Weight loss surgery is a tool that helps thousands of patients each year lose weight and reclaim their health. As with any medical procedure, there is no perfect weight loss surgery and every bariatric procedure has some limitations. For a small percentage of patients, these limitations may result in weight regain or complications that require weight loss surgical revisions.

Weight loss surgery relapse may be due to a treatable medical condition, but in most cases, patients will need a bariatric revisional procedure due to the patient’s changing anatomy or changes in lifestyle and behavior factors. The goal of any revisional procedure is to modify the prior procedure to a different bariatric mechanism. For example, here are the most common revision surgery for weight loss procedures:

Gastric Bypass Revision

Any weight regain after bariatric surgery can be frustrating and even discouraging. However, it is normal for gastric bypass patients to regain about 10 percent of their weight loss in five to 10 years after the initial procedure. Patients who experience continued weight gain may be eligible for revision surgery for weight loss. In these cases, weight regain is often due to a dilated gastric pouch, the result of increased hunger and stretching of the pouch. Patients who have previously had gastric bypass surgery may choose to have bypass revision surgery.

Gastric Sleeve Revision

Weight loss surgery relapse following gastric sleeve can result in the patient not meeting his or her weight loss goals after surgery, perhaps due to a stretched sleeve caused by increased hunger and eating. The most effective options for gastric sleeve revision are sleeve-to-bypass or duodenal switch (sleeve gastrectomy and intestinal bypass).

Lap Band Revision

Weight loss surgical revisions from lap band procedures to gastric sleeve or gastric bypass are perhaps the most common revisional surgeries performed. Gastric banding was a popular weight loss option in recent years, but many of those patients now require additional surgery to reach their weight loss goals due to a loosening or slipping of the lap band over time. Some patients choose revision simply to eliminate the need for frequent adjustments or band fills. Band-to-sleeve is the most common weight loss revisional procedure chosen by gastric band patients.

If you are experiencing problems with your initial weight loss procedure, have experienced weight regain after bariatric surgery or are disappointed with your results, it’s important to first know that you are not a failure. Slowed weight loss or weight regain can occur for a number of reasons. You may be a candidate for one of the weight loss surgical revisions discussed here to help you get back on track with your weight loss goals. Contact the weight loss experts at First Baptist Medical Center today to learn more about what treatment may be recommended to help you start losing weight again.