vomitting, nausea, pain, constipation, dehydration resulting in kidney concerns. These are not within the control of GBG as they are to do with the balloon, but as stated they should be more transparent about likelihood. What is very concerning is their response.. given a lot of money has been paid, their response to any complication is to signpost you to A&E to get help (blood tests, IV fluids, doctor advice). Given they seem to state the risk of these side effects is so low, why can’t their consultants give advice when these complications occur? And why can’t they arrange for follow up such as IV fluids if needed, rather than very unwell people having to go and sit in A&E for upto 12 hours to get NHS treatment to mop up side effects from the privately paid for procedure? I am now at a point where I can no longer continue to withstand the horrendous complications (having been bedbound and severely ill for 8 days + loss of earnings during this time) which seem to be getting worse rather than better, so this morning I asked for urgent removal of the balloon and said I would be willing to travel to any of the hospitals they use and have this done by any of their consultants. I have been told in a very blasé way by a receptionist on the aftercare line that my consultant has been emailed and will have to wait and see what he says but “looks like he’s not working for us again until this time next week” so that would be the earliest for consideration of removal. I have been told there’s no access to any other consultant for advice before then and they don’t know if I can actually speak to the consultant who did my procedure. The receptionist also said she doesn’t know what their complaints procedure is and would need to find out and get back to me. As I write this I am in limbo and still very unwell with the only advice given to me by GBG being go to A&E. The bariatric nurses do their best and advise as best they can within what seems like a “send them all to A&E if any issues” protocol. I really hope I am able to edit this review in the next few days to say that GBG were actually helpful in expediting removal given the circumstances and given that I am suffering, but as it stands I feel quite hopeless and abandoned by them now that they already have my money.

  26-02-2023
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  Paige Williams

  If I could give a minus star review I would AVOID AT ALL COST They should not be able to carry on with these procedures. My husband had the 12 month gastric balloon fitted, they were great leading up to the day. On the day, and this isn’t exaggeration my husband was in and out of theatre with sedation in 15minutes and back in my car !! Not enough monitoring. Went home followed the diet etc. 2 months later he became so unwell that he couldn’t even keep water down, he ended up hospitalised severely dehydrated and very unwell. We called gastric balloon group, they do not offer check ups or any support. In fact the only support we were given was to flush the balloon via cleaning. This involved drinking Diet Coke. How many times I said he can’t even keep water down how can he keep coke down. They just said he had to Spent a week in hospital on drips and medication, there was a serious food build up stuck to the balloon his stomach was red and was suffering with severe gastroenteritis. NHS hospital wasn’t 100% certain they could remove this balloon. Doctor said he does not agree with a gastric balloon and would never stand by them. After much pushing I managed to get an appointment from gastric balloon group at a so called private hospital as we paid to have this removed. We turn up to a london hospital… we were told procedure was 4pm. No, this hospital was a standard nhs hospital. Check in at 4pm, and wait behind all NHS patients to be seen. He did not go to theatre until 8pm Once the procedure was done my husband could eat immediately which has proven this is down to the balloon. After making various complaints we have got nowhere in regards to compensation except just please pay your balance. This company is vile !!! The only reason anyone looses weight is because they are following a diet it has not one thing to do with the balloon. They are a disgrace

  26-01-2023
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  Rosie Sparkes

  This is the WORST form of weight loss surgery you might aswell throw five grand in the bin the balloon does nothing at all oh apart from make your stomach bigger so then you obviously eat more myself and others I know went with this company and had this procedure and all agree it’s a complete scam it dosent make you fill fuller and you only loose weight in the first week because you. Are constantly throwing up please don’t get this done it’s such a waist of money and if anything makes you eat more

  26-09-2022