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C A S E S T U D Y

WEIGHT LOSS aestheticmed.co.uk

PRACTITIONER Q&A
Mr Dafydd Wilson-Evans, lead dietetic
practitioner in the bariatric surgery team at
North Bristol NHS Trust and private practice
specialist dietitian, weightloss and DWE
nutrition.

How many patients have you treated with
the Elipse balloon?
22

What is the cost to the patient?
From £4,000

How do you manage patients’ expectations?
All potential Elipse Balloon patients will have
a full assessment with an obesity consultant
and specialist dietitian. Discussing the
patient’s expectations is part of the
assessment process and is managed on a
with normal life.” case-by-case basis. Topics include; expected
Using the Elipse programme’s connected portable Smart weight loss, health improvements, managing
Scale and smartphone app, Jones “weighed in” every few possible side-effects and life afterwards.
days. To help adapt his eating habits to maximise success,
part of the treatment plan involved telephone calls between Who is an ideal candidate and who wouldn’t
the patient and Mr Wilson-Evans every few weeks to discuss be suitable?
Jones’s nutritional progress. He was also instructed to keep The Elipse program can help a number of
a food diary, which was sent to Mr Wilson-Evans weekly. different patient groups. There are many
The patient was supported throughout the treatment reasons why patients may want to lose
programme by clinical psychologist Dr Vanessa Snowdon- weight; this might be for aesthetic reasons,
Carr, “who helped me identify some bad eating habits that to improve related health conditions or as
probably led to weight gain in the first place,” said Jones. “I a way to reduce their weight to be eligible
received great support from the clinic and they stayed in for other medical interventions. A patient
touch with me all throughout the placement journey. When I is eligible for an Elipse Balloon if they have
started to lose weight and muscle mass, I decided to increase a BMI >27kg/m2 and have tried different
my frequency at the gym.” lifestyle interventions in the past.

RESULTS Are there any risks once the patient has
In the eight months from August 2019 when the balloon ingested the balloon?
was placed to April 2020, when the patient’s case study As with any medical procedure, there are
was released, he had achieved a weight loss to date of 25kg always risks to consider. However, the Elipse
(3.9 stone). The balloon was passed in December 2019. Balloon is very low risk in comparison to
Commenting on his results, Jones said: “The balloon has other weight-loss procedures and favoured
focused my mind again and made me want to live a healthier in our practice to other intra-gastric balloons
life. It has got me back into the gym and making better because there is no need for anaesthesia or
choices about what I’m eating.” The patient’s weight loss an endoscopy.
plateaued around two to three months after the balloon
was passed, fluctuating by 1-2kg up and down. However, he How likely is it that patients maintain
said, “It is fair to say I have maintained the weight loss. I’ve a reduction in weight after passing the
certainly not been gaining fat.” balloon?
We discuss the possibility of weight
regain after the balloon has passed at the
assessment consultation. The factors that
Total weight loss: 28kg (4.4 stone) will influence weight regain are multifactorial
Heaviest weight: 156kg (24.6 stone) but include biological and behavioural
Weight when the balloon passed: 134kg (21.1 stone) elements. We aim to help patients during
Weight now (April 2020): 131kg (20.6 stone) this transition phase and focus on weight
Weight loss to date: 25kg (3.9 stone) maintenance initially. Supporting patients
Date balloon swallowed: August 2019 with their diet and exercise regimes at this
Date balloon passed: December 2019 time can help achieve this. AM

54 Aesthetic Medicine • June 2020