While these traditional bariatric surgeries are usually initially successful, studies show that half of the patients who undergo the initial surgery may experience weight regain. In fact, some patients may regain all of their excess weight. We are human, after all. But hope is not lost!
If you’ve experienced weight gain after your bariatric procedure, you may feel frustrated, but know that you may be eligible for a bariatric revision. Read on to see if you’re a good candidate.
There are several different types of revisional bariatric procedures available to patients, such as:
Bariatric revision surgery is very effective for getting back on track and achieving weight loss and can help improve comorbidities associated with being overweight, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and back and joint issues.
However, suppose you experienced less-than-optimal weight loss results, significant weight regains after your weight loss procedure, or complications during the initial surgery. This might have happened due to eating behaviors or hormonal issues causing the surgically created “pouch” or “sleeve” to stretch back out again. In this case, you may be eligible to undergo revisional surgery.
During the outpatient procedure, your surgeon will use an endoscope to place sutures, similar to small staples, in specific locations to reduce the size of the stomach or stomach pouch, depending on which procedure you initially underwent (gastric sleeve or gastric bypass).
Certain criteria must be met for a revision after bariatric surgery. Our dietician can help you rule out diet and exercise as the cause of your procedure’s failure. They will assist in tracking your food intake and assessing any nutritional issues. Our wellness coaches will delve into any stress, emotional, sleep, and work-based obstacles that may be getting in the way.
After ruling out diet and exercise, if you fall into one of the three categories below, you should follow up with your surgeon to discuss revision options.
The purpose of the gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy procedures is to restrict the amount of food you eat and increase the feeling of being full. The surgery constructs a small pouch or narrow sleeve to achieve this.
However, the pouch or sleeve can stretch and get bigger as time passes. If this happens, it will take longer for you to feel full, and, as a result, you will eat more.
Your surgeon can identify if your pouch has grown in three ways:
Even though your stomach pouch or sleeve will be smaller after the revision surgery, you still need to commit to a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise. Overeating can have adverse effects, so it’s best to create new healthy habits to avoid irregular snacking behaviors or binging.
At Formation, we know this is hard. So we provide access to nutrition counselors, coaches, and wellness experts to help you create a healthy lifestyle for two years after your procedure to keep you on track!
If you don’t fall into the categories above, you may still qualify for a gastric bypass revision under certain circumstances. For instance, if your weight gain is not because of an enlargement or you have acid reflux, you may need to consider other alternatives.
Further, a revision isn’t the best option if you aren’t in good overall health or your lifestyle prevents your commitment to your weight loss journey at this time. Instead, you may try other nonsurgical weight loss options, like diet and exercise, to help.
When scheduling a revision of gastric bypass, you have several options to choose from, such as:
Although TORe is the least invasive revision surgery to consider, it’s always wise to speak with your surgeon first. In rare cases, a condition called “candy cane syndrome” can occur, where the no-longer functioning part of the small intestine causes symptoms like:
