WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

Intragastric Balloon South Africa

Redefining Your Relationship with Food, Health & Confidence

The Art of Non-Surgical Weight Loss & Medically Guided Body Transformation

AT A GLANCE
Duration: 20 – 30 Minutes
Anaesthesia: Mild Sedation
Stay: Outpatient (Same Day)
Social Downtime: 2 – 5 Days

Non-Surgical Weight Loss &
Sustainable Lifestyle Transformation

A common misconception about weight loss is that surgery is the only effective medical intervention. At Vivari, we understand that for many patients, a non-surgical, minimally invasive approach is not only sufficient — it is the most appropriate and medically considered first step. Our Specialist Intragastric Balloon program in South Africa places a soft silicone balloon in the stomach through the mouth using an endoscope — no incisions, no scars, no general anaesthesia — creating a feeling of fullness that naturally reduces portion sizes and will kickstart a sustainable, medically supervised weight loss journey. Combined with our comprehensive nutritional guidance and lifestyle coaching, the gastric balloon in Johannesburg delivers results that extend far beyond the six to twelve months of treatment.

Exclusively at Vivari Aesthetics — South Africa’s premier destination for gastric balloon South Africa and luxury medically guided transformation.

01 | THE VIVARI EXPERIENCE

Recovery as an Art Form

Surgery is only the first step; restoration is the journey. At Vivari, we have transformed post-operative care into a curated experience. Your recovery is supported by a multidisciplinary team within our luxury clinical suites, ensuring that the days following your procedure are as serene as they are scientifically optimized.

24/7 Concierge Nursing

Expert medical care delivered within the privacy of your luxury suite.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Accelerating cellular repair and significantly reducing post-operative swelling.

Intravenous Nutrition

Bespoke IV infusions designed to support the immune system and skin maturation.

Lymphatic Integration

Specialized post-surgical treatments at the Vivari Spa to refine your results.

02 | THE MEDICAL OVERVIEW

The Intragastric Balloon Program

A masterful non-surgical weight loss intervention — medically guided,
minimally invasive, and comprehensively supported.

The Vivari Specialist Intragastric Balloon program in South Africa is a profound departure from surgical weight loss approaches. While bariatric surgery permanently alters the digestive system, our procedure for gastric balloon in South Africa achieves meaningful, medically supervised weight loss through a completely reversible, non-surgical intervention — placing a soft silicone balloon in the stomach through the mouth using an endoscope, with no incisions, no scars, and no general anaesthesia required.

By temporarily reducing the available stomach capacity, the gastric balloon creates a consistent feeling of fullness after smaller portions — naturally recalibrating your relationship with food while our comprehensive nutritional and lifestyle support program embeds the sustainable habits that maintain your results long after the balloon is removed. Because we address both the physical and behavioural dimensions of weight loss simultaneously, the results of our gastric balloon program in Johannesburg, South Africa are fundamentally more enduring than the balloon alone — delivering a transformed relationship with food, health, and confidence.

The Strategic Advantages

💎 Completely Non-Surgical: With no incisions, no scars, and no general anaesthesia, the Intragastric Balloon offers meaningful medical weight loss intervention without the recovery demands, risks, or permanence of bariatric surgery — making it an accessible, lower-risk first step for eligible patients.

⚖️ Dual-Dimension Transformation: By combining the physical appetite reduction of the balloon with our comprehensive nutritional guidance and lifestyle coaching program, we address both the physiological and behavioural dimensions of weight loss — maximising results and long-term sustainability.

👁️ Reversible & Temporary: Unlike surgical weight loss procedures, the Intragastric Balloon is completely reversible — removed endoscopically after six to twelve months with no permanent alteration to the digestive system, offering a low-commitment entry point to medically guided weight loss.

◎ Comprehensive Medical Support: Every patient of gastric balloon in South Africa at Vivari benefits from continuous medical monitoring, personalised dietary planning, and lifestyle coaching throughout the complete treatment period — ensuring your weight loss journey is safe, supported, and sustainably successful.

Clinical Focus

Appetite Regulation: The balloon occupies a significant portion of the stomach cavity — creating a consistent feeling of satiety after smaller food portions and naturally reducing caloric intake without requiring willpower or dietary restriction alone.

Behavioural Recalibration: Our comprehensive nutritional and lifestyle support program runs concurrently with the balloon treatment — embedding sustainable eating habits, portion awareness, and lifestyle changes that maintain weight loss results after balloon removal.

Medical Monitoring: Regular clinical reviews throughout the treatment period monitor your weight loss progress, nutritional status, and overall health — adjusting the support program as needed to ensure the safest and most effective outcome for your individual journey.

Treatment Completion & Continuation: At the end of the balloon treatment period, your clinical team develops a personalised maintenance plan — ensuring the metabolic and behavioural gains of your gastric balloon program are preserved and built upon for long-term weight management success.

03 | THE JOURNEY

Your Path to Vivari

From first consultation to lasting transformation, every step is designed with precision and care.

01 THE CONSULTATION

Your transformation begins with a comprehensive medical assessment evaluating your BMI, overall health, weight loss history, and lifestyle factors. We determine your suitability for the gastric balloon program and design a bespoke treatment plan — combining the balloon placement with a personalised nutritional and lifestyle support program tailored entirely to your individual weight loss goals.

02 THE PREPARATION

In the days leading to your procedure, we focus on clinical optimisation. This includes a tailored medical review, pre-procedure dietary guidance, and medication assessment to ensure you are fully prepared for a safe, comfortable balloon placement and the most effective possible start to your medically supervised weight loss journey in South Africa.

03 THE PROCEDURE

Performed in our elite endoscopy suite under mild sedation for complete comfort. Your specialist gently passes a deflated silicone balloon through the mouth into the stomach using an endoscope — inflating it with saline once positioned. The complete procedure takes just 20 to 30 minutes, after which you return home the same day.

04 THE RECOVERY

Following placement, mild nausea and discomfort are normal for the first few days as your body adjusts. Our clinical team provides 24-hour support, personalised dietary progression, and regular follow-up reviews — guiding you through every phase of your gastric balloon weight loss journey with compassionate, expert care.

04 | CLINICAL CLARITY

For a comprehensive understanding of our clinical protocols, please explore the details below.

MEDICAL HISTORY AND EXAM Prepare to answer questions about your complete medical history, including previous weight loss attempts, current medications, history of gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, hypertension, and any other obesity-related health conditions. Your specialist will review your surgical readiness, evaluating your BMI, overall health status, and weight loss goals. A comprehensive physical exam — conducted alongside relevant blood work and clinical assessments — ensures your suitability for the gastric balloon program in South Africa and confirms the most appropriate treatment duration and support plan for your individual journey.

MEDICATION REVIEW A strict review of all prescriptions and supplements is required to ensure safety throughout the balloon placement and treatment period. Certain medications — particularly those affecting the gastrointestinal system, blood thinners, and anti-inflammatory drugs — may need to be adjusted prior to the procedure. Your specialist will provide clear guidance on all medication management throughout your gastric balloon weight loss program.

WEIGHT LOSS HISTORY & LIFESTYLE ASSESSMENT We conduct a comprehensive review of your previous weight loss attempts, dietary patterns, lifestyle habits, and emotional relationship with food. By understanding exactly where previous approaches have fallen short, we design a bespoke nutritional and lifestyle support program that addresses the specific behavioural and physiological factors unique to your individual weight loss journey.

ESTABLISHING EXPECTATIONS We discuss how the Specialist Intragastric Balloon program achieves weight loss through a combination of physical appetite reduction and comprehensive behavioural support — setting realistic expectations around the average weight loss achievable, the importance of dietary compliance throughout the treatment period, and the personalised maintenance plan that follows balloon removal to preserve your results long-term.

FOLLOW MEDICATION DIRECTIONS You will receive specific instructions on which medications to pause or adjust prior to your procedure. Blood-thinning supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs should typically be discontinued in advance — your specialist will provide a personalised medication management plan to ensure safe balloon placement and optimal healing.

PRE-PROCEDURE DIETARY PROTOCOL Patients are provided with a specific pre-procedure dietary protocol to follow in the days leading to balloon placement. This typically involves a liquid or soft diet to ensure the stomach is appropriately prepared for endoscopic balloon insertion — reducing any risk of complications and ensuring the most comfortable possible procedure experience.

FASTING PROTOCOLS To ensure a safe sedation experience, do not eat or drink anything for a minimum of six hours before your procedure. Clear water and approved medications are permitted only as specifically directed by your clinical team to prepare for your mild sedation protocol.

VIVARI PRE-PROCEDURE BUNDLE Specific nutritional supplements and health optimisation protocols are initiated in the weeks prior to your gastric balloon placement. These are designed to optimise your metabolic health and nutritional status — ensuring your body is fully prepared to maximise the weight loss results of the balloon program from day one.

LIFESTYLE PREPARATION To maximise the long-term success of your gastric balloon program, we encourage patients to begin engaging with our nutritional guidance and lifestyle coaching resources before the procedure. Building awareness of healthy eating patterns and portion control in advance significantly enhances the behavioural transformation that the balloon facilitates.

ARRANGE FOR RECOVERY SUPPORT Although the gastric balloon is an outpatient procedure, you must arrange for a responsible adult to collect you upon discharge — mild sedation means you cannot drive yourself home. We recommend having support available for the first 24 to 48 hours as your body adjusts to the balloon placement.

SEDATION Mild intravenous sedation is administered to ensure you are completely comfortable and relaxed throughout the gastric balloon placement. Unlike general anaesthesia, mild sedation allows for a faster, safer recovery — most patients feel alert and comfortable within a short period following the procedure.

ENDOSCOPIC BALLOON PLACEMENT A thin, flexible endoscope is gently passed through the mouth and into the stomach. A deflated silicone balloon is advanced through the endoscope and positioned in the stomach — your specialist visually confirms correct placement before inflating the balloon with sterile saline solution to the appropriate volume for your individual treatment plan.

BALLOON INFLATION & POSITIONING Once correctly positioned, the balloon is inflated with saline to occupy a significant portion of the stomach cavity. The inflation volume is carefully calibrated to your individual stomach anatomy and weight loss goals — ensuring optimal appetite reduction while maintaining comfort and safety throughout the treatment period.

BALLOON REMOVAL At the end of your treatment period — typically six to twelve months — the balloon is removed endoscopically in a procedure as simple and comfortable as the original placement. The saline is aspirated, the deflated balloon is withdrawn through the mouth, and no anaesthesia beyond mild sedation is required.

IMMEDIATE AFTERCARE Most patients experience mild nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort in the first two to five days following balloon placement — a completely normal response as the body adjusts to the presence of the balloon. Our clinical team provides 24-hour telephone support, anti-nausea medication, and a structured dietary progression protocol to guide you through this initial adjustment phase as comfortably as possible.

CRITICAL RECOVERY GUIDELINES

Avoid: Solid foods for the first 48 hours — follow the liquid dietary progression protocol provided by your clinical team.
Action: Stay well hydrated, take all prescribed medications as directed, rest adequately, and contact your clinical team immediately if symptoms are severe or persistent beyond five days.

WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR SURGEON
Contact the clinic immediately if you experience:

Severe, persistent vomiting beyond five days that is not responding to prescribed medication.
Sudden, severe abdominal pain or significant bloating.
Any signs of balloon deflation — unexpectedly reduced feelings of fullness or rapid weight regain.

FOLLOW-UP SCHEDULE

INITIAL ADJUSTMENT (WEEKS 1–2) Daily dietary progression from liquids to soft foods, guided by your clinical dietitian. Regular telephone check-ins with your clinical team ensure your comfort, safety, and dietary compliance during the critical initial adjustment period.
ACTIVE WEIGHT LOSS PHASE (MONTHS 1–6) Monthly clinical reviews monitor your weight loss progress, nutritional status, and overall health. Your nutritional and lifestyle support program is adjusted as needed to ensure optimal results throughout the active treatment period.
BALLOON REMOVAL & MAINTENANCE (MONTH 6–12) The balloon is removed endoscopically at the agreed treatment endpoint. Your clinical team then activates your personalised long-term maintenance plan — embedding the dietary and lifestyle habits developed during the balloon program for sustained weight management success.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

An Intragastric Balloon is a soft silicone balloon placed in the stomach through the mouth using an endoscope — requiring no incisions, no scars, and no general anaesthesia. Once inflated with saline, the balloon occupies a significant portion of the stomach cavity, creating a consistent feeling of fullness after smaller portions and naturally reducing caloric intake to support medically supervised weight loss in South Africa.

Ideal candidates for the gastric balloon in South Africa are individuals with a BMI between 30 and 40 who have not achieved significant weight loss through diet and exercise alone, and who are seeking a non-surgical, minimally invasive medical weight loss intervention. Candidates should be committed to following the comprehensive nutritional and lifestyle support program throughout the complete treatment period.

On average, patients lose between 10 and 20kg over the six-month balloon treatment period — with results varying based on individual adherence to the dietary and lifestyle support program. Patients who engage fully with our comprehensive nutritional coaching and behavioural support program consistently achieve the most significant and sustainable weight loss outcomes.

Performed under mild sedation for complete comfort, your specialist gently passes a deflated silicone balloon through the mouth into the stomach using an endoscope. Once correctly positioned, the balloon is inflated with sterile saline solution — a process that takes just 20 to 30 minutes. You return home the same day and begin your comprehensive dietary progression and support program immediately.

Most patients experience mild nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort for the first two to five days as the body adjusts to the balloon. Our clinical team provides 24-hour support, prescribed anti-nausea medication, and a structured liquid-to-solid dietary progression protocol to guide you through the adjustment period as comfortably as possible.

The gastric balloon cost in South Africa at Vivari Aesthetics starts from R69,000 — inclusive of the procedure, mild sedation, comprehensive nutritional and lifestyle support program, regular clinical reviews, and balloon removal at the end of the treatment period. A definitive investment quote is provided after your initial medical consultation.

Following balloon removal, your clinical team activates a personalised long-term weight maintenance plan — designed to preserve and build upon the dietary and lifestyle transformation achieved during the balloon program. Patients who engage fully with the post-removal maintenance program consistently maintain the majority of their weight loss results long-term.

Vivari Aesthetics offers a level of medically guided, comprehensively supported gastric balloon care that goes beyond simple balloon placement. By combining clinical expertise with personalised nutritional guidance, lifestyle coaching, and continuous medical monitoring, we ensure results that are not only meaningful during the treatment period but sustained and built upon for lasting weight management success.

Vivari Aesthetics is the premier destination for gastric balloon weight loss in Johannesburg, South Africa, combining medical precision with five-star care. Conveniently located near Lanseria International Airport, we welcome patients from across South Africa and internationally who seek non-surgical weight loss, medically guided transformation, and results that are both meaningful and enduringly sustainable.

The Art of the Subtle Transformation

In medically guided weight loss, excellence is measured not just in kilograms lost — but in the lasting transformation of health, vitality, and confidence. The Vivari Intragastric Balloon approach combines physical appetite reduction with comprehensive behavioural support to achieve a result that is both meaningfully transformative and genuinely sustainable. Our commitment is to a weight loss journey that delivers real, lasting change — never a temporary fix, a superficial result, or an unsupported outcome.

A Note on Clinical Maturation: Weight loss outcomes with the Intragastric Balloon vary between individuals based on adherence to the nutritional and lifestyle support program, individual metabolic response, and treatment duration. We allow the complete program — including the post-removal maintenance phase — a full twelve months to reveal its most comprehensive and enduring result. Patients who engage fully with every dimension of the Vivari program consistently achieve the most significant and sustainable transformations.

05 | THE ELITE CHOICE

The Celebrity Spotlight

THE ART OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION

In Hollywood and global elite circles, the conversation around weight loss has shifted profoundly. The world’s most celebrated public figures have moved away from crash diets and unsustainable interventions — toward medically guided, clinically supported weight loss programs that deliver real, lasting results with dignity and expert care.

From Oprah Winfrey’s celebrated openness about her weight loss journey to the growing number of global executives and entertainers who quietly choose medically supervised interventions, the world’s most successful people understand one thing clearly — sustainable weight loss requires medical expertise, not willpower alone. The “Vivari Journey” isn’t about a dramatic before-and-after moment; it’s about the compassionate medical guidance, comprehensive support, and clinical precision that transforms not just the body — but the relationship with health, food, and confidence for life.

A Note on Individual Results: Weight loss outcomes with the Intragastric Balloon vary between individuals based on adherence to the nutritional and lifestyle support program, individual metabolic response, and treatment duration. We allow the complete program — including the post-removal maintenance phase — a full twelve months to reveal its most comprehensive and enduring result. Patients who engage fully with every dimension of the Vivari program consistently achieve the most significant and sustainable transformations.

Why the Specialist Intragastric Balloon Program is the Elite Standard:

💎 Medical Credibility: By combining clinically proven balloon technology with comprehensive nutritional guidance and lifestyle coaching, our program delivers results that crash diets, meal replacements, and unsupported interventions simply cannot replicate — safely, sustainably, and with full medical oversight.

👁️ Complete Discretion: The gastric balloon procedure leaves no visible scars, requires no surgical incisions, and involves no extended hospital stay — making it the most discreet medically guided weight loss intervention available, entirely on your own terms and timeline.

✦ Comprehensive Support: Unlike standalone balloon procedures offered elsewhere, the Vivari program surrounds every patient with personalised nutritional guidance, lifestyle coaching, and continuous medical monitoring — ensuring every dimension of your weight loss journey is expertly supported.

◎ Lasting Transformation: We don’t simply place a balloon; we deliver a comprehensive, medically guided transformation program — combining physical appetite regulation with deep behavioural recalibration for weight loss results that endure long after the balloon is removed.

06 | THE VIVARI INVESTMENT

A Legacy of Lasting Health & Confidence

The Specialist Intragastric Balloon program at Vivari is a comprehensive medical investment — combining clinically proven balloon technology with personalised nutritional guidance, lifestyle coaching, and continuous medical monitoring throughout the complete treatment period. For patients seeking a more permanent weight loss solution, the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) offers a non-surgical stomach reduction alternative within a single endoscopic session.

To ensure the highest standard of medical focus, we require a comprehensive pre-consultation health assessment. Your diagnostic reservation fee will be credited toward your treatment program should you choose to proceed.

The Surgical Investment | From R69,000
Our transparent pricing is inclusive of the surgeon’s honorarium, expert anesthetic care (TIVA), state-of-the-art facility fees, and your initial bespoke recovery suite stay.

OVERNIGHT PACKAGES

Extend your recovery in the quiet luxury of the Vivari Hotel. Our bespoke post-operative packages include:

Curated Nutrition

Specialized menus from our restaurant designed for optimal healing.

Lymphatic Support

Gentle spa treatments to reduce swelling and accelerate recovery.

Seamless Care

24/7 access to clinical staff within a five-star hotel environment.

To ensure every patient receives the undivided attention and surgical expertise required for a bespoke transformation, we operate a refined pre-consultation process.

Your journey begins with a comprehensive clinical questionnaire. This initial diagnostic assessment allows our surgical team to review your unique facial and body architecture before your private appointment.

Initial Assessment Fee: R1,000

An additional R1,250 applies for an in-person consultation.
Should you proceed with surgery, a total of R2,250
will be credited toward your procedure.

BEGIN NOW

Consultations are held in absolute confidence.
There is no obligation to proceed.