Explore gastric balloon costs, financing options, and monthly payment plans to help manage out-of-pocket expenses for nonsurgical weight loss treatment.
Last updated October 2026
Gastric balloon treatment may cost approximately $6,000 to $9,000 in the United States, based on published prices from weight-loss clinics. Some programs include balloon placement, removal, and follow-up care in one price, while others charge separately for certain services.
A gastric balloon is a temporary weight-loss device placed in the stomach during an endoscopic procedure. Once filled, it takes up space in the stomach to help you feel full sooner. It is used alongside dietary changes, physical activity, and ongoing medical support.
Because insurance coverage is limited, many patients pay for treatment themselves. Depending on eligibility, payment options may include HSA or FSA funds, financing arranged through the treatment provider, healthcare credit cards, and personal loans.
How Much Does a Gastric Balloon Cost?
Published self-pay prices from several US weight-loss practices fall around $6,000 to $9,000 for a gastric balloon program. Your total gastric balloon cost may vary by provider, location, device, and the services included in the treatment package.
Some practices offer bundled pricing, while others list a base procedure fee and charge separately for anesthesia, facility use, or follow-up care. Before comparing prices, ask each provider for a written breakdown of the services included.
| Service | What May Be Included | What to Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation and evaluation | Initial assessment and any required medical testing | Whether lab work or medical clearance is billed separately |
| Balloon placement | Device, endoscopy, anesthesia or sedation, and facility charges | Which device is used and which associated services are in the quoted price |
| Balloon removal | Scheduled removal and any separate facility or anesthesia fees | Whether scheduled removal is included and what happens financially if early removal is necessary |
| Follow-up care | Nutrition counseling, medical monitoring, and post-removal visits | How many months of follow-up are covered, including after removal |
| Device adjustments, if applicable | Adjustment procedures for devices designed to be adjusted | Whether each adjustment carries an additional charge |
| Medications | Prescriptions used before or after placement, including those for side effects | Whether prescriptions, anti-nausea medications, and other recommended products are included or billed separately |
Published prices vary by clinic and should not be treated as a national average. Some providers include placement, scheduled removal, and follow-up appointments in one package, while others bill certain services separately. Request a written estimate that explains what is covered, including any additional charges for early removal, medications, or complications. Price range based on published pricing from West Medical and The Silhouette Clinic.
Intragastric balloon systems are intended for adults within a specified BMI range, generally between 30 and 40, who have not achieved sufficient weight loss with previous nonsurgical approaches and are willing to take part in a long-term supervised diet and behavior program. Eligibility criteria differ by device.
For example, the current Orbera labeling covers adults with a BMI of 30 to 40 and sets a maximum placement period of six months. The Spatz3 Adjustable Balloon System, approved by the FDA in 2021, is labeled for adults with a BMI of 35 to 40, or 30 to 34.9 with at least one major obesity-related condition, has a maximum placement period of eight months, and allows volume adjustments during treatment. Device availability varies, so ask which systems your provider offers.
A gastric balloon may not be appropriate for people with certain gastrointestinal conditions, previous stomach, esophageal, or bariatric surgery, a large hiatal hernia, pregnancy, or other medical risk factors. Your physician can review your medical history, explain the device-specific contraindications, and determine whether gastric balloon treatment is appropriate.
Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort are common after placement, and the Orbera labeling notes that most patients adapt within the first two weeks. Serious complications have also been reported. The FDA has warned healthcare professionals about serious complications associated with certain liquid-filled gastric balloons, including pancreatitis, stomach perforation, and balloon overinflation. Seek prompt medical evaluation for severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, significant abdominal swelling, or other symptoms your care team identifies as warning signs.
Some patients cannot tolerate the balloon or develop complications that require it to be removed before the planned date. In the US clinical study described in the Spatz3 labeling, 31 of 187 patients, about 17 percent, had the balloon removed early, most often because of adverse events. Early removal rates for other devices and practices may differ.
Before treatment, ask whether an unplanned removal or related care is included in your program price, whether any refund or credit applies to unused services, and whether cancellation or removal fees apply. Keep in mind that a refund from the practice does not automatically cancel a loan or credit card balance used to pay for treatment.
Gastric balloon treatment is often excluded from health insurance coverage, and many clinics offer it on a self-pay basis. Before scheduling treatment, ask your insurer whether the procedure or any related medical services are covered.
Insurer policies illustrate why coverage is limited. Aetna’s obesity surgery policy, for example, lists intragastric balloons among treatments it considers experimental, investigational, or unproven. Your plan may still cover some related consultations or medically necessary services even if it excludes the balloon procedure itself. Coverage depends on the diagnosis, provider, and plan rules.
Insurance coverage and eligibility to use tax-advantaged funds are separate questions. You may be able to use HSA or FSA funds if the expense qualifies as medical care under applicable tax rules. IRS Publication 502 recognizes certain weight-loss expenses as medical expenses when the treatment addresses a specific disease diagnosed by a physician, including obesity, but it does not specifically establish that every gastric balloon program qualifies. Before paying, confirm the requirements with your HSA or FSA administrator, and keep your physician’s recommendation and itemized treatment records.
Gastric balloons, bariatric surgery, and prescription weight-loss medications work differently and involve different costs. A gastric balloon is temporary, is placed endoscopically without abdominal incisions, and does not permanently change the stomach’s anatomy. Bariatric procedures, such as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, involve permanent anatomical changes and may qualify for insurance coverage when medical criteria are met. Prescription weight-loss medications typically involve recurring costs that depend on the drug, treatment duration, and insurance benefits.
Because a gastric balloon is removed after a limited treatment period, continued lifestyle changes and medical follow-up are important for maintaining weight loss. A physician who specializes in obesity treatment can help you compare the expected benefits, risks, and long-term costs of each approach.
Ask the practice for a written quote, the deposit required, and the payment methods it accepts. The best payment method for your situation depends on the total treatment cost, when payment is due, and the rates and terms available to you.
The table below compares common gastric balloon payment options.
| Payment Option | Potential Advantage | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Practice-arranged financing | May allow eligible patients to pay over time through a financing provider affiliated with the practice | APR, fees, and whether a promotion is true 0% APR or deferred interest |
| Healthcare credit card, such as CareCredit | Accepted at some weight-loss practices, often with promotional financing | Credit limit, promotional terms, and deferred-interest risk |
| Personal loan | Proceeds can generally be used to pay eligible treatment expenses, including at practices that do not participate in a particular financing program | APR, origination fees, and when funds will be available |
| HSA or FSA funds | Allows eligible medical expenses to be paid with tax-advantaged funds | Eligibility, documentation, and plan deadlines |
| 0% intro-APR credit card | May allow interest-free repayment during a promotional period, provided the purchase qualifies and the account terms are followed | Promotional duration, purchase eligibility, fees, and the APR after the promotion ends |
Before financing a gastric balloon program, ask what happens if treatment is canceled, the balloon cannot be placed, or it must be removed earlier than planned. A refund from the practice does not automatically cancel your financing agreement, so confirm how any refund would be applied to your loan or credit card balance and whether interest or fees would still be owed.
When comparing promotional offers, a true 0% APR promotion charges no interest during the promotional period. As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains, with deferred-interest financing, failing to pay the promotional balance in full by the deadline can trigger interest calculated from the original purchase date, even if you have already repaid most of the balance.
After determining how much you plan to pay using HSA, FSA, or personal funds, you can compare prequalified loan offers for any remaining expense from lenders in our partner network below. Checking prequalified offers generally involves a soft credit inquiry that does not affect your credit score; a formal loan application may require a hard credit inquiry.
For a $7,500 loan at 13% APR, choosing a 36-month term instead of 24 months reduces the estimated monthly payment from $357 to $253 but increases total repayment by approximately $539.
The examples below show estimated monthly payments and total repayment costs for loans at a fixed 13% APR, assuming no additional fees.
| Amount Financed | Monthly Payment (24 Months) | Total Repaid (24 Months) | Monthly Payment (36 Months) | Total Repaid (36 Months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $238 | $5,705 | $168 | $6,065 |
| $7,500 | $357 | $8,558 | $253 | $9,097 |
| $10,000 | $475 | $11,410 | $337 | $12,130 |
Examples assume a fixed 13% APR, no additional fees, and repayment over 24 or 36 months. These are hypothetical calculations, not loan offers. Actual APRs, fees, and terms depend on the lender and your credit profile. You can check your rate with our partner SuperMoney with a soft credit check.
Published self-pay prices from US clinics are approximately $6,000 to $9,000 for a treatment program. Costs depend on the device, provider, and included services.
Many health insurance plans exclude gastric balloon treatment. Some related medical services may be covered, depending on your plan.
Possibly. Certain physician-directed weight-loss treatments may qualify as medical expenses. Confirm eligibility and documentation requirements before paying.
Some programs include scheduled removal, but others charge separately. Ask whether early removal would involve additional fees.
Treatment duration depends on the specific device and its approved labeling. Your physician can explain when the balloon must be removed.
Some providers offer promotional financing. Confirm whether the offer has a true 0% APR or deferred-interest terms.
Financing may be available to applicants with lower credit scores, but approval is not guaranteed and borrowing costs may be higher.
Gastric balloon treatment is often paid for out of pocket, making it important to understand exactly what a program includes. Before scheduling, ask for a written estimate covering placement, removal, follow-up appointments, and any services that may be billed separately.
Discuss the treatment’s risks and expected benefits with your physician, and confirm whether HSA or FSA funds may be used. If you need financing, compare monthly payments, interest rates, fees, and total repayment costs before choosing an offer. For a broader look at paying for weight-loss treatment, see our weight loss financing guide.
Are you a weight loss or bariatric practice? See how to offer your patients monthly payment options.
Disclosure: FigCare Pay is not a lender, broker, or credit decision-maker. When you select “View My Offers,” you are redirected to an independent third-party loan marketplace where lenders determine all rates, terms, and approvals; FigCare Pay may receive referral compensation. Prequalification uses a soft credit check with no credit impact, though completing an official loan application may require a hard inquiry. Prequalification does not guarantee approval or the timing of funds. Cost figures shown are estimated examples that vary by provider, device, and region and are not a quote. Coverage and HSA/FSA information is general and depends on your plan. This page is general information only and is not medical, financial, tax, insurance, or legal advice. Candidacy for a gastric balloon is determined by a licensed physician.
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