Am I a Good Candidate for Bariatric Revision?

Are you frustrated with weight gain after undergoing gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery? 

If you’ve gained weight after weight loss surgery, it can be frustrating, but you’re not alone. 

A study showed 50% of patients who had a gastric bypass experienced weight gain about two years after the procedure.

Thankfully, you’re not doomed to regain all of the weight you worked so hard to lose. You might be a candidate for a bariatric revision.

Gastroenterologist Eric Ibegbu, MD, and our experienced team at Atlantic Medical Group are dedicated to helping you lose weight, whether you’re just considering weight loss procedures for the first time, or you need help losing weight after surgery. 

We’ve created this guide to help you explore your options if you’re considering a bariatric revision.

What is a bariatric revision?

Bariatric revision is an endoscopic procedure designed to help patients who have already had a gastric bypass procedure but have since gained some weight back. This procedure is sometimes called a transoral gastric outlet reduction. 

During the procedure, we place sutures endoscopically in specific locations to reduce the size of the pouch/outlet attached to your small intestine. The diameter is typically reduced from the size of a silver dollar down to the size of a dime. 

Because the outlet size is reduced, you feel fuller sooner, which then assists with weight loss.

Here at Atlantic Medical Group, we’ve partnered with Apollo endosurgery to help you achieve your weight loss goals via the Apollo OverStitch™ procedure.

Are you a candidate for bariatric revision?

Here are three signs you might be ready for a revision.

Your weight gain is related to an enlarged opening to your stomach

Your original gastric bypass procedure created an outlet (officially called a gastrojejunal anastomosis) to restrict the flow of food and increase the feeling of being full. 

But over time, this pouch and outlet can stretch and become enlarged. This means that it might start to take longer to feel full, and you might eat more food, leading to weight gain.

If your weight gain is related to an enlargement of the outlet, you may be a candidate for bariatric revision.

You have a healthy esophagus 

Even though a bariatric revision is not a traditional open surgery, it is still a medical procedure. Endoscopic surgery is less invasive with easier recoveries compared to traditional surgeries. 

Instead of an incision, endoscopic procedures rely on cameras and thin tubes to perform the necessary steps of the procedure.

During the Apollo OverStitch™ procedure, Dr. Ibegbu places an endoscope — a long, flexible tube with a camera — through your esophagus.

You’re committed to the weight loss journey

Bariatric revisions are outpatient procedures, which means you may be able to return to your home the same day as your procedure. With your sutures in place, you experience the same rate of weight loss as your initial procedure. That’s because the outlet size has returned to the original postsurgical proportions.

Why you might not be a candidate

You might not be a candidate for bariatric revision if:

• Your weight gain isn't related to an enlargement of the pouch and outlet
• You’re not in good overall health
• You’re no longer committed to your weight loss journey
• A medical condition comprises the health of your esophagus

If you’re unhappy with your weight but you haven’t already had a gastric bypass, you might consider endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty  or other nonsurgical weight loss options. 

Depending on your specific health needs, we can suggest the appropriate procedure to help you reach your weight loss goals.

When you should consider a bariatric revision

If you notice that the scale is trending upward, don’t wait to reach out to us. A bariatric revision can you get back on track. We’re able to confirm if your weight gain is due to outlet enlargement and if OverStich is right for you. 

To learn more about bariatric revision, call our Kinston or Jacksonville, North Carolina, office today. You can also request an appointment online, or simply fill out this form.