Our experienced doctors specialize in the revision and conversion of previous weight-loss surgeries. They may recommend a revision or conversion if your bariatric surgery did not achieve lasting weight loss or it led to complications. A revision will retain and modify your original procedure, while a conversion replaces an unsatisfactory procedure with a different one. Oftentimes, both can be performed laparoscopically.

Some early weight-loss surgeries — stapling, jejunoileal bypass, gastric banding and loop gastric bypass — have proven to be unsatisfactory or have caused complications. Patients also could experience problems with more recent procedures if their organs stretch, a blockage forms or a band slips. If you are having trouble with any previous bariatric surgery, ask our doctors whether a revision or conversion could help.

Some of the most common revision and conversion procedures our physicians perform are due to:

Weight gain after gastric bypass. After gastric bypass, patients may lose between 75 percent and 80 percent of their excess weight in the first 18 months. It is expected that they may gain 10 percent to 15 percent back after the second year. However, if the patient gains more than 25 percent of their lost weight and continues to gain weight, this is considered a failure and requires investigation. The most common reason for weight gain is related to dilation of the pouch and the stoma (the opening between the stomach and the intestine).
Failed stomach stapling procedure. In the ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s, gastric stapling procedures were performed for weight loss. These procedures had high failure rates and complications requiring patients to have surgery to convert them to gastric bypass procedures.
Failed sleeve gastrectomy. Some patients may regain more than 25 percent of their weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy due to dilation of the gastric sleeve. This requires surgical revision to allow these patients to lose the weight. Some gastric sleeve patients also may develop severe reflux that doesn’t respond to medical management. This requires conversion to gastric bypass to avoid the complication of reflux.

Benefits of Revision and Conversion Procedures

We want your weight loss to be permanent and for the benefits of better health to last your lifetime. If you notice that you are regaining weight or having other unusual symptoms, it is time to schedule a consultation. A revision or a conversion may be what you need achieve lasting weight loss.

Who Is a Candidate for These Procedures?

Some common signs that you may be a candidate for a revision or conversion surgery include:

Chronic acid reflux
Regaining weight
Nausea and vomiting
Unmet weight loss goals
Complications from a gastric surgery

Revision and Conversion Procedures FAQs

Yes. Revision bariatric surgery is an independent procedure, which means it doesn’t have to be performed by the same surgeon who performed the original bariatric procedure.

Insurance coverage for revision bariatric surgery usually is the same as that of the primary procedure, and certain benchmarks must be met. In cases involving complications from the original procedure, the insurance can get approved quickly, given the medical necessity of the revision procedure.

Gastric bypass revision results in smaller weight losses compared to bariatric surgery. This is partly due to having less weight to lose. Results will vary depending on the type of bariatric revision you choose, but it is possible to lose between 20 percent and 55 percent of your excess weight that has been gained back after gastric bypass.

Recovery time for a revision to gastric bypass is one to three weeks.

Revision weight-loss surgery is more complex and has a higher risk for complications than an initial bariatric procedure. However, it is a safe and effective choice when performed by experienced bariatric surgeons.

Request an Appointment with an Orlando Health Physician

If you regained more than 25 percent of weight lost after bariatric surgery or experienced complications, you may be a candidate for a revision or conversion.