Gastric Bypass After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Tijuana Bariatrics continues to attract patients to Mexico for surgery because of our strong commitment to safe surgical care and addressing diverse patient needs. Many times he achieves this through gastric sleeve surgery, a weight loss option that's generally low maintenance and quite effective.
Sometimes a gastric sleeve may not be right for a patient however, and it may need to be transformed into a gastric bypass as part of a revision procedure. We'd like to consider the revision process right now.
Isn't a gastric sleeve as effective as a gastric bypass?
We definitely feel that gastric sleeve offers comparable and in some cases better results than gastric bypass surgery. Many of our patients have benefited from undergoing a sleeve gastrectomy and report excellent weight loss surgery results. That said, people are different and weight loss surgery does need to be tailored to the needs of patients, which is why some patients may need to have their gastric sleeve converted to a bypass.
Why convert a gastric sleeve into a gastric bypass?
There are two primary reasons why a gastric sleeve may be revised into a gastric bypass:
- Lack of Weight Loss from Gastric Sleeve - Sometimes patients who need to lose a lot of weight do not lose as much weight as they'd hope to with gastric sleeve surgery. In these cases, revision to a gastric bypass can help promote additional weight loss.
- Major Weight Gain After Gastric Sleeve - Weight gain will occur after any weight loss surgery after a few years, but in some cases the weight gain is substantial and undoes the benefits of the initial bariatric procedure. In such cases, changing the gastric sleeve into a gastric bypass will help the patient lose that weight again.
What to Expect from the Revision Process
The revision process will be carried out in a similar fashion to the primary surgery. When possible, the same incision sites will be used in order to avoid any new scarring around the abdominal area. Patients will remain in the hospital to have their condition monitored before being discharged.
Other Options for Gastric Sleeve Revision
There are other revision options to consider apart from gastric sleeve surgery. In some cases, the stomach can simply be resleeved, which refers to a further reduction in the reduced stomach size. Another option is the duodenal switch, in which part of the small intestine is bypassed, though the duodendum and pyloric valve remain in place (unlike in gastric bypass surgery).
All revision options can be discussed in greater detail during your visit to the practice.
Getting the Process Right the First Time Around
Our doctors believe in getting the entire weight loss surgery process right the first time around. When you visit the practice to go over your options for surgical weight loss, we will be sure to tailor the surgery to your needs and the amount of weight you should ideally lose. This helps prevent the need for a revision procedure.
Learn More About Weight Loss Surgery
To learn more about gastric sleeve surgery and your many other options available for safe surgical weight loss, be sure to contact our weight loss surgery center today.