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What You Need to Know About Gastric Bypass Revision Success Rates

Human body part names

Human body part names

There are few guarantees in life, and promises of a “guaranteed fix” do not always live up to their billing, especially regarding the human body. Many people know from experience that going on a diet can result in weight regain once they return to old eating habits. It can be discouraging to find that weight loss by dieting alone results in gaining the lost pounds back, so it is tempting to believe that having gastric surgery will permanently change its size and solve all your weight gain problems.

However, it is crucial to understand the limitations of gastric bypass surgery. While this procedure can be effective in helping some people lose weight, many factors influence a person’s success with weight loss after surgery. Having a revision on gastric bypass surgery can help some people lose weight and keep it off, but it’s crucial to understand this procedure’s risks before deciding whether you should have one. Let’s find out everything you need to know about gastric bypass revision success rate, what it is, how it works, and what the risks are.

Overview of Gastric Bypass Revision Surgery

A gastric bypass revision is an endoscopic treatment for patients who have previously undergone a gastric bypass but have regained weight afterward. The term “transoral gastric outlet reduction” is frequently used to describe this operation.

During the operation, your small intestine pouch will be reduced by endoscopically placing sutures at strategic points. Diameters are commonly shrunk from that of a silver dollar to that of a dime. When you lower the size of your outlets, you start to feel full sooner, which aids with your weight loss efforts.

Only people who have already undergone bariatric surgery can have bariatric revision surgery. Gastric bypass, for instance, can lose some of its calorie-controlling efficacy over time as the gastric pouch stretches. A doctor can use revision surgery to restore the gastric pouch to its original size, allowing the patient to continue losing weight.

How Much Weight Can You Lose After Gastric Bypass Revision?

Compared to bariatric surgery, gastric bypass revision results in smaller weight loss. This is because fewer people gain back their weight after successfully losing it, with only 20-35% of patients doing so within ten years. The type of bariatric revision you choose will influence the outcome, but losing 20-55% of the excess weight gain after gastric bypass is possible. Some patients lose almost their entire excess weight.

Patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery are well-known for losing triple digits of weight in the first year after surgery. People frequently lose up to 70% of their excess body weight after surgery, making the prospect of a new life appealing.

Gastric bypass revision, on the other hand, appears to produce less dramatic results, with patients frequently losing only 10-15% of their body weight. However, these findings must be viewed in context. In comparison to your initial surgery, the amount of excess weight you must lose will most likely be less if your weight regains has been identified and tracked during follow-up consultations with your surgeon.

Types of Gastric Bypass Revision

Other types of bariatric surgery have revision procedures. Sleeve gastrectomies can be treated with a sleeve revision, which returns your gastric sleeve to its original size. Due to the pervasive nature of the initial procedure, gastric bypass revision has several options. The following are the most common bariatric revision procedures:

  • Sclerotherapy (stoma size reduction)
  • Conversion to Duodenal Switch
  • Lap-Band Addition
  • Lengthen the Roux limb
  • Candy Cane Removal
  • Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe)

Considering any of these bariatric revisions, like the initial surgery, will involve weighing the complication rate of the procedure, your specific weight loss goals, and other factors such as your base metabolic rate and physical condition.

Suppose the prospect of undergoing the expense and strain of surgical revision sounds daunting. In that case, you may be relieved to learn that there may be alternatives that can restore your stomach pouch to its original size without going under the knife. Endoscopic gastric bypass revision is an alternative to traditional or even laparoscopic surgery in gastric bypass procedures.

During an endoscopy, a small, flexible tube is passed orally down the esophagus and into the stomach. A camera can be attached to this tube, allowing a trained bariatric surgeon to assess the condition and size of your stomach. Endoscopy is usually performed as an outpatient procedure rather than requiring a hospital stay and is performed under twilight anesthesia.

Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe) is an endoscopic gastric revision procedure that allows a surgeon to insert a suturing device into your stomach and stitch together your stomach pouch from the inside. This effectively reverses the pouch stretching that has occurred since your initial surgery. This type of gastric bypass revision has a lower complication rate than other revision surgeries.

Is Bariatric Revision Surgery Effective?

Decades of medical research have shown that bariatric surgeries like gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy help patients lose weight and keep it off. Nonetheless, 20-35% of patients regain up to 50% of the weight they lost before surgery, often due to an enlarged gastric pouch. Patients who undergo the endoscopic gastric revision procedure can expect to lose 10-20% of their total body weight and keep it off for years.

How Long Is Bariatric Revision Surgery?

The endoscopic gastric revision procedure is usually performed as an outpatient and takes about 30 minutes to complete under mild sedation. Recovery is typically a quick process during which you awaken from sedation and can return home.

What Are The Risks Of Bariatric Surgery Revision?

The incisions required for our cutting-edge procedures are so small that the chances of severe complications like bleeding, infection, or stomach injury are all below 1%. Most patients experience mild symptoms such as indigestion, nausea, or a sensation of abdominal pressure or pain.

Bottom Line

While a revision may help you lose weight and keep it off, many factors influence your success with this procedure. It is also worth noting that the high success rates following revision surgeries stem from patients becoming more rigorous about following their doctor’s advice to live a healthy lifestyle with less bariatric regain. It’s essential to understand all the risks, benefits, and limitations before deciding whether or not to have one.