Prices: Australia comparison: Price on request, get quotes from clinics. Overseas: Price on request, get quotes from clinics. We haven’t found a verifiable, dated public AUD price source for this page.
Short answer: An intragastric balloon is a temporary device that must be removed on a planned schedule. Budget for placement, monitoring, removal and what happens if you need care between those visits. Bariatric pathways carry risks including intolerance, vomiting, dehydration, balloon deflation or migration, and clots after travel (healthdirect (opens official site); ASMBS (opens official site)). Medicare doesn’t cover treatment overseas. Weight regain after removal is common without ongoing lifestyle support.
Risks and limitations to understand first
- Nausea, vomiting, dehydration, ulceration, balloon deflation or migration, bowel obstruction and need for urgent removal (discuss with your clinician)
- The device is temporary; removal must be planned before you travel
- Prolonged travel after procedures may raise clot risk (ASMBS (opens official site))
- Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas; basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- RACS advises a plan for complications when treatment is overseas (RACS (opens official site))
See gastric balloon overseas. Related: gastric band costs, gastric sleeve costs, gastric bypass costs.
What affects the quote
- Balloon type, planned dwell time and whether removal is included
- Whether placement and removal happen on one trip or two
- Endoscopy fees, anaesthetic and facility fees
- Dietitian support and emergency-care arrangements
- What happens if early removal is needed while you are overseas or at home
Ask for a written, itemised quote covering placement and removal.
Medicare and insurance
- Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas (Department of Health (opens official site)). Ask your GP and fund what is covered in Australia.
- Basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
See health insurance gaps, travel insurance for surgery, medical tourism insurance and Medicare overseas.
Add these to any quote
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Flights | Possibly two trips if removal is separate. Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Accommodation | Around placement and removal. Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Follow-up in Australia | Aftercare in Australia |
| Buffer for problems | Complications overseas |
| Time off work | See flying after surgery |
Use the trip budget planner. Related: weight-loss surgery finance.
Paying for treatment
If you’re considering finance, our sister site surgeryloans.com.au has general information about financing medical and dental treatment. Disclosure: surgeryloans.com.au shares ownership with medicaltourism.com.au. See how we make money. Moneysmart has independent guidance on borrowing (Moneysmart (opens official site)).
Full trip cost beyond the procedure fee
Even when a hospital or clinic tariff is later verified, Australians should add:
- Flights (return; sometimes a second trip for staged work or bridge delivery)
- Hotel for the fly-safe window your clinician documents in writing
- Companion costs, time off work, garments, medications and follow-up visits
- Buffer for delayed healing, extra nights or a revision trip (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Travel insurance that may still exclude elective or planned-procedure complications - read the PDS (travel insurance for surgery)
Use the trip budget planner and trip cost calculator for non-procedure travel maths only.
How to compare quotes without “best price” claims
- Same procedure labels and the same inclusions on every quote
- Named clinician and facility on the consent pathway
- Revision or remake policy in writing
- Total trip maths, not procedure-only marketing figures
- Soften “cheapest country” or “best country” searches - compare credentials, aftercare and risk, not inducements
We only publish AUD figures that sit in our verified price table with a source and access date. If status is pending, this page shows Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Methodology note
We only publish AUD figures present in our verified price table with source URL and access date. Empty or pending rows show Price on request, get quotes from clinics. FX converts, when used elsewhere on this site, cite RBA indicative rates and must be rechecked on publish day. This page does not invent package discounts, holiday inducements or “cheapest country” crowns.
Related tools (non-procedure trip maths only): trip cost calculator · currency converter · savings calculator (educational; not a quote).
Guides: choosing a surgeon · questions to ask · complications overseas · aftercare in Australia · flying after surgery.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gastric balloon cost overseas?
We only publish verified, dated prices. Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Does Medicare cover a gastric balloon overseas?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas.
Is the balloon permanent?
No. It is temporary and must be removed on a planned schedule.
Does travel insurance cover balloon placement overseas?
Basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism. Read the PDS carefully.
Should I talk to an Australian GP first?
Yes. Confirm suitability and a removal plan before you travel.
What should be in a written quote?
Itemised clinician and facility fees, anaesthetic, stay length, inclusions and exclusions, revision or remake policy, and what happens if you need a longer stay.
Why does the full trip cost matter more than the procedure fee?
Flights, hotel for the fly-safe window, companion costs, time off work, insurance and a revision buffer often exceed a low procedure-only figure (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
Does this site pick a best or cheapest country?
No. We soften those anchors. Compare named credentials, facility checks, aftercare at home and total trip maths.
Sources
All accessed 24 October 2026.
- healthdirect, Guide to bariatric surgery: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/procedures/surgery/guide-to-bariatric-surgery
- ASMBS, Medical tourism: https://asmbs.org/patients/medical-tourism/
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Moneysmart, Personal loans: https://moneysmart.gov.au/loans/personal-loans
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Smartraveller, Going overseas for a medical procedure: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel-essentials/travel-health/medical-tourism
- Smartraveller, Medical tourism: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/medical-tourism
- Smartraveller, Sun, sand and surgery: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/sun-sand-and-surgery
- RACS, Going overseas for surgery?: https://www.surgeons.org/-/media/Project/RACS/surgeons-org/files/patient-information-resources/medical-tourism-patient-fact-sheet.pdf
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, What Medicare covers: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicare/about/what-medicare-covers
Disclaimer: The information on medicaltourism.com.au is general in nature. It isn’t medical, legal, financial or insurance advice and doesn’t take your personal circumstances into account. Talk to a registered health practitioner before deciding on any procedure. See our editorial policy, medical disclaimer and how we make money.