A gastric balloon makes the stomach smaller for a limited time, for 6 or 12 months or, as a capsule to swallow, for about 4 months. At Klinik am Seestern in Düsseldorf you choose the balloon that suits you together with our doctors.
twilight sedation, none for the swallowable balloon
Stay in the clinic
outpatient
At a glance
Everything important about the gastric balloon
Treatment duration
about 20 to 30 minutes
Anaesthesia
twilight sedation, none for the swallowable balloon
Stay in the clinic
outpatient
Time in place
about 4, 6 or 12 months
Suitability
from a BMI of 27
Back out among people
after a few days to 1 week
Costs
Packages from €3,500
Financing
possible through our financing partner
No incision: the balloon goes into the stomach through the mouth or is swallowed as a capsule
For a limited time: after the dwell time it is removed or passes out naturally
With support: nutrition coaching and an app help you keep up the new habits
01
Gastric balloon in Düsseldorf: consultation, insertion and support at Klinik am Seestern
Consultation room
We insert the gastric balloon at Klinik am Seestern in Düsseldorf, together with the Weight Doctors. From the first conversation to removal you stay under the same roof: consultation, preliminary examination, insertion and the appointments afterwards all take place in the specialist clinic. During the dwell time a dedicated contact person supports you, and the nutrition coaches help you adapt your meals to the smaller stomach.
You will find us on the left bank of the Rhine in Lörick, in the Am Seestern office district on the B7. With the U77 you travel from the main station to the Am Seestern stop without changing; anyone coming by car parks free of charge on the site. For the check-up appointments during the treatment, it is easy to reach from all over Düsseldorf, from Meerbusch and from Neuss.
02
How does a gastric balloon work?
A gastric balloon is a temporary stomach reduction, without an operation and without an incision. The soft silicone balloon is introduced into the stomach through the mouth and oesophagus, or swallowed as a capsule, and filled there with liquid, usually with about 500 ml. It then takes up part of the stomach. This means you can feel full after smaller portions, and the feeling of fullness lasts longer.
The balloon is an aid: it is meant to make it easier for you to change your diet and exercise, which you work out together with our coaches during the dwell time. It is an option from a BMI of 27. How much weight you lose and keep depends on your starting situation and on how consistently you maintain the new habits.
In the diagram
A companion for a limited time: the stomach with a gastric balloon
from 27
BMI from which a gastric balloon is an option
4–12
Months of dwell time, depending on the balloon
approx. 500 ml
of liquid fill the balloon in the stomach
0
incisions, the balloon goes in through the mouth
Space for food
Gastric balloon
03
Which gastric balloon suits you?
At Klinik am Seestern we use silicone gastric balloons from manufacturers such as Spatz3 or Allergan, as well as the swallowable Allurion balloon. All carry a CE marking and are approved from a BMI of 27. They differ mainly in dwell time: the longer the balloon stays in, the more time you have to establish new habits. With the Spatz3 balloon, the filling volume can also be adjusted, and the Allurion balloon manages entirely without gastroscopy and anaesthesia.
You discuss which balloon suits you in the consultation with our doctors. Anyone who would like to make the stomach smaller permanently can also find out about the endo-sleeve.
Methods compared
Three balloons, three dwell times
The balloons differ in how long they stay in the stomach, how they are inserted and whether the filling can be adjusted.
01Gastric balloon 6 monthsthe classic
The balloon is inserted during twilight sedation by means of a gastroscopy and filled in the stomach with sterile saline solution. After about six months it is emptied and removed again the same way.
The Spatz3 balloon stays in the stomach for up to twelve months. Its filling volume can be adjusted afterwards: less if there are complaints, more if it is well tolerated. This leaves more time for changing your diet and exercise.
You swallow the Allurion balloon as a capsule attached to a thin tube, through which it is filled in the stomach. A gastroscopy or anaesthesia is not necessary. After about four months it empties itself and is excreted naturally.
This is how treatment with the gastric balloon proceeds at Klinik am Seestern in Düsseldorf:
Step 1
Beforehand
Consultation in Düsseldorf. In the consultation we examine you, discuss your goals and together choose the right balloon and service package. You can book your appointment online.
Step 2
Treatment day
Insertion. Under twilight sedation, the balloon is inserted through the mouth and filled in about 20 to 30 minutes; after about an hour of observation you go home. You take the swallowable balloon as a capsule, without anaesthesia.
Step 3
The first few days
Getting used to it. The stomach gets used to the balloon; nausea and vomiting are possible and usually subside after a few days. Drink plenty and avoid solid and fatty foods.
Step 4
After about 2 weeks
Eating normally again. Your body has got used to the balloon. Now the actual change begins, with smaller portions and regular exercise.
Step 5
During the dwell time
Losing weight with support. You meet your nutrition coaches regularly, depending on the package; the app with a digital scale records your progress. With the Spatz3 balloon, the filling volume can be adjusted.
Step 6
At the end
Removal. The balloon is emptied and removed as an outpatient through the oesophagus; the body excretes the Allurion balloon naturally after about four months. The new habits remain.
05
Getting used to it and safety with the gastric balloon
In the first days with the gastric balloon, you may feel unwell because the stomach first has to get used to the balloon. Everyone reacts differently; vomiting, diarrhoea or cramps are possible. Your treating doctor can prescribe medication for you for this time, and your contact person stays in regular touch with you.
In rare cases, the balloon can lose fluid. Because a harmless dye is added to the filling, the urine then changes colour; if this happens, please contact us immediately. The Spatz3 balloon also has a safety anchor, which is intended to prevent it from passing into the intestine if it leaks. We will inform you in detail about all risks and side effects before the treatment.
06
What does a gastric balloon cost in Düsseldorf? Costs and financing
Four packages are available for treatment with the gastric balloon. They differ in the balloon, the dwell time and the extent of the support provided by nutrition coaching and the app. The standard package starts at €3,500. After your consultation at Klinik am Seestern you will receive a no-obligation quote, and financing is possible through our financing partner; more on this under Financing your treatment.
As a rule, a gastric balloon is a self-pay service; German statutory health insurers usually do not cover the costs. You can read what the other procedures cost and when health insurance can cover a stomach reduction under Costs and German health insurance.
A gastric balloon is a temporary stomach reduction without an operation. A soft balloon is introduced into the stomach through the mouth or swallowed as a capsule and filled there with liquid. It takes up space in the stomach, so that you can feel full after smaller portions.
Who is a gastric balloon an option for?
A gastric balloon is an option for adults from a BMI of 27 who want medically supervised weight loss and are prepared to change their diet. Whether a balloon is suitable for you, and which one, we clarify in the consultation after an examination.
Which gastric balloon is the right one for me?
That depends above all on how much time you need to change your habits and whether you would like to do without a gastroscopy. The choices are the balloon for 6 months, the Spatz3 balloon for up to 12 months with adjustable filling, and the swallowable Allurion balloon for about 4 months.
How long does the insertion take?
Insertion by gastroscopy takes about 20 to 30 minutes under twilight sedation. Afterwards you stay in the clinic for about another hour for observation. We insert the swallowable balloon in an appointment of about 20 minutes without anaesthesia.
Will I feel the gastric balloon?
In the first days the stomach gets used to the balloon. Nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting are possible during this time and usually subside after about 3 to 5 days. Drink plenty and avoid solid and fatty foods; prescribed medication can relieve the symptoms.
What happens if the balloon loses fluid?
This can happen in rare cases. A harmless dye is added to the filling, which then colours the urine. If this happens, please contact your treating doctor immediately so that the balloon can be removed if necessary.
Do I keep my weight once the balloon has been removed?
The balloon is a temporary aid. Whether you keep the weight you have reached depends on whether you maintain the new eating and exercise habits without the balloon too. That is why our nutrition coaches accompany you during the dwell time.
Does German statutory health insurance cover a gastric balloon?
As a rule, a gastric balloon is a self-pay service; German statutory health insurers usually do not cover the costs. Financing is possible through our financing partner.
What does a gastric balloon cost in Düsseldorf?
There are four packages for the gastric balloon, which differ in the extent of the support. The standard package starts at €3,500. After your consultation at Klinik am Seestern you will receive a no-obligation quote.
Where in Düsseldorf is the gastric balloon inserted?
At Klinik am Seestern, Am Seestern 4 in 40547 Düsseldorf-Lörick, in cooperation with the Weight Doctors. The clinic is on the left bank of the Rhine near the B7, the U77 stops at the Am Seestern stop, and there is free parking on the site.
I am a lipoedema and lymphoedema patient and have been trying to find help for about 10 years. Here it was no problem at all! I was called in quickly, was well looked after, my questions were answered very professionally, and I was able to leave the practice in tears of joy! Many thanks for the support so far.
Alina · October 2026
The friendliness of everyone I dealt with.
Anonymous · July 2026
I had my appointment at the practice for a consultation about my lipoedema, and I really want to leave a review even though I haven't had any surgery there yet. The reason is that this was the first time I felt truly taken seriously during an examination of my lipoedema. Dr. Witt was very friendly and professional from the start, and at the same time incredibly pleasant and humane. He took an exceptional amount of time, examined me very thoroughly and answered all my questions in detail. He is incredibly respectful and explains realistically what could be done and how the whole process would work. I found it particularly positive that at no point did a hectic or unpleasant mood arise. You never had the feeling of being “brushed off” or being under time pressure. Instead, the whole atmosphere was calm, relaxed and trusting. Dr. Witt was very committed, photos were taken of the affected areas and every possible treatment was explained in an understandable way. Dr. Witt explained everything in detail, yet never came across as complicated or distant. Although he is an absolute specialist in his field, I felt at all times that I could speak openly and ask any question. It felt more as if I had been a patient there for a long time. It was also particularly important to me that I never felt pushed towards an operation. It is still not at all clear whether I will have my operation at all, and yet I was taken incredibly seriously and treated with respect. That is exactly what built so much trust in me. I would also very much like to mention the lady at reception, Marris, in a positive way. She was super polite, had a very pleasant and calm manner and immediately gave me a good feeling. Although it was almost 5 p.m. and the end of the working day was approaching, she was incredibly friendly to me and did not seem at all annoyed or stressed. It is precisely such little things that make a huge difference to me personally and reinforced my positive overall impression of the practice. The practice itself is also absolutely impressive. It is extremely modern, high-quality and stylishly furnished. You feel more as if you are entering a luxury hotel than a traditional doctor's practice. Everything seems very well thought out, calm and professional. The organisation around the appointment was also excellent. Even before the appointment, communication was always very friendly, quick and professional. Questions were answered immediately and the whole process seemed perfectly organised. I was also allowed to park in the clinic's car park, which was an enormous relief since everything in the area was completely full. Although it was already later in the afternoon, Dr. Witt even personally saw to it that enquiries were made internally about my question regarding costs. Shortly after I had left the practice, I already received all the information by email. That too simply shows how professionally and attentively they work there. Overall, an exceptionally positive experience, of a kind you unfortunately only rarely have in the medical field. Absolutely fabulous.
Kerasoula P. · June 2026
Very beautiful clinic, wonderful reception and great service. The consultation with the doctor was very comprehensive and she addressed all my questions, which is all you could wish for as a patient / customer. I will definitely have my treatment done here.
Sandra W. · April 2026
Dr. Bromba took the time and advised me very well.
Anonymous · April 2026
A very kind doctor. I felt very comfortable from the first moment!
Elisabeth-katrin · March 2026
Everything was great, just one small remark..... I didn't get any dinner/bread in the evening. The most important thing for me was the operation, or rather everything around it.
Mix · February 2026
I was welcomed and advised incredibly kindly. The consultation takes place on an equal footing and without medical jargon, and what I like best is that they paid attention to what the best treatment is for my concern, and not to what would earn the practice the most money. I took a week to think it over, but actually the decision to choose the clinic was made much sooner.
Anonymous · January 2026
Everyone was very friendly, especially the nurses.
Anonymous · October 2025
I had a consultation and felt taken seriously and understood. They took a lot of time for me, and the examination and the conversation were very thorough. In the end, the treatment is too expensive for me, so I won't be able to have it done.
Anonymous · October 2025
Very competent and friendly consultation.
Anonymous · October 2025
Very competent consultation, super friendly staff!
Anonymous · September 2025
Medical assistant with partly insufficient professional competence.
Andreas M. · August 2025
Very competent consultation and medical examinations. I feel very well looked after.
BrigitteM · August 2025
I really liked the super friendly manner of the ladies at reception, and also that the doctor took the time to see and advise me, as well as the nice lady who went through the cost plan with me. I felt wonderfully looked after and will definitely have my treatment there. Thank you once again for everything so far.
Astrid R. · August 2025
A conversation in peace and without time pressure. I felt very well looked after.
Anonymous · August 2025
I was welcomed very nicely. The doctor was also very nice and answered all my questions. She also showed understanding that one does not decide straight away.
Anonymous · July 2025
Dr. Bromba's calm, matter-of-fact manner and his competence really convinced me during the consultation.
