Revisional bariatric surgery is done to address weight regain or poor weight loss after initial weight loss surgery. The second surgery may be done due to mechanical breakdown of the first procedure or due to the patient’s inability to maintain their newfound lifestyle and eating habits.
Who Needs Revisional Bariatric Surgery?
Weight loss surgery is an effective long term weight loss solution for obese and morbidly obese patients. After surgery, however, some patients may struggle to lose all of the weight they’d like to lose, or they may regain weight after the procedure. They may have difficulty adjusting their lifestyle and following a personalized diet program.
Patients who struggle to lose weight after the initial surgery or experience complications may need to undergo revisional bariatric surgery.
- Gastric band surgery – the band has slipped or no longer inflating properly
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery – the stomach pouch has stretched
- Sleeve gastrectomy – the sleeve or banana-shaped stomach has stretched
Patients who develop an ulcer or hiatal hernia may also need revisional bariatric surgery.
What to Expect During Gastric Bypass Revision Surgery
Gastric bypass revision is one type of revisional bariatric surgery. This procedure may be done if the patient isn’t experiencing adequate weight loss after a gastric bypass due to an internal mechanical issue, poor diet, or a combination of both. If the patient isn’t seeing weight loss solely due to improper eating, then they should seek assistance with modifying his or her habits.
However, if the patient’s stomach pouch or the opening between the stomach pouch and intestine have stretched, the patient will need a second surgery. The patient may also need revision surgery if the stomach pouch has reconnected with the bypassed portion of the stomach (known as a gastro-gastric fistula).
Bariatric revision surgery may also be necessary if the patient is experiencing nutritional deficiency caused by malabsorption. In this case, the surgeon may convert the gastric bypass to another type of bariatric procedure or perform a full gastric bypass reversal.
What to Expect During Gastric Banding Revision Surgery
The LAP-BAND® surgery is highly popular partly due to the ease with which the band can be adjusted. If the patient is still overeating, the amount of saline solution may be increased to tighten the band.
If the band is too tight so that the patient isn’t able to eat enough food to meet daily nutritional requirements, the amount of saline can be reduced to loosen the band. The surgeon will make the adjustments using the access port that is attached to the gastric band.
In some cases, the patient may continue to overeat and stretch the stomach pouch, even with the gastric band adequately tight. This patient may need a second surgery to create a gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy.
Complications like band erosion, slippage, or infection may also require a second surgery to remove the gastric band. This can often be done laparoscopically, but patients will likely regain the weight they’ve lost.
Contact Riverside Weight Loss Surgery to learn more about revisional bariatric surgery and to schedule an appointment.
