Revision Weight Loss Surgery
What is Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
Although Bariatric surgery is the most effective method of weight loss, some patients will experience inadequate weight loss or weight re-gain which may need a revision procedure to further reduce their weight. In some cases, issues may arise from the primary bariatric procedure over time and revisional surgery may be required to address these problems.
Indications for Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
There are several reasons why a patient may need revision surgery including:
- Inadequate weight loss
- Weight re-gain
- Persistence of obesity-related illness
- Complications after weight loss surgery
Your surgeon will review your case thoroughly to identify any factors that may contribute to an unsatisfactory outcome. It is important to remember that successful weight loss requires compliance and adherence to dietary and lifestyle commitments as bariatric surgery is only considered as an adjunct to these changes. After obtaining more information from the relevant investigations, your surgeon will discuss treatment options best suited to your specific condition.
Pre-procedural Instructions for Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
You are instructed to avoid eating or drinking after midnight before surgery. Ask a family member or friend to be with you at the hospital for support and comfort. Specific instructions will be given depending on the surgery being performed, but pre-operative Optifast diet will be needed.
Revisional Weight Loss Procedure
Besides weight loss issues, reasons for revision can be due to a number of different complications depending on the type of primary procedure such as slipped gastric band, band erosion, narrowing/stricture in the sleeved stomach, staple line leak, reflux, internal hernia or persistent ulcer.
Revision surgery may involve in repositioning of the gastric band, replacement or fixation of access port, re-sleeving a stretched stomach tube, trimming a gastric pouch , conversion of gastric band to gastric bypass or conversion of gastric sleeve to gastric bypass.
Post-Operative Care Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
Postoperative procedures and instructions will vary depending on the type of surgery performed. Patients will need to take some time off work and rest for several weeks to allow for recoevery. Typically, you will have to return to your post-bariatric surgery diet of liquid and pureed foods for a few weeks.
Risks and Complications of Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
Revisional weight loss surgery can be very complex and difficult to perform which may lead to higher risk of complications such as blood loss, infection, staple line leak and conversion to open surgery when compared to a primary bariatric procedure.