What If my Bariatric Procedure Fails?
Patients can have minor or large complications after a Lap Band, Gastric sleeve or Gastric Bypass procedure. Many patients may need another surgery to correct the complications, which can cost them more money. However, medical complications are not always a result of a bariatric procedure failure. A Weight Loss Procedure is classified as a failure if the procedure is no longer working.
When a Bariatric Procedure Fails for a patient, there are several different consequences to be considered. They include the emotional, economical, and physical impacts of the failure.
What are the emotional consequences of Procedure Failure?
Depending on the type of procedure (Lap Band, Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Bypass), the patient may regain all the weight back again. This can be emotionally devastating because it gives the patient the feeling that he or she has thrown away money for nothing. They feel anger towards the doctor and themselves, and during this whole process, their health and life could be at risk due to the complications. It is important for patients to know they are not alone. It is also important that they take positive action to address the situation, since this increases the probability of succeeding in the future.
What happens after a Procedure Failure?
We can say a Bariatric Procedure is no longer working when the patient has regained all the weight originally lost. This means that the patient needs a new procedure called Revision Surgery. The need for a revision surgery after a procedure has failed may jeopardize the health or life of the patient, as the complication rate increases from 2% to 25%. In addition, it will cost additional money for the revision surgery.
The chances for success for a second, different, Bariatric Surgery are lower then the first time, and the morbidity increases up to 25% depending on the revision procedure to be done. This is in part because the doctor has to be able to finish a new Weight Loss Procedure over the scar tissue and be able to repair what went wrong in the first place. The decision as to which will be the chosen bariatric surgery for the second time will depend on the type of surgery first performed.
How can a patient succeed after Revision surgery?
The patient must be careful to avoid any mistakes made before that may have influenced the development of complications. It is very important that you ask your doctor and yourself questions like:
- Why didn’t the first procedure work for me?
- Which procedure works for me best after failing the first time?
- Am I going to be able to follow the rules for success with the procedure I am choosing?
- How much help will I get from the doctor and his staff after revision surgery?
- Am I looking only for the best price I can get, or for the procedure that can work best for me?
You have to analyze both the pros and cons for any procedure that you are considering, especially when considering a second procedure or revision surgery. You have more chances to succeed if you keep in mind what went wrong the first time, in order to develop a plan for success in the future.
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Originally posted 2008-07-27 21:53:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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About 7 years ago I had bypass surgery. The surgeon that did it said I could eat what I wanted, but only eat 3 meals a day and walk walk, walk. My friend was able to go to a treatment center and there was so many things she couldn’t have or they said they would make her sick eg: pop, grease,sugar etc. I lost about 75# and looked and felt great,but slowly I ate more and more stretching my stomache. Now weigh more than when I had it done. You keep mentioning cost. Does the insurance co. not pay for it twice? What about if it is different insurance? Thanks for lisening.
Hello Charlene,
Stretching of the gastric pouch is a common problem after a Gastric Bypass procedure.
You need a Barium Swallow under fluoroscopy and probably an endoscopy to check out the size of the gastric pouch and the diamater of the Gastro-Yeyuno to find surgical options for you.
Some patients with big gastric pouches do very well after just placing a lap band and others need a Gastric Bypass re-do but the chances of failure again are increased up to 35%.
Some of the Insurances will pay for a revisional bariatric surgery after failing the primary procedure but you have to check the coverage of your insurance before taking the steps to do it.
Arturo Rodriguez, MD
http://www.thebariatric.com
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