The Spatz3 is the only adjustable intragastric balloon on the market — and it's increasingly what patients ask for by name. Unlike 6-month balloons (Orbera, ReShape), the Spatz3 stays in place for up to 12 months, and its volume can be increased or decreased during that period to manage tolerance and maximize weight loss. It's a fundamentally different product in the gastric balloon category.
In the United States, the Spatz3 runs $7,000–$10,000 at cash-pay weight loss clinics. Insurance almost never covers it. In Colombia, the same device — same manufacturer, same product — costs $2,500–$4,500, placed by board-certified gastroenterologists at modern endoscopy centers.
How the Spatz3 Works
The Spatz3 is placed endoscopically — a 20-minute outpatient procedure under light sedation. A deflated silicone balloon is passed through the mouth into the stomach, then filled with 400–700 mL of saline. The balloon creates a sensation of fullness, reducing meal size and slowing gastric emptying.
What makes the Spatz3 unique is the adjustability. Around month 4–6, your gastroenterologist can increase the balloon volume if weight loss has plateaued, or decrease it if nausea and discomfort are persistent. This mid-course correction capability is why the Spatz3 achieves higher average weight loss than fixed-volume alternatives.
| Feature | Spatz3 | Orbera | Obalon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 12 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Adjustable | Yes — volume modified mid-treatment | No | No |
| Placement | Endoscopic (20 min, sedation) | Endoscopic (20 min, sedation) | Swallowed capsule (no sedation) |
| Avg. total body weight loss | 15–20% | 10–15% | 7–10% |
| Colombia cost | $2,500–$4,500 | $2,000–$3,500 | Less available |
| U.S. cost | $7,000–$10,000 | $6,000–$9,000 | $6,000–$8,000 |
Why Colombia for a Gastric Balloon?
Cost efficiency. At $2,500–$4,500, the Spatz3 in Colombia costs less than the cheapest U.S. balloon option. Factor in a $250 round-trip flight and a few nights' accommodation, and total trip cost is still 50–60% below the U.S. price.
Gastroenterology expertise. Colombia has a strong gastroenterology training pipeline. The specialists performing balloon placements are board-certified endoscopists who often handle hundreds of procedures annually — both balloons and more complex endoscopic interventions.
Follow-up flexibility. The Spatz3's 12-month timeline means you'll need the mid-treatment adjustment and eventual removal. Many Colombian practices offer these follow-up procedures to returning patients, or can coordinate with your U.S. gastroenterologist for removal. Plan two trips: placement and removal/adjustment, or arrange removal stateside.
Who's a Good Candidate?
Gastric balloons typically target patients with a BMI of 30–40 who haven't succeeded with diet and exercise alone but aren't candidates for (or don't want) surgical weight loss. The Spatz3's 12-month duration and adjustability make it the strongest non-surgical option for patients committed to a longer behavioral-change process.
Your Colombian gastroenterologist will evaluate candidacy during a virtual or in-person consultation. Contraindications include prior gastric surgery, large hiatal hernia, active gastric ulcers, and certain medications (anticoagulants require careful management).
Interested in the Spatz3 in Colombia?
We'll connect you with board-certified gastroenterologists who place Spatz3 balloons — including cost estimates and scheduling.
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