Revision Weight Loss Surgery

Revision weight loss surgery is mostly required in cases where the patient's previous weight loss surgery has failed to produce the desired effect, weight has been regained after some time, or simply because there is come complication from the previous surgery.

Although bariatric surgeries have a high success rate, they may have to be revised if the patient doesn't achieve weight loss goals or suffers from health problems as a result of the initial obesity surgery.

Obesity—a Pandemic

According to the WHO Global Infobase, the estimated obesity and overweight prevalence rate in the male population in the U.S., aged 15 years and over, is a shocking 80.5%. Bariatric surgeries have garnered a lot of attention of the people reeling under obesity and obesity related conditions. A number of them can't afford bariatric surgeries in their home countries and are left with no option but to travel to far off lands for undergoing easy-on-the-pocket weight loss surgeries.

With the exorbitant cost of obesity surgeries well beyond their financial means, many American patients often travel to India, Jordan, Belgium, and closer home to Tijuana, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta for lap band revision to gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery.

Popular Revision Weight Loss Surgeries

StomaphyX is the term given to a revision weight loss surgery which is used to reverse Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. This procedure is performed with the help of an endoscope so that the surgeon can closely examine the stomach while the revision surgery is being performed. This surgery helps patients who cannot attain their weight loss goals due to a stretched stomach pouch. StomaphyX helps to tighten the stretched pouch with the use of internal fasteners.

In case the patient has undergone lap band surgery, revision surgery may be essential if the patient regains weight over a period of time. In such cases, the lap band may either be tightened or removed. Once the lap band is removed, the surgeon may recommend gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery to promote weight loss.

Complications That Warrant Revision Surgery

Patients who have undergone gastric bypass may, in some instances, develop ulcers or hernia. Others may suffer from an opening in the stomach lining following bariatric surgery. These complications can be taken care of through revision surgery. If the stomach lining has an opening, the surgeon will re-staple it or remove a part of the stomach to make it smaller in size.

Undergoing revision surgery requires a lot of careful consideration. If the patient is suffering from a health problem caused by a previous bariatric procedure, revision surgery cannot be escaped. However, if the patient needs to undergo revision surgery only to meet weight loss goals, the surgeon will have to weigh the pros and cons before performing the procedure.

In some cases, the revision surgery only serves as a temporary cure. The problem may arise again, especially for patients suffering from an opening in the stomach line. Since every case is unique, the surgeon will have to thoroughly evaluate the patient's existing health condition and medical history before making a decision.

Revision bariatric surgeries can be complex in nature. The surgeon must, therefore, discuss all treatment options with the patient and offer a diet and exercise program that keeps obesity in check and helps patients maintain their healthy weight.

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