Lyndsay Fogarty
A new, life-changing weight loss procedure has come to Central Florida. Dr. Nasim Ahmed is now performing the FDA-approved Reshape procedure in Orlando, affectionately referred to as belly balloons. The procedure is designed specifically for patients with a BMI between 30 and 40 who have not had bariatric surgery and are in otherwise good overall health.
The patient is given a light anesthetic and, using an endoscope, Dr. Ahmed inserts the deflated dual balloon apparatus. He then fills the balloons with saline and removes the scope. The entire procedure takes 30 minutes or less and has minimal down time. Most patients return home and rest before resuming their day-to-day activities and may experience some light nausea while their body adjusts to the balloons.
The process is simple and effective. The balloons occupy two-thirds of the stomach and are designed to make the patient feel fuller faster and longer thus eating less and helping them to lose excess weight.
“We are excited about the Reshape/Belly Balloon procedure for a couple reasons,” Dr. Ahmed says. “One, patients will lose weight. Two, it is nonsurgical and the patient’s stomach remains intact. If they are determined to lose weight, this is a great jumpstart for them.”
Life-changing weight loss doesn’t just happen, and the experts at Belly Balloon Orlando will help coach, guide and nurture program participants throughout their one-year program. Patients will receive access to online nutrition assistance 24/7 as well as the opportunity to take unlimited web-based fitness and exercise classes. PLUS, each and every patient will be given a Fitbit activity tracker, Fitbit Wi-Fi-enabled scale as well as a portion control plate.
If the patient is committed to a healthy diet, Dr. Ahmed is confident that they will be successful in maintaining their weight loss long after the balloons are removed.
Success Stories
Michelle was in eighth grade when her weight gain began. By the time she started her senior year, she was the biggest she had ever been and was losing confidence in herself. She tried diet pills, shakes and everything in between and could not lose the weight.
“Reshape worked for me because it made me feel full immediately,” Michelle says. “When I had eaten enough on my plate, I was done. There was no snacking in between; I didn’t need anything to hold me over.”
Michelle lost 32 pounds. “Reshape gave me confidence in my body and in myself,” she says. “When I look in the mirror I’m proud of myself, for one, but I see the real me. I see who I’ve always been.”
Patrick started to gain weight in his 20s — a little bit here, a little bit there. As he got older, the extra weight impacted his quality of life. He couldn’t keep up with his son, his friends gave him a hard time, and he didn’t have the confidence he wanted.
When Patrick was ready to shed the weight, he opted to use the Reshape/Belly Balloon procedure and lost 65 pounds.
“I really love ReShape for two reasons: it’s noninvasive and you don’t have to alter your body. And, the program teaches you how to eat correctly and retain your weight loss” Patrick says.
A lifetime of yo-yo dieting had taken its toll not only on Virginia’s body, but her spirit as well. “I had fallen into a major depression,” she says. “I was always the life of the party and suddenly here I was overweight, aging, and I was at a wit’s end as what to do.”
Virginia had tried so many weight loss “schemes” in the past, losing hundreds of pounds only to quickly regain them back. But when she heard about ReShape/Belly Balloon, “I thought this is really what that I need. I need the jumpstart. I need the support. And I’m a strong enough person that I can get on with this and be myself again.”
Changing Lives with Weight Loss
According to Dr. Ahmed, the Reshape/Belly Balloon procedure is more than just a weight loss tool. It’s about teaching patients the basics of a healthy lifestyle so they can keep the weight off for the rest of their lives. Even more, it’s a catalyst for bringing a patient’s inner beauty out for the entire world to see.
With a convenient location just outside of downtown Orlando and Winter Park, Belly Balloon Orlando is there for all Central Floridians who need help with weight loss along with a dedicated support system to help every step of the way. They are currently providing free, no-obligation consultations to Lifestyle readers.
Belly Balloon Orlando
3000 N. Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32804
407.420.7663
BellyBalloonOrlando.com
Meet the Doctor
Dr. Nasim Ahmed did his gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Mississippi. He has been in private practice in all aspects of gastrointestinal disease for over 35 years. He had been Chairman of the Department of Gastroenterology at Florida Hospital Orlando for five years. He has been involved in teaching the residents and medical students and won The Best Teacher Award from Orlando Health in 2012. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Central Florida.
With extensive experience in performing upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, percutaneous endoscopic gastroscopy and ERCP, Dr. Ahmed’s special interests are in obesity and helping patients to lose weight. He is one of the first GI doctors in Florida to offer the FDA-approved Reshape/Belly Balloon procedure using a dual-intragastric balloon as a nonsurgical approach that is proven to help patients achieve and maintain significant weight loss.
He is married and has three children. His family lives in Windermere.
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