Revisional Bariatric Surgery

What is revisional bariatric surgery?

Revisional bariatric surgery repairs or changes an earlier weight loss procedure. You could need revisional surgery if you have:

• Experienced inadequate weight loss
• Developed complications after surgery
• Suffered an enlarged stomach
• Had difficulty swallowing
• Ruptured or displaced the gastric bands
• Developed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

You might also be a candidate for revisional surgery if you regain weight after initial successful weight loss.

Sometimes people regain weight when their stomach expands. This common problem happens in the year after your original bariatric procedure. Patients also gain weight again by going off their diet and exercise routine.

After evaluating the status of your bariatric procedure, Dr. Schumacher might begin by changing your diet and asking you to exercise more. If these conservative changes don’t work, he may then recommend revisional bariatric surgery.

What should I expect during revisional bariatric surgery?

Dr. Schumacher has extensive experience performing gastric band, gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass revisions. Which revisional procedure you’ll need will depend on your original bariatric procedure and current problem.

Gastric band revision

Gastric band procedures can lead to problems like GERD and difficulty swallowing. The band can slip or erode. Revisional surgery typically removes the band and replaces it with a gastric sleeve or bypass.

Gastric sleeve revision

A gastric sleeve revision often involves reducing the size of the stomach. In some cases, Dr. Schumacher converts the gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass or a single anastomosis duodenal switch (SIPS). SIPS is a weight loss surgery that reduces stomach size and restricts food absorption.

Gastric bypass revision

Dr. Schumacher recommends gastric bypass revision based on the underlying problem. If your stomach or the opening between the stomach and intestine has enlarged, he reduces its size using a revision procedure called transoral outlet reduction (TORe).

Another gastric bypass revision, a distal bypass, changes where the food from your stomach enters the small intestine. The result is that less food is digested, and you absorb fewer calories from the food you eat.

Will my revisional bariatric surgery be minimally invasive?

Revisional bariatric surgeries are usually performed using a minimally invasive technique. Dr. Schumacher typically does a laparoscopy, inserting the instruments through small incisions in your abdomen.

If you need a TORe, he inserts a slim, flexible endoscope through your mouth and guides it down the esophagus to your stomach. Then he works from inside your stomach, using stitches to reduce the size of the stomach and/or opening to the intestine.

If you’re unhappy with your bariatric surgery results or have other symptoms, call Ohio Bariatrics and Laparoscopy or book a consultation online today.