Revisional Bariatric Surgery

Most people who undergo bariatric surgery do so primarily to treat obesity, lower risk factors for chronic diseases, or both. When these goals aren’t achieved following an initial bariatric procedure, revisional bariatric surgical techniques are designed to help you get back on track with your weight loss goals, improve your health, and quality of life.

While weight loss after bariatric surgery varies based on factors unique to each patient, the average patient loses 50 percent of their excess body fat within the first couple of years after surgery, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. When revisional bariatric surgery helps you lose excess weight other health benefits follow such as:

• Increased longevity

• Reduced risk for hypertension

• Fewer sleep-related disorders

• Decreased number of asthma-related issues

• Better cholesterol and triglyceride levels

• Lower blood sugar levels and complications associated with diabetes

• Less pain and mobility issues caused by arthritis

• Lower risk for heart disease and stroke

It depends. As mentioned above, there is no one-size-fits-all procedure for revisional bariatric surgery. Instead, the surgeon uses the best procedure to repair any problems related to your initial surgery and enhance weight loss and appetite control. Some procedures are more invasive than others, and require longer recovery times. For the least invasive options, you may feel better within 48 hours. For procedures that require more time in surgery, recovery time can be similar to your initial surgery and take about six to eight weeks.

Following the diet and exercise plan your healthcare team provided you after your first bariatric surgery is one of the best ways to avoid complications. If you’re doing this and still need revisional bariatric surgery, your recovery time will be shorter and it will be easier to resume your normal activities. If you haven’t been following the prescribed lifestyle plan, you can expect recovery time to take longer because you’ll need to start from the beginning similar to the plan recommended after your initial bariatric surgery.

Surgery of any kind comes with some risk. There’s a chance you could contract an infection the hospital. During the procedure excessive bleeding could require a blood transfusion, and complications could arise linked to other underlying health conditions. Your surgeon and healthcare team take every precaution to minimize these kinds of risks.

After revisional bariatric surgery, most patients find that the procedure helps them get back on track. However, it’s important to know that the surgery could cause bleeding in the intestines, stomach pain, ulcers on the lining of the stomach, and a spike in blood pressure. Some research suggests that revisional bariatric surgery that involves placing a lap-band over the initial gastric bypass surgery is the most likely procedure to develop complications. The good news is that most revisional bariatric surgical procedures help people start losing weight again and feel satisfied eating smaller amounts of food.

If your doctor doesn’t suspect or identify a failed procedure as the cause for poor results linked to your initial bariatric surgery, your doctor may recommend that you recommit to eating healthy foods, drinking adequate amounts of water, and getting regular exercise. In many cases, following the dietary and exercise guidelines can help patients jumpstart their weight loss again.

If you’ve been increasingly eating more foods and less healthy foods since your initial surgery, your diet after revisional bariatric surgery will likely be similar to what you ate after you had surgery the first time. Liquids for the first one to two weeks post-surgery. Cooked soft vegetables pureed in a blender during post-surgery weeks 3 and 4. And then gradually introducing soft foods and solid foods after that.

If you were already following the recommended diet prior to revisional bariatric surgery, you’ll you should be able to resume your normal eating habits in just a few days. If you haven’t been following the plan, you can expect it to take longer (up to 6 to 8 weeks) to get your diet back on track.

You’ll meet with your doctor shortly after surgery, and then every couple of months after that during the first year post revisional bariatric surgery. During your visits, you’ll talk about your diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits. Your healthcare team will also take measurements to track your progress over time such as weight, Body Mass Index, and blood tests used to identify risks for chronic diseases.

Ready to enjoy life in Port Jefferson the way it was meant to be? We can help. Contact the New York Bariatric Group Port Jefferson office for a consultation about your health, initial weight reduction surgery, and evaluation for revisional bariatric surgery.