Gastric sleeve surgery is typically a very effective way of losing weight and maintaining it, but some people may not achieve the weight loss expected or may start to regain weight they’ve lost several years after their initial procedure. Conversion to a gastric bypass may be an option.
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Many factors can cause gastric sleeve surgery to be less successful than expected, and it’s important to meet with a specialist bariatric surgeon to understand the best options for you. Some people may start to quickly gain weight again due to the stomach pouch or sleeve stretching so that the initial restriction provided is no longer effective. Alternatively, during the original operation the surgeon may not have reduced the size of the stomach sufficiently to prevent overeating.
If you’ve regained weight after your gastric sleeve surgery, you may be able to convert to a gastric bypass to reignite your weight loss. Alternatively, you may be too restricted and be losing too much weight, and a conversion to a bypass may be the solution.
While the gastric sleeve procedure restricts the amount of food that you can eat, the gastric bypass is a combination of restrictive and malabsorptive procedures. By reducing the size of the stomach and also limiting the amount of calories and nutrients that the body absorbs, it has a two-fold weight reduction effect.
The gastric bypass generally gives good long-term results and weight control, and the conversion from a gastric sleeve is usually straightforward.
If you are suitable for gastric sleeve to bypass conversion surgery, some of the possible risks and side-effects include:
Before your procedure, you’ll be given general anaesthetic and so you’ll be asleep for the duration of the operation.
Your surgeon will begin by making small incisions at the top of your abdomen. A long, thin tube with a camera attached to it (a laparoscope) is inserted through one of these incisions to allow the surgeon to see the stomach inside. They will then make an incision across the top of your stomach to create a small, golf ball-sized pouch which is where food will go once eaten.
Your surgeon will make an incision in your small intestine and attach the lower part of it to the new pouch. The rest of your stomach and upper small intestine is connected to the lower part so that digestive fluids can drain from the stomach. They’ll then close the incisions.
This type of surgery may be able to help you if you haven’t managed to achieve the weight loss you wanted or have regained weight you have lost with a gastric sleeve. This can happen because your stomach has stretched since the original procedure was carried out, or if the original procedure did not remove enough of the stomach.
Before you’re considered suitable for a gastric sleeve to bypass revision, you’ll undergo some tests to understand how food and liquid passes through your stomach and if the stomach has stretched so that your surgeon can decide what the best option will be for you.
Following your revision surgery, you’ll spend the night in hospital before you return home. You should take at least a week off work and try to rest for the first few days. You’ll follow a post-operative diet for the first 4 weeks which will consist of liquids and soft and pureed foods. After this, you can gradually introduce textured food as your body adjusts to the sleeve. At the 4-week mark, you can also start to exercise to help keep your weight loss on track.
I’m in a great place to help you with your weight management journey because I’ve been through weight loss surgery myself.
It was a year after the first lockdown and my weight was getting me down. I was starting to avoid social events, and my confidence was at an all-time low. Having tried many diets unsuccessfully, I started to look into weight loss surgery. Shortly after, I had my gastric bypass surgery. That’s why I’ve joined the team here at Klinikal, as I know exactly how it feels to go through this journey and how I can best support you.
I’m almost 2 years on, and my life has never been better. I’m happy, feeling great and I’ve met the love of my life – all things that didn’t seem possible before my surgery. In total, I’ve lost 7.5 stone, but I’ve gained confidence, peace of mind and find myself just really loving life now.
Our highly experienced team have helped 1000’s of patients achieve their weight loss goals.
Dietetic support programme tailored to your needs
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Deciding to have weight loss surgery can be really empowering. But to help you make an informed decision, you need to understand the surgical process and what your journey will involve. At Klinikal, we know that this is important.
We’ve summarised each stage of the journey to give you an idea, but of course your experience will be tailored to your own needs.
Nice to meet you!
Your journey with us begins with a call from a weight management surgeon assistant. One of our highly experienced, friendly surgeon assistants will talk you through our weight loss procedures, pricing and finance options, and answer any questions that you might have.
Meet your surgeon
After speaking to your surgeon assistant, they’ll match you with the right bariatric surgeon for your procedure. You’ll meet them via video call, where they’ll take you through your surgery in more detail. If required, you’ll meet your surgeon in person.
Meet your dietitian
Your dietitian will be an important part of your weight loss journey. Before your surgery day, you’ll meet them to go through the dietary changes that you’ll need to make pre and post-surgery. They’ll give you plenty of advice and will be able to answer any dietary questions that you might have.
Pre-op nurse appointment
It’s important that you’re fit to go ahead with your surgery. That’s why we’ll schedule in an appointment with one of our lovely nurses, who’ll make sure that you’re well enough to proceed.
Surgery day
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for! We’ll welcome you into one of our Klinikal locations where you’ll settle into your private room. You’ll then head down to theatre to have your procedure. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your luxurious suite to recuperate.
Post-op and beyond
Once you return home to recover, you’ll have our full support. You’ll have post-op appointments with a nurse and you’ll see your surgeon again to make sure that you’re recovering nicely. Your surgeon assistant and dietitian will also be in touch regularly, and you can call our helpline if you have any issues.
Nice to meet you!
Your journey with us begins with a call from a weight management surgeon assistant. One of our highly experienced, friendly surgeon assistants will talk you through our weight loss procedures, pricing and finance options, and answer any questions that you might have.
Meet your surgeon
After speaking to your surgeon assistant, they’ll match you with the right bariatric surgeon for your procedure. You’ll meet them via video call, where they’ll take you through your surgery in more detail. If required, you’ll meet your surgeon in person.
Meet your dietitian
Your dietitian will be an important part of your weight loss journey. Before your surgery day, you’ll meet them to go through the dietary changes that you’ll need to make pre and post-surgery. They’ll give you plenty of advice and will be able to answer any dietary questions that you might have.
Pre-op nurse appointment
It’s important that you’re fit to go ahead with your surgery. That’s why we’ll schedule in an appointment with one of our lovely nurses, who’ll make sure that you’re well enough to proceed.
Surgery day
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for! We’ll welcome you into one of our Klinikal locations where you’ll settle into your private room. You’ll then head down to theatre to have your procedure. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your luxurious suite to recuperate.
Post-op and beyond
Once you return home to recover, you’ll have our full support. You’ll have post-op appointments with a nurse and you’ll see your surgeon again to make sure that you’re recovering nicely. Your surgeon assistant and dietitian will also be in touch regularly, and you can call our helpline if you have any issues.
Having a re-sleeve procedure is rare. If you’ve gained weight again following your first gastric sleeve procedure, it’s likely that the same issues would arise again and so your surgeon would be unlikely to recommend this.
It is possible to have the option of a gastric band being placed around your already-sleeved stomach. While this is considered the safest sleeve revision option, there are much lower chances of success with a band when a sleeve has already failed to help you lose or maintain weight. Having a band fitted means that you’ll need change the type of food you consume, as well as your eating habits.
Although a band will make you feel full on smaller portions of food, it doesn’t reduce your appetite in the same way as a sleeve, and so it’s less effective. Your surgeon will be able to provide you with details of the options available to you at your free Klinikal consultation.
The risk of experiencing a complication with a revision procedure is higher than with the original surgery, but the gastric bypass operation is relatively straightforward. By choosing an experienced specialist bariatric surgeon to carry out your procedure, you can help to minimise any risks. Your surgeon will always explain any risks as well as the benefits of surgery so that you can make the decision that’s best for you.
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