There's a new type of weight loss pill. And it contains a gastric balloon.

There's a new weight loss pill on the market. And it's not what you think it is.

It isn't the blockbuster medication that swooped up Hollywood A-listers. It doesn't involve injections. Or diabetic medicine. 

It's called the 'Allurion gastric balloon' — and it's set to revolutionise weight loss as we know it.

Watch: Why Lindy West will never be 'thin'. Post continues below.

The treatment, which has been approved for use in Australia, is a non-surgical gastric balloon which encourages weight loss by restricting the size of the stomach. In a nutshell, it's a device that promises surgical results without the surgery.

So, does it actually work?

Professor Richard Welbourn, a consultant surgeon from the UK, told BBC News the swallowable intragastric balloon expands to "the size of a large grapefruit."

The treatment takes 15 minutes and it doesn't require anaesthesia, hospital stay or downtime.

He explained, "Patients swallow it as a little capsule, which is about the size of the end of your little finger. Patients swallow it with a gulp of water. It has a little tube attached to it. We use the tube to then inflate the balloon."

Once in the stomach, the balloon is filled with 550mls of saline water and expands. The tube is then removed. 

"It's all done under X-ray control, so there's no anaesthetic, no endoscopy and no theatre time used and no hospital bed."

The temporary balloon, which lasts for four months, creates a feeling of 'fullness', resulting in reduced food intake.

"Patients will lose 10 to 15 per cent of their weight over four months. At that time, the balloon then dissolves and passes through spontaneously through the bowels."

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Dr George Balalis, a specialised weight loss (bariatric) surgeon, recently inserted the device into Australia's first patient. Speaking with Mamamia, he said the device was and a game-changer for people who either don’t qualify for surgery or don’t want surgery.

"It is the only swallowable gastric balloon, and has provided less invasive treatment for patients with obesity," he explained. 

A recent study showed swallowable gastric balloons can help patients to lose around a third of excess body weight. At the end of the treatment, patients are encouraged to follow specific eating habits and lifestyle changes to maintain results.

"In our clinic we have an average weight loss of 13 per cent over four months, with majority of that weight staying off at 12 months," said Dr Balalis. "We have completed more balloons than any other clinic in Australia, as the Allurion balloon provides a safe and non-invasive option for patients from a BMI of 27 to 40."

While gastric surgery to reduce the size of the stomach is still classified as the most effective treatment for weight loss, anaesthesia is often seen as a high risk for patients who are very overweight. Meaning? Those who want to undergo the surgery are required to undertake a long period of lifestyle modification to become a good candidate for surgical treatment.

Gastric surgery is also costly and can fall around the $20,000 mark in Australia. At a reported $5,000 to $6,000, the swallowable balloon is a fraction of the price.

"This device provides you with a tool to change your lifestyle and to improve your habits and that four month period gives you that opportunity to do so," Dr Balalis told Sunrise. "After four months the device opens up and you pass it naturally — most patients don’t realise that’s happened."

As with any medical treatment, Allurion is not a one-size-fits-all procedure, and an appointment with a specialist is required to confirm if it's the right solution for you. 

However, for the right candidate, medical professionals say this new treatment may be seen as a more accessible step to improve an individual's overall health and quality of life for years to come.

What do you think of the recent advances in weight loss treatment? Share with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Getty.