Gastric Balloon Group

Would not recommend this company. I had the 12 month balloon inserted last April and was scheduled to have it removed today. On arrival at the clinic, just as I was about to enter the premises, I received a telephone call cancelling the procedure due to the consultant being ill. The clinic is over an hour from my home. Now for those of you who do not know what is involved with the removal, you need to fast and be on a liquid diet for 4 days. On the day of the procedure, you are required to bring someone with you to drive you home as you will be sedated. This means 2 people taking time off work. This cancellation has resulted in lost time at work, limited diet for 4 days resulting in a lot of hunger etc. and impacted my wellbeing with the company response which was simply "we are sorry but there is nothing else we can do". You are also told that if you do not follow the pre removal diet and there are any traces of solid foods in your stomach, the procedure may be abandoned at a cost of £1000 to the client. I believe that failing to uphold the same level of accountability as a service provider as expected from a client is a breach of professionalism and contract. It is also double standards on behalf of the company. Along with all of this, the balloon itself isn’t the best weight loss option. You loose weight initially because of the sickness and diarrhoea… never mind the hair loss. Then your body adjusts and you plateau. I have made a formal complaint today and I am to receive a response within 20 days. The telephonist who took my call back refused to allow me to speak to the Managing Director also.

Everything started to be like a very good experience and a good help for me to make a change in my life. Unfortunatelly, on the day 90 of my Allurion ballon I found it in my toilet. The after care lady is saying that is day 91 and no replacement or any help can be given in my case. I am saying that if we count from the time my ballon was inserted I do fall with the guarantee period. Moreover, the ballon desinflates slowly and it is just about everyone body when can go toilet..... Anyway , it is clear that noone cares about you as soon as you pay. Please read carefully everything and make use of it.

I wish I had seen the reviews prior to getting the ballon, my experience is my own and genuine. I went for the ballon last week. After I had it in, I was not able to keep anything down including liquid. The abdominal pain which was out of this world. The 7 days until the ballon was out was one of the most difficult days of my life it was no less than giving birth and hyperemesis. I was also admitted to A and E. (On a side note, I have no issues with the clinic I had it inserted and removed) In this whole process, the term "emergency line" is very misleading, it is not an emergency line, it’s a general advice line from the gastric nurses, the ballon group with not facilitate any form of emergency treatment or services during your journey. I had the ballon inserted on Thursday, Saturday I asked them to take it out and it took them 5 days to give me an appointment to get it removed. I had severe reflux, bowel symptoms, cramps, my mouth and lips were so dry. I have never been so dehydrated. And I had to suffer for 5 more days because they couldn’t get anyone to take it out. They kept telling me to suck on ice lollies, and most suggestions were that most symptoms will go away in a few days which never happened it only got worse for me, the nurses are very well versed to sign post you to A and E but why would you guys do that when all the patients have already paid a significant sum of money for your private service. You are only increasing the workload of the already stressed NHS. Anyways, now I am just trying to get hold of the team to get a full or partial refund. The lady who was in touch with me and managed my package hasn’t replied to me yet. (I begged her to take the ballon out in one of my emails on Saturday but it wasn’t felt necessary to even show a slightest bit of empathy. Thank you) Since my removal, I have checked most of the reviews and reply from GBG which I think is very defensive. I hope I will not have to take this further as I cannot waste any more of my time. Yesterday I developed some rash all over my body and had to take anti-histamines, I am guessing some contribution goes to the last one week of terror and not being able to keep anything down and switching between multiple medications to control my symptoms. At the moment, my body doesn’t feel like mine to be honest. I certainly feel that the company must make changes to how it lays itself out to the patients in the beginning and the wording emergency shouldn’t be used for general advice helpline specially when it is only available for two hours on the weekends.

i had the balloon in February and have lost 3.5 stone, yes its not easy and some people suffer side effects however this is not the case with everyone. The initial first couple of days are hard but i then started to feel amazing. Weight loss isnt easy and you do have to work at it but if you use the balloon as a tool it definately works.

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

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.

I had the balloon fitted in April 2022 worst thing I ever did, I became very unwell with dehydration and the aftercare was atrocious- spoke to 3 different people all giving conflicting advice, I attended A&E and was admitted to majors with some serious after affects. The whole experience was terrible and 4 months later I’m still experiencing issues that relate to the balloon - I had to have the balloon removed by NHS Consultant but transferred to a hospital away from home as the NHS teams confirmed that the balloon was causing a stomach/bladder blockage. I suffered kidney injury. I vomited 26 times a day reported it to the support team who implied it was normal this carried on for 6/7 days I was so weak unable to hold down ice picks even. They still deny any blame despite NHS issuing in writing - please don’t waste your money and don’t risk your health with this group and procedure, it’s not worth it! The entire process was unprofessional, from start to finish they only care about getting your money - my experience has scarred me and my family for life, my children had to witness me bring some poorly and were frightened by this. There is no aftercare whatsoever all they want to do is to reiterate the cert small print they states the unusual side effects and pass on any blame! They refuse to reimburse for the procedure despite it being in for 8 days before having to be removed as an emergency by NHS. They have offered £1000 refund as they didn’t have to remove the balloon so if they are saying £1k is the cost of removal surely it’s the reverse of the fitting so the fitting should be £1k I paid £4999 for mine so £2999 is to cover the cost of aftercare they they haven’t provided snd the aftercare was for 18 months yet I had the balloon for 8 days!!! I plan to seek legal assistance with my situation but I really wouldn’t want anyone else to go through what I did! Regarding your response I feel I should correct some inaccuracies in your response to my review: 1) I was not contacted a few times a day I received one call each day for a few days all gave conflicting advice 2) I was not transferred to your hospital and neither did your consultant remove my balloon - this was done by the NHS they had to fix the mess o was in and remove the balloon as I was very poorly 3) the scales could be returned at anytime they are still in the box - they weren’t accurate to be honest 4) the aftercare team have not tried to contact me since the day I was discharged from hospital (NHS) I kept receiving dietary advice to work with the balloon that I didn’t have so I asked The lady not to include me with that process as I’m sure you will agree it was pointless 5) I wouldn’t feel confident using your services again as even the day of the procedure I was left in an uncomfortable cubicle and left to sit there for hours then a nurse tried 5/6 times to put a cannula in and was unable to do so meaning the Dr did it 6)The medication wasn’t used once I was so poorly 7) The procedure breakdown and outcome that was sent by yourselves was sent to a wrong GP Surgery despite me writing it all on form, also my letter was addressed incorrectly Regards Beverley