Revision Surgery
Get a second chance at long-term, sustainable weight loss.
Obesity is a disease that weight loss surgery doesn’t cure.
For patients who have gained the weight back or who were not able to lose the amount of weight they wanted after bariatric surgery, New Jersey Bariatric Center® offers options for a second chance at sustainable weight loss.
For patients who have gained the weight back or who were not able to lose the amount of weight they wanted after bariatric surgery, New Jersey Bariatric Center® offers options for a second chance at sustainable weight loss.
Revision Surgery Options
Gabrielle lost 78 lbs with gastric sleeve to gastric bypass revision.*
In some patients, the gastric band (LAP-BAND®) may fail to provide adequate weight loss and the patient may be considered for band removal and revision surgery to the gastric sleeve.
After the band’s removal, the surgeon then removes a portion of the stomach and narrows the remaining part to the size of a banana or a vertical “sleeve,” limiting food intake and reducing overall hunger. The procedure also causes the secretion of fewer hunger hormones – grehlins – resulting in less overall hunger leading to weight loss. Visit the Gastric Sleeve page to learn more about gastric sleeve surgery.
After the band’s removal, the surgeon then removes a portion of the stomach and narrows the remaining part to the size of a banana or a vertical “sleeve,” limiting food intake and reducing overall hunger. The procedure also causes the secretion of fewer hunger hormones – grehlins – resulting in less overall hunger leading to weight loss. Visit the Gastric Sleeve page to learn more about gastric sleeve surgery.
After the removal of the band, the surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach, stapling it off from the rest of your stomach. Then, the surgeon cuts the small intestine and sews part of it directly to the new pouch. This limits food intake as well as decreases the secretion of the hunger hormones – gremlins – and the amount of calories absorbed by the body. This dual approach – the restrictive [restricting the amount of food) and malabsorption (reduces the amount of calories absorbed) – leads to weight loss. To learn more, visit the Gastric Bypass page.
When revising the gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass, the surgeon first shortens the sleeve to create a gastric pouch, then reroutes the small intestine to the bottom of the pouch. A smaller stomach – the gastric pouch – leads to decreased calorie absorption, a more limited food intake and a continued lowering of hunger hormones secreted.
The gastric bypass revision surgery involves making the gastric pouch a smaller size as well as narrowing the connection between the pouch and the small intestine. This leads to further limiting food intake. Because this procedure requires re-stapling, it may be associated with a higher complication rate.
*Results may vary. According to national studies, bariatric surgery results in an average weight loss of 55-80 percent of excess body weight.
Health Benefits
With type 2 diabetes, many patients stop taking their diabetic or high blood pressure medication before they leave the hospital and before weight loss. With sleep apnea, there is improvement or complete resolution as weight loss results in the opening of air passages.
Side Effects & Risks
As with any surgery, there are side effects and risks to weight loss procedures. When deciding whether revision weight loss surgery is right for you, the potential health benefits must outweigh the potential risks. Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), bleeding, infections and leaks from staple lines, narrowing of a passage (stenosis) are possible. To learn more about specific side effects and risks associated with weight loss surgery, visit our Side Effects & Risks page.
Learn MoreDeciding if weight loss revision surgery is right for you.
Not all patients are candidates for revision surgery. New Jersey Bariatric Center® surgeons will review your case, including medical records and weight loss history, and decide with you whether you are a candidate for a revision procedure. In addition, most insurance companies require patients to:
Be at least two years out from weight loss surgery, and
2 Years
Have lost less than 50% of their excess body weight from a previous procedure
<50%
Or, address a new health concern such as acid reflux, gastric ulcer, etc.
Revision Surgery FAQs
To qualify for gastric bypass surgery you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater or a BMI of 35 or greater with one or multiple obesity-related health problems such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure. One of our fellowship-trained surgeons can help you determine if gastric bypass surgery is right for you.
Weight loss surgery is just the first step in a lifelong commitment toward better health. When deciding which procedure is right for you, keep in mind that surgery is only a tool. Your ultimate success depends on your adherence to the recommended dietary, exercise and lifestyle changes. Not all weight loss surgery procedures are the same. If you qualify, our team will guide you in deciding which procedure will give you the best chance for success based on factors such as your current weight and your ability to follow the post-surgical guidelines. For more info on each procedure, click here.
It’s important to know that weight loss surgery is a tool to jumpstart weight loss. Long term success after gastric bypass or any other weight loss surgery is achieved through lifestyle changes, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise to avoid weight regain.
Patient Journey
Interested in revision surgery? Visit our patient journey page to learn about the next steps.
Patient Journey