Revisional Bariatric Surgery for Weight Regain
Weight regain after bariatric surgery can be shocking; however, in most cases, it is perfectly normal and can be easily managed. Over the course of a couple of years, our patients will lose a significant amount of weight, very quickly. This is a result of substantial dietary, exercise, and lifestyle modifications, as well as restricted food intake. This restriction may be combined with a modification of the small intestine if the patient has a gastric bypass or a duodenal switch. This significant weight loss, of course, can only last for a limited time, and patients will eventually plateau. The exact time it takes for their weight to stabilize will also depend on the extent of the patient’s lifestyle changes and the procedure they have undergone.
Once the weight stabilizes, the patient’s lifestyle will have normalized, and many changes will begin to occur in the body. One of these changes may involve stretching the smaller stomach pouch if the patient liberalizes their diet and consumes more food. This means that patients may regain 5-10% of their excess body weight after stabilization.