Medical Advances
Exciting new alternative to surgical weight loss comes with a plan for life
Drs. Joseph Cribbins, III, and Stephen Hamn are considered two of the best weight-loss surgeons in Texas. But surgery isn’t their only area of expertise.
The doctors now offer patients the option of the Orbera intragastric balloon. This less-invasive, nonsurgical weight-loss option has 20 years of proven results worldwide. The ideal patient needs to lose about 30 to 60 pounds.
“Successful weight-loss programs will not only help a person lose weight, but also keep it off for years to come,” Dr. Hamn says. “We’ve seen this with Orbera intragastric balloon: It helps our patients control portion size, lose weight, and learn healthy eating habits that will support their new weight.”
The intragastric balloon is a soft, deflated, silicone balloon that is placed inside a patient’s stomach through the use of an endoscope — no incisions. Once there, the empty balloon is filled with sterile saline solution. This is a minimally invasive procedure that only takes 20-30 minutes to perform on an outpatient basis, and requires little down time.
Orbera works by taking up space in the stomach, making the person feel full faster, and reducing feelings of hunger. The balloon stays in place for six months, and it is then removed during a second short endoscopic procedure.
During those six months, Drs. Cribbins and Hamn and their team of specialists at Texas Health Center for Diagnostics & Surgery in Plano work closely with patients through a behavior modification program and a medically supervised diet.
“We are deeply invested in each of our patients and want to see them achieve long-term results,” Dr. Cribbins says. “During the six months the Orbera is in place, we help them learn how to change their lifestyles and relationship with food. We support the whole person during this journey: both the physical and emotional journey of weight loss.”
Once the Orbera is removed, the support from Drs. Cribbins and Hamn and their team continues. They custom design a program for each patient that address his or her unique situation and learn how to adopt new eating habits and establish healthy exercise habits.
“What we see with Orbera is a sensible way to develop sustainable, healthy habits that can last a lifetime,” Dr. Hamn says. “This is a great nonsurgical option for our patients that supports their long-term weight goals.”
More than 220,000 of these Orbera intragastric balloons have been used in over 80 countries, including Canada, Australia, Brazil, and the U.K. It was FDA-approved in the United States this year, and Drs. Cribbins and Hamn are enthusiastic about this new option for their patients.
“Surgery is not the right decision for every person who wants to lose weight,” Dr. Cribbins says. “We spend time with each patient and get to know his or her story before we ever make a recommendation. If a nonsurgical option is the best choice, we often suggest the Orbera intragastric balloon.”
Learn more about weight-loss services at Texas Health Center for Diagnostics & Surgery by visiting www.thcds-weightloss.com or calling 800-532-3939.
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Texas Health Center for Diagnostics & Surgery is a physician-owned facility, as defined by federal law. The hospital is affiliated with, but not controlled by, Texas Health Resources and its subsidiaries. Some of the physicians on the medical staff are partners and own a financial interest in the facility. Physicians on the medical staff who provide services operate as independent medical service providers.