Published Studies & Safety Data
The specific peer-reviewed citations behind the figures used across this site, plus a numerical breakdown of adverse event rates — not just “uncommon” or “rare”.
Selected published studies
Rather than asking you to take “studies show” on trust, here are specific, checkable citations — including data from the Middle East, since that is the most directly relevant population for patients considering treatment in Dubai.
- Ramai D, Singh J, Mohan BP, et al. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2021;55(10):836-841. Meta-analysis of 7 studies, 2,152 patients: 12% total body weight loss, 1.8% early deflation rate. doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000001484
- Silva AF, Bestetti AM, Kum AST, et al. Obes Surg. 2024;34(10):3735-3747. Meta-analysis of the swallowable balloon specifically, 2,107 patients: 12.5% total body weight loss, favourable safety profile. doi.org/10.1007/s11695-024-07453-5
- Ienca R, Al Jarallah M, Caballero A, et al. Obes Surg. 2020;30(9):3354-3362. Registry across 19 centres in Europe and the Middle East, 1,770 patients: mean 13.5kg lost, BMI down 4.9 points. doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-04539-8
- Taha O, Abdelaal M, Asklany A, et al. Obes Surg. 2021;31(3):965-969. Egypt, 96 patients: 11.2kg average weight loss and BMI reduction of 4.9 points over 4 months. doi.org/10.1007/s11695-020-05086-y
- Jamal MH, Almutairi R, Elabd R, et al. Obes Surg. 2019;29(4):1236-1241. Kuwait, 106 patients followed to 1 year after removal: 7.9% total body weight loss sustained at 12 months. doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-03671-w
- Alsabah S, Al Haddad E, Ekrouf S, et al. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2018;14(3):311-317. Kuwait, 135 patients: 13.0kg average weight loss, 15.1% total body weight loss over 4 months. doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2017.12.001
- Jense MTF, Palm-Meinders IH, Sanders B, et al. Obes Surg. 2023;33(6):1668-1675. 336 patients combining the balloon with 12 months of lifestyle coaching: mean 11.0kg lost at 1 year. doi.org/10.1007/s11695-023-06573-8
These are independent, peer-reviewed findings — not figures from this practice. Results vary by device, by patient, and by how closely the accompanying diet programme is followed.
What the safety numbers actually look like
“Uncommon” and “rare” are honest words, but they are not numbers. For the Allurion swallowable balloon specifically, the largest published meta-analysis to date (Silva et al., 2024, cited above, 2,107 patients) grades adverse events by how they were managed:
- Grade I — mild, self-limiting: abdominal pain (~24%), nausea (~29%), early deflation (~1.9%). These typically resolve within the first week without intervention.
- Grade IIIA — required medical management: clinical intolerance (~3.6%), gastric outlet obstruction (~0.2%), small bowel obstruction (~0.05%).
- Grade IIIB — required surgical intervention: approximately 0.24% of cases.
Orbera and Medsil, placed and removed endoscopically, carry a broadly similar order-of-risk profile in their own published literature, with the trade-off of a sedated procedure at each end instead of natural passage. Your consultation is where the right device for your situation, not just the lowest headline risk, gets decided.
Figures above are population averages from the cited peer-reviewed sources, not a forecast for any individual patient. This page will be updated as new data is published.