Revision Weight-Loss Surgery
Weight-loss surgery is typically very effective when patients follow their dietary and exercise plans, but in 20-30 percent of cases, these procedures may not produce lasting weight loss results and regaining weight may occur. This is not necessarily the patient’s fault; sometimes the body simply does not respond well to a particular obesity treatment. When an ineffective procedure results in weight regain, a revision procedure may be the best solution. The MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center offers several bariatric revision surgery options to patients.
Weight Gain or Inadequate Weight Loss After Gastric Banding Surgery
The gastric band procedure is performed less frequently and many patients desire band removal due to weight gain or other issues. Symptoms of ineffective gastric banding surgery that may require a new procedure include regaining weight, or inability to lose a desirable amount of weight within an appropriate period of time after surgery. Increased stomach pouch capacity in spite of repeated adjustments may also be a sign of an ineffective procedure. When the LAP-BAND® or REALIZE™ Band has failed, a switch from gastric banding to a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass may be beneficial.
Conversion to Gastric Bypass Surgery for Weight Regain After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
If gastric sleeve surgery has failed to achieve lasting or desired weight loss, conversion to a more effective gastric bypass procedure can also be an effective alternative for additional weight loss. There are some cases in which gastric sleeve surgery is followed by gastric bypass surgery or duodenal switch surgery. This is often referred to as a “staged” approach to bariatric surgery and is typically performed in high-risk cases where the second procedure (the gastric bypass surgery) is less risky than it would have been if performed as the first and only procedure.
Weight Gain or Inadequate Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass Surgery
Symptoms of failed gastric bypass surgery include increased stomach capacity and slowed weight loss, or weight regain. In some cases, a redo of the laparoscopic gastric bypass can be performed.
Risks Associated With Revision Surgery for Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery
As with any surgical procedure, revision surgery does have risks. Some of the most common risks associated with revision surgery include: gastro-intestinal leakage, a higher conversion rate to open surgery, infection, longer hospital stays, and possible failure to resolve the original issue. To help minimize these risks, patients should choose a surgeon with extensive experience in performing revision procedures for weight gain after bariatric surgery.