Revisional Bariatric Surgery

Revisional bariatric surgery involves modifying a primary weight loss procedure that has either failed or not offered the patient the weight loss that they or their surgeon expected. Virtually any procedure can be revised. However, it is essential to ensure that the procedure is necessary, as revisions are still major surgical procedures and, as such, come with added risk.

Before approving a patient to undergo a revisional bariatric surgery, we must ensure that it is not a lifestyle issue causing the lack of weight loss or weight regain. We will review your food journal and any dietary and exercise habits during your consultation to see if a minor, non-surgical change allows for continued weight loss.

• The gastric bypass can be revised in several ways. This increases restriction and allows for continued weight loss. Various endoscopic procedures can also be performed to lessen the size of the stomach pouch or shrink a stretched stoma (the valve.)
• The gastric sleeve can be revised by performing a second sleeve, further reducing the size of the stomach. The sleeve can also be modified to a duodenal switch or SADI by simply adding the surgery’s malabsorption (intestinal) component.
• The gastric band may slip or erode into the esophagus over time. This will necessitate removing the original band. The patient will have the option to convert to a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.

The first step to learning more about revisional bariatric surgery and whether it is right for you is contacting our office. After a thorough check-up, we should be able to determine the cause of the problem and whether a revision of the bariatric procedure is appropriate for your particular circumstance.

It is worth noting that revisional procedures are more complex and riskier than primary bariatrics surgery. Employing a highly experienced and skilled surgical team like ours is essential to minimizing the risk of such procedures and ultimately benefiting from the conversion to a new weight loss method.