Bariatric surgery provides excellent results for most patients, but there are some who may not have had the outcome they expected. If you had a bariatric surgery and did not achieve successful weight loss, you may be a candidate for a revisional procedure.
How It Works
Revisional surgery is something of a follow-up to your original weight loss procedure. Your surgeon will discuss options with you, and the approach taken this time will depend on whether the goal is to repair, reverse or convert the original procedure to something more effective for weight loss.
You will likely have one of these revisional surgeries:
Pros
When a procedure fails to deliver the desired weight loss, revisional surgery might be the answer. Benefits can include:
- The weight loss you originally desired, or more
- Control of diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure
- Better control of acid reflux/Barrett’s esophagus
Cons
Your surgeon will also discuss with you the cons of revisional surgery, which, depending on the chosen procedure, can include:
- Permanent changes to your anatomy.
- Leaking at the new connections made in your digestive tract, where ulcers or a narrowing called strictures can also form
- Potential for hernias
- The need to take vitamin supplements for the rest of your life to replenish what your body will no longer get from food.
Risks
Every type of surgery comes with such risks as:
- Bleeding at the incision
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Lung or breathing problems
In addition, depending on the surgery you choose, risks can include:
- Leaks in your gastrointestinal system
- Bowel obstruction
- Dumping syndrome, which causes diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting
- Gallstones
- Hernias
- Low blood sugar
- Malnutrition
- Stomach perforation
- Ulcers
- Vomiting