My Story Was Shared by Anastasia, Who Decided to Get an Intragastric Balloon After a Long Struggle with Excess Weight

I have struggled with excess weight my entire life, ever since I was very young. Even in school, it caused problems — stretch marks on my body, self-dislike, difficulties in physical education, and constant teasing from classmates. Until I was 25, I tried to solve the problem on my own. I tried dozens of diets, intermittent fasting, went to the gym several times a week, and exhausted myself with home workouts. But all of this brought only temporary results due to a weak willpower. The result was many years of denial, anger, and dissatisfaction with my own body.

Only at 25, realizing that I could no longer accept the state of my life, I decided to go to a clinic and undergo bariatric treatment.

As soon as my friends and relatives learned what I was planning to do, they immediately tried to scare me and dissuade me. They said that after this procedure, I would always have stomach problems, that I wouldn’t be able to eat meat, and that I would have to live on porridge and soups. They said it was a terrible operation with a long and difficult recovery, and shared countless stories of women who had their stomachs reduced but later regretted their decision. To be honest, at first, I was scared. I read a lot online about how the procedure works, and indeed, many clinics offered a resection — that is, the removal of part of the stomach. Deciding on that was frightening. But after another night in tears, I decided at least to go for a consultation. And it was worth it…

At the first clinic, the doctor turned out to be just some kind of butcher. Without learning my story or asking what I wanted to achieve, he looked at me once and immediately said that 60–70% of my stomach needed to be removed. He tried to persuade me to sign the documents and make the first payment. I ran out of that clinic like I was scalded. It was hard to believe such doctors existed.

Later that day, having regained some composure but not full determination, I went to another clinic, where I met a normal, reasonable doctor. He interviewed me, examined me, and explained that bariatrics is not always surgery. Sometimes it’s just filling part of the stomach with an auxiliary element that reduces its volume without any serious intervention. That’s how I agreed to have an intragastric balloon placed…

The preparation for the procedure was quite simple and fast. They took my tests, did an examination, and collected my medical history. The doctor explained all the details of the procedure, the preparation, recovery, and possible consequences. I understood that bariatrics was a last resort, and I was ready for it. A few days later, I was sitting in the doctor’s office, preparing for the balloon placement, which seemed incredibly large to me.

From the evening before, I couldn’t eat anything, and in the morning I was allowed only a few sips of water. My hands were shaking, and I was sweating. It felt like something could go wrong. My surgeon and anesthesiologist entered the room, talked to me, explained how everything would proceed, and laid me on my side. They inserted a catheter into my vein and warned me that if there were ulcers or similar issues in my stomach, the procedure would have to be postponed. I nodded, drifting into sleep, and opened my eyes as if only seconds had passed. A nurse was in front of me, smiling, saying that everything went well and the balloon was already in my stomach. There was slight discomfort, similar to the feeling after an endoscopy, but it was quite tolerable. I immediately noticed that the feeling of hunger seemed to have disappeared.

A few minutes later, the doctor came in, confirmed that everything went well, handed me the papers, and explained how my recovery would proceed.

For the first two weeks, I could eat only pureed or liquid foods so that my stomach could adjust to the changes. I ate six times a day because more than a few spoonfuls simply wouldn’t fit. From the third week, I gradually introduced stewed vegetables and some cereals. By the end of the first month, I was eating almost everything I loved. And my weight seemed to just melt away. Each week I lost 3–5 kg, and in the first week — almost 7 kg. It felt like a miracle, and I still can’t fully believe it when I look in the mirror…

There was no pain, no unpleasant side effects, no restrictions — my life remained as full as before. Now my body is close to ideal, even though only four months have passed. In a couple of months, the balloon will be removed, and I think by that time I will finally be able to love myself…

…But, of course, my story didn’t end there. During one of the last check-ups, the doctor warned me that placing the balloon is only a temporary measure, not a magic pill for weight loss. He said honestly:

“When the balloon is removed, your stomach will return to its previous size. If you don’t change your lifestyle and eating habits, there is a high likelihood that the weight will return — sometimes even higher.”

These words hit me hard. I had worked so long to reach this goal, endured all the fears, doubts, preparation, and the procedure itself. And now I realized that the most important stage is not the balloon placement, but life after it.

I spent a long time thinking about how I would proceed. I understood that if I just went back to my old lifestyle — evening snacks, endless coffee with pastries, and constant stress-eating — all my efforts would be in vain. That’s why, together with the doctor, we developed a plan for diet and lifestyle after the balloon is removed.

First, I was scheduled for a consultation with a dietitian. We created a clear meal plan — not a strict diet, but a system of eating that would allow me to feel comfortable and maintain my weight. The main rule is to eat more often, but in small portions, and not to stretch the stomach again.

Second, I added physical activity. Not intense workouts like before, when I was pushing myself to exhaustion in the gym, but light, regular exercises — yoga, walks, swimming. The doctor said that consistency is more important for my body now than intensity.

Finally, I am working with a psychologist. It turned out that food had always been my way of coping with stress, fatigue, and disappointment. And until I change my relationship with myself and my body, the risk of regaining weight remains.

Of course, the fear of returning to my old weight hasn’t disappeared. Sometimes I wake up at night thinking, “What if after the balloon is removed I start eating like I used to?” But then I remember the journey I’ve already been through and realize that I have no right to give up.

Now I am learning to love myself, listen to my body, and accept it. I know that bariatrics is only a tool, and everything else depends entirely on me. Even if the scale ever starts climbing again, I am already equipped with knowledge, experience, and the support of my doctors.

My goal now is not just to lose weight, but to maintain the results and build a healthy, harmonious relationship with my body and food.