Why Revision Surgery is Sometimes Needed after Bariatric Procedures

Bariatric surgery promises major results for people who need to lose a lot of weight. This procedure is usually performed only on the severely obese, restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold and limiting the amount of nutrient absorption. It can produce dramatic amounts of weight loss that just can’t be achieved by diet and exercise alone. It can also help people manage health complications of obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure.

However, sometimes a second procedure called a bariatric revision is necessary. You may be disappointed to find out that you need another procedure, but it’s always done for a good reason. Dr. Eric Ibegbu at Atlantic Medical Group/Gastroenterology in Kinston and Jacksonville, North Carolina offers this helpful information about when and why you might need a bariatric revision.

Insufficient weight loss

The primary reason that anyone chooses to have bariatric surgery is in hopes of achieving significant weight loss. Depending on the initial bariatric procedure used and the total amount of weight you needed to lose, weight loss of up to 50 to 70 percent is not uncommon. By shrinking the total volume your stomach can hold, you feel full more quickly and experience less hunger.

But sometimes, the weight loss isn’t as dramatic as expected, or you even start gaining weight again. In many of these cases, bariatric revision can be the solution to put you back on the right track.

At Atlantic Medical Group, we will typically work with you on dietary and exercise counseling before recommending another procedure. Some side effects, such as vitamin deficiencies or malnutrition, are not considered complications of the original gastric surgery and can be easily managed.

If this approach fails to produce results, a bariatric revision may be necessary to further reduce the amount of volume your stomach can hold. 

What a bariatric revision does

Dr. Ibegbu specializes in bariatric surgery and revisions. The revision procedure is non-surgical, and it shrinks the opening to your stomach again, further limiting the its capacity. A bariatric revision can often jump-start your weight loss process and help you to start losing weight or to lose more weight.

The bariatric revision procedure is specifically designed for people who had gastric bypass surgery, and not either sleeve gastrectomy (often just called “the sleeve”) or the adjustable gastric band.

Bariatric revision is typically an outpatient procedure performed under light sedation. The opening to your stomach may have enlarged since your original bypass, especially if you have been eating more than you should. Here, an endoscopic suture is used to shrink the stomach opening back down to its original post-surgery size.

Why choose bariatric revision 

Bariatric revision is beneficial because it’s non-surgical and is performed on an outpatient basis, which means you don’t have to go through a long recovery time. Your stomach capacity immediately returns to the same limited capacity it had after your initial bypass. 

Not everyone is an equally good candidate for the bariatric revision procedure, but many people are very happy with the weight loss it can provide. Call Dr. Ibegbu at either of his offices today to find out if this procedure can help you achieve the results you want, or request an appointment online.