A good candidate for revisional bariatric surgery is someone who has had a previous weight loss procedure but experienced inadequate weight loss, significant weight regain, or complications from the original surgery. Common reasons patients seek revision include a stretched gastric pouch, worsening acid reflux (GERD), issues with a lap band, or metabolic conditions like Type 2 diabetes that were not resolved after the initial procedure.

At WeightWise, Dr. Greg Walton evaluates each patient individually to determine if revisional surgery is the right option. Good candidates are generally those who are committed to making the necessary lifestyle changes post-surgery, have realistic expectations about outcomes, and have no underlying medical conditions that would make a second procedure unsafe.

If you had your original surgery performed elsewhere, that's not a problem, we work with patients from all backgrounds and previous procedures. The best way to find out if you're a candidate is to schedule a consultation with our team.

At WeightWise, we are committed to the patient as a whole. This process consists of a medical evaluation, psychological screening, conversations with dietitians and exercise physiologists, and a sleep evaluation. All of this is done to make sure you don't have any underlying issues and understand everything that goes into a gastric sleeve surgery.

Medical Evaluation

This is when you meet with our providers to get an overview of your current health and investigate which procedure is right for you. Not every client is in the same situation and no procedure is one size fits all. During this evaluation, any medical issues you may have will be addressed.

We’ll also talk about your physical history as a whole. Have you tried dieting or exercising in the past? What worked and what didn’t? Were there major injuries or life events that got in the way of you living a healthy lifestyle? This will help WeightWise craft the perfect weight loss plan for you.

Psychological Screening

At WeightWise, we want to make sure you are mentally, as well as well as physically ready for the gastric sleeve surgery. There is more to these procedures than coming in, have the procedure, and then leaving. We want to make sure you understand what is about to happen to you and your body.

This is a big life moment for our patients. The body will undergo a massive change, which means your lifestyle will need a big change, too. We want to make sure you’re in the right place mentally for the surgery and help you work through any roadblocks you may have.

Dietitian Consult

While the gastric sleeve will physically limit your food intake, it is possible to hurt or even injure yourself if you deviate from your new lifestyle. Our dietitians will discuss your past eating habits, nutritional knowledge, and trigger points you have that may negatively impact your food consumption. They will also outline a plan for the rest of your life.

This process doesn't have to be stressful! Once you understand why you’re doing this, it will be easier to see yourself eating less, becoming more healthy, and feeling better than you have in a long time. We’ll show you how you can still enjoy food, too!

Incorporating Physical Activity

While the gastric sleeve procedure and improving your eating habits are certainly great ways to lose weight, instituting an exercise regimen will help you keep the weight off. Will you need to run three miles every day and hit the weights? Of course not!

Our exercise physiologist will outline a program specifically for you and discuss both short- and long-term goals. Although, if one of those goals happens to include running a marathon or becoming a powerlifter, we can help you reach those heights. But improving your cardiovascular system, flexibility, and overall strength are the main concerns.

Sleep Evaluation

Finally, we will talk to you about sleep apnea and how it can affect the success of the gastric sleeve surgery both during and after the procedure. We want this lifestyle change to work as much as you do, so we will investigate if you suffer from sleep apnea or not.

All of this is to ensure you have all the information you need to make this very important decision. WeightWise wants all of our patients to live long, productive lives well after the gastric sleeve surgery. That’s why these consultations are so important – the more we know about our patients, the better it is before, during, and after the procedure.

Revisional bariatric surgery can be a life-changing second chance for patients who didn't achieve the results they hoped for with their initial procedure. However, it's important to go in with a clear understanding of both the benefits and the risks.

Benefits:

• Renewed and significant weight loss after a plateau or regain
• Improved resolution of obesity-related conditions like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea
• Correction of complications from a previous surgery such as acid reflux, a slipped band, or an enlarged gastric pouch
• Improved quality of life and long-term health outcomes

Risks: Revisional procedures carry a higher complication rate than first-time bariatric surgeries. This is primarily due to scar tissue from the original operation, which requires more extensive dissection and can increase the likelihood of healing complications. Additional risks include bleeding, infection, staple line leaks, and in some cases, the need for further surgical intervention.

At WeightWise, Dr. Greg Walton takes every precaution to minimize risk. Each patient undergoes a thorough evaluation before any revisional procedure is recommended, ensuring that surgery is the right and safest option for their individual situation. We believe in full transparency — we'll walk you through every risk and benefit specific to your case before you make any decisions.

This pairs well with the candidate FAQ above and reinforces Dr. Walton's expertise and the thorough WeightWise process.

What's the next question you want to add?

Recovery from revisional bariatric surgery is similar to a first-time procedure, though it can vary depending on the complexity of your individual case and the type of revision performed.

All patients stay in the hospital for two nights for observation following surgery and the majority are back to their normal activities within a week!

What types of revisions does WeightWise perform? WeightWise performs a range of revisional procedures including conversions from a gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass or duodenal switch, repair of a stretched gastric pouch, and removal or revision of a lap band. The right revision for you depends on your original procedure, your current health, and your weight loss goals. Dr. Walton will review all of this during your initial consultation and recommend the best path forward.

Can WeightWise perform a revision if my original surgery was done somewhere else? Absolutely. We regularly work with patients whose original surgeries were performed at other practices or even out of state.

Will insurance cover my revisional bariatric surgery? Insurance coverage for revisional surgery varies by provider and policy. Many insurers will cover a revision if it is deemed medically necessary-for example, to correct a complication or address a serious health condition.