Spatz3: A Smarter, Gentler Way to Support Weight Loss

Finding the right balance between food, physical activity, and well-being can be a challenge. For many people, high-calorie intake and low physical activity make weight loss feel impossible — often impacting both health and self-confidence.

That’s where the Spatz3 intragastric balloon comes in. This gentle, non-surgical treatment is designed to reduce your hunger and support long-term weight loss — without extreme diets or invasive surgery. It works naturally with your body to help you regain control. During your consultation with the Weight Doctors®, our expert team will recommend a personalized plan that fits your goals and lifestyle — giving you the tools to make sustainable change.

Lose weight for longer: the Weight Doctors non-surgical gastric balloon for 12 months

 

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    WHY SPATZ3?  AND WHY FOR 12 MONTHS?

    Advantage #1 — Visible Results Starting from Day 1
    Most patients notice a change in appetite and fullness immediately after placement. With consistent support and lifestyle change, weight loss of up to 25kg in as little as 1 year.

    Advantage #2 — Adjustable to Support Your Journey
    Spatz3 is the world’s only adjustable gastric balloon. During your 12-month treatment, the balloon can be fine-tuned to optimise your results or minimise side effects — giving you a truly personalised experience.

    Advantage #3 — Minimally Invasive, No Scarring
    Placed endoscopically via the mouth in under 30 minutes, Spatz3 involves no incisions, no scars, and minimal downtime.

    Advantage #4 — Built-In Safety and Stability
    The patented anchor system prevents the balloon from migrating into the digestive tract, ensuring the highest safety standard among all gastric balloons.

    at a glance

    Duration of the procedure

    approx. 30 minutes

    Tyoe of anesthesia

    Mild sedation (semi-conscious)

    Stay

    Outpatient – you can return home the same day

    Pain level

    Very low; some mild discomfort for 2-3 days

    Scarring

    none

    Sociable

    Return to normal activities in 3-4 days

    Durabilty

    12-months (365 days)

    Cost

    Starting from R 69 000

    A Gentle, Proven Way to Support Your Weight Loss

    The Spatz3 balloon is placed into your stomach using a simple, endoscopic procedure — no surgery or cuts required. Once in place, the balloon is filled with a sterile saline solution and begins helping you feel fuller, sooner.

    Here’s what makes it different:

    1. Longer Duration: Designed to stay in place for a full 12 months.
    2. Adjustable Volume: The balloon can be adjusted during your treatment to better suit your needs, goals, comfortability and reduce potential side effects.
    3. Enhanced Safety: A built-in anchor prevents the balloon from moving into the intestine or into the esophagus, offering additional safety and peace of mind.

    What to Expect During Your Treatment

    Your journey begins with a personal consultation to assess your personal goals and needs, and explain the procedure in detail. If you decide to proceed, the balloon will be placed during a quick, non-surgical outpatient procedure — usually lasting no more than 30 minutes. After a brief observation period (around 1 hour), you can return home the same day.

    The Spatz3 balloon stays in place for 12 months, giving you time to build lasting habits with the support of the Weight Doctors® team. Sometime between the 4th and 6th month, we can adjust the balloon’s volume (i.e. increase) to either enhance weight loss or ease any discomfort — depending on how your body responds and the rate of your weight loss.

    Throughout the process, the Weight Doctors® team is with you every step of the way. After 12 months, the balloon is gently removed via endoscopy under light sedation — just as smoothly as it was placed.

    Watch How the Gastric Balloon Works

    Curious about how the Spatz3 balloon is placed? In this short video, we’ll walk you through the gentle, non-surgical procedure that helps reduce hunger and support your weight loss journey — all in just 30 minutes.

    PAYMENT PLANS WITH CAPITEC AND THE WEIGHT DOCTORS

    Ratenzahlung leicht gemacht

    Viele Patienten von Weight Doctors wünschen eine komfortable Zahlung in Raten, um ihre Behandlungskosten einfacher über einen längeren Zeitraum zu verteilen. Weight Doctors bietet in Zusammenarbeit mit medipay eine ideale Lösung:

    Denn Sie bestimmen allein, wie lange die Laufzeit Ihrer Finanzierung sein soll. Entsprechend haben Sie die Möglichkeit, von unserem fairen, zinsgünstigen und diskreten Teilzahlungsservice zu profitieren. Und das alles vollständig online.

    Your consultation. It's all about you.

    Schedule your consultation at Weight Doctors in a way that suits you and choose from your most preferred of our options. Your first consultation is free-of-charge. Our team has native speakers in English, Afrikaans, German and Dutch language.

    Consultation
    by phone

    100% free-of-charge

    Consultation
    by video call

    100% free-of-charge

    Consultation
    in-person

    100% free-of-charge

    Howzit? It's your Coach Iris. Anything I can do for you today?

    As a Weight Doctors® patient, you will benefit from our brand-new digital AI-Coach Iris: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Iris speaks to you in 7 languages and is supported by our new Weight Doctors® 360 Coaches. For the best Weight Doctors® aftercare ever experienced.

    Benefits of the Spatz3 vs. Comparable Products

    What Makes Spatz3 Different?
    Unlike other gastric balloons, Spatz3 is non-surgical, leaving no scars and requiring very little recovery time. As a temporary support tool it gives you the freedom to build healthier habits — without the need for long-term medical interventions.

    What truly sets it apart? Duration. Most gastric balloons last just 6 months. The Spatz3 supports your progress for a full 12 months, giving you more time to adjust your lifestyle and form sustainable habits that last well beyond treatment.

    Fewer Risks. Just Support That Fits You.
    Once placed, the Spatz3 balloon’s built-in safety anchor ensures the balloon stays in place and is easy to remove via gastroscopy, even in the rare event of a technical issue. Your safety and comfort always come first.

    Weight Loss From Day One — and Beyond
    With the Spatz3 balloon, most patients feel a difference from the very first day. The balloon helps reduce hunger, supports portion control, and kickstarts steady, natural weight loss.
    What’s more, our experience shows that after the balloon is adjusted mid-treatment, weight loss often accelerates — helping patients lose up to 30% more weight over the full year. And because your journey is supported by the Weight Doctors the entire time, you’re more likely to sustain those results after the balloon is removed.

    Sustained Results — Even After Adjustment

    With Spatz3, your progress doesn’t plateau. In fact, many of our patients experience continued weight loss in the second phase of treatment — after the balloon has been adjusted. Thanks to the extended 12-month duration and personalised support, patients lose up to 30% more weight and are more likely to maintain their results long after the balloon is removed.


    professor thomas hoelting, md

    “Designed to be placed for 1 year, the Spatz3 is a real superstar amongst obesity treatments: easy to place, extremely flexible and long-lasting. This means a high success rate in the lifestyle changes our patients are looking for.”

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Yes. Spatz3 helps you lose a significant amount of weight faster than with dieting alone. Unlike diets, which often lead to short-term results and the dreaded yo-yo effect, the Spatz3 balloon supports long-term change. It helps reduce hunger and cravings while encouraging sustainable lifestyle habits. Clinical studies show that Spatz3 leads to greater and more lasting weight loss than dieting alone.

    To get the best results from your Spatz3 treatment, it’s essential to commit to meaningful lifestyle change. The balloon is a tool to help you start, but lasting success comes from building healthier eating and activity habits. Our team and Coach Iris are here to support you throughout the journey—helping you leave old habits behind and adopt sustainable, healthy routines that match your goals.

    In the first few days after placement, your stomach may need time to adjust. It’s common to experience temporary symptoms like nausea, discomfort, or vomiting. These usually subside within 3–5 days. Once adjusted, the Spatz3 balloon helps you feel full faster and longer—making it easier to control your appetite and reduce the urge to overeat.

    No, there is virtually no risk. The Spatz3 is equipped with a patented anchor system that prevents the balloon from migrating into the intestines. This unique safety feature makes Spatz3 the only adjustable gastric balloon on the market with this level of stability and reassurance.

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    At a glance:
    Our Weight Doctors SA locations

    Alberton
    Cape Town
    Johannesburg
    Pretoria
    Windhoek (Namibia)

    Curious about the Weight Doctors® experience in Africa? Make your enquiry now.

    Our experienced Weight Doctors® team awaits you. Get excited about your next steps towards a new life.

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