Bariatric Revision Surgery Houston, TX
“You leave with a feel-good feeling.”
-Marie, 5-Star Review
- 40% of Our Caseload is Revisions
- Decades of Experience
Minimally Invasive Techniques for Faster Recovery
Ongoing Nutrition and Counseling Support
There Is Hope After
Failed Results
A patient who has already undergone weight loss surgery may be interested in a conversion or revision surgery for a couple of reasons. The primary reasons include regaining weight after surgery and experiencing complications due to the original procedure. Dr. St. Laurent can convert a current bariatric procedure that is no longer working, helping patients throughout the greater Houston area reach their wellness goals.
The Benefits of Revision Surgery
Continued Weight Loss
If you have started to regain weight after your initial surgery, or you have reached a plateau in your weight loss, revision surgery can enable you to continue to lose weight at a healthy rate.
Address Complications
Previous surgeries can lead to mild complications, like acid reflux, or serious complications, like stomach obstruction. Also, the stomach pouch can expand over time after a gastric bypass or gastric sleeve. Revision surgery can address these issues to increase your long-term health and comfort.
A Fresh Start
Sometimes, patients see great weight loss results for a couple years after bariatric surgery, but then they start to regain weight. Maybe they've let their healthy habits slide, or maybe life changes have increased their stress levels. Whatever the reason, a revision surgery can provide a refreshed approach that supports patients in renewing their commitment to healthy living.
“I have gained confidence and feel that I have more self control when it comes to my food choices.”
— Christy
What to Expect During the Consultation Process
Dr. St. Laurent will find out as much as possible about your previous bariatric operation, as well as your weight loss experience, to determine what might have gone wrong. To choose the optimal method of revision, and to prepare you for surgery, you can expect...
Dr. St. Laurent has revised virtually every kind of bariatric surgery, using his experience to determine the best approach for each patient's unique case.
1. Physical Exam
Patients will undergo a medical examination to determine whether they are healthy enough to undergo bariatric revision surgery. We will ask about any medications you are taking and lifestyle factors such as your exercise and smoking habits.
2. Anatomy Evaluation
Dr. St. Laurent will next evaluate the anatomy with an upper endoscopy or barium swallow. The goal is to assess your stomach lining and identify any potential issues or shortcomings of your previous procedure.
3. Food Diary
You may be required to keep a food diary for around two weeks and then bring it back for review. This will help Dr. St. Laurent determine whether changes in your diet might address your concerns.
4. Treatment Plan
Should Dr. St. Laurent decide that a second gastric procedure is the best recommendation, he will then give you pre-operative instructions to follow. These may include quitting smoking, modifying your diet, or eliminating certain medications.
What Can Be Revised?
If you are experiencing complications or unsatisfactory results from any kind of bariatric surgery, Dr. St. Laurent can evaluate your situation and determine if a second surgical procedure could address the problem. The most common types of revisions performed at our practice in Houston, TX, are...
Over time, patients who undergo gastric sleeve surgery may experience two common issues: regular acid reflux and expansion of the stomach. Both of these issues can be addressed by converting the gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass or duodenal switch.
A common reason for revising a gastric bypass surgery is the expansion of the gastric pouch. Dr. St. Laurent can address this issue with a variety of laparoscopic methods, including a pouch reduction or bypassing more of the intestine to reduce the number of calories absorbed. A bypass procedure can also sometimes be revised to a duodenal switch.
LAP-BANDs can tend to slip or loosen over time, leading to reduced weight loss. For qualifying patients, Dr. St. Laurent is able to either revise the band or remove it entirely and convert the weight loss surgery to a gastric bypass or gastric sleeve.
Understanding the Risks
While Northwest EndoSurgical takes advantage of innovative techniques and rigorous precautionary screening, all forms of surgery come with potential risks. The risks are slightly increased with revision procedures compared to initial bariatric surgery, and include:
- Anesthesia-related risks
- Nausea and vomiting
- Acid reflux
- Dilation of esophagus
- Infection
- Failure to lose weight
Dr. St. Laurent will go over all potential complications associated with the procedure, allowing you to weigh the benefits and risks. In some cases, Dr. St. Laurent may identify a non-surgical approach to your weight loss issues. Northwest EndoSurgical in Houston, TX, offers non-surgical weight loss programs, and we can work with patients who are looking for less invasive options. Our goal is to give you a comprehensive understanding of all of the factors involved in bariatric revision so you can make an informed decision about undergoing surgery.
Bariatric Revision Can Help
Contact Our Practice to Learn about Surgery Options
Dr. St. Laurent has helped countless patients in the greater Houston area achieve their health and wellness goals. If an initial bariatric surgery did not yield the results you wanted, a revision or corrective surgery may be just what you need. To discuss your situation with a skilled bariatric surgeon, contact our practice online. You can also reach our office serving the Houston area by phone.
LAP-BAND to Sleeve Revision
Dr. St. Laurent demonstrates how to perform a LAP-BAND to sleeve revision. After removing the gastric band, he then removes a substantial portion of the patient's stomach. This turns the stomach into a thin tube or sleeve. Because of the reduced stomach size, patients feel satisfied eating less food, and gradually experience less hunger overall.
Gastric Sleeve to Bypass Revision
In this revision, Dr. St. Laurent demonstrates the conversion of a gastric sleeve into a gastric bypass. The sleeve is first trimmed down to its original size and then stapled shut. To complete the gastric bypass conversion, the patient's small intestine is re-routed to reduce how many calories are absorbed during each meal.
VBG to Bypass Revision
Dr. St. Laurent demonstrates the conversion of a vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) into gastric bypass surgery. The VBG procedure combined staples and a gastric band to create a pouch. By making small incisions in the abdomen, he can remove the portion of the stomach that was originally stapled off and reroute the small intestine. As a result, the patient can once again satisfy their hunger while consuming less food, and also absorb fewer calories during the digestion process.
Schedule a Consultation For Experienced Bariatric Revisions
Are you experiencing complications from gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, LAP-BAND, or some other gastric surgery? Have the weight loss results of your previous bariatric surgery been unsatisfactory or unsustainable? If so, a surgical revision from Dr. Matthew St. Laurent at Northwest EndoSurgical could be the life-changing operation you need to achieve your weight loss and health goals. Dr. St. Laurent is recognized as an expert in the field. He has performed over 3,500 bariatric procedures and was named as one of America’s Top Surgeons in Bariatric Surgery from 2007-2014 by the Consumers Research Council of America
To learn more about your options and to find out whether a revision is right for you, make an appointment with our bariatric practice in Houston, TX, today.
Understanding the Risks
While Northwest EndoSurgical takes advantage of innovative techniques and rigorous precautionary screening, all forms of surgery come with potential risks. The risks are slightly increased with revision procedures compared to initial bariatric surgery, and include:
- Anesthesia-related risks
- Nausea and vomiting
- Acid reflux
- Dilation of esophagus
- Infection
- Failure to lose weight
Dr. St. Laurent will go over all potential complications associated with the procedure, allowing you to weigh the benefits and risks. In some cases, Dr. St. Laurent may identify a non-surgical approach to your weight loss issues. Northwest EndoSurgical in Houston, TX, offers non-surgical weight loss programs, and we can work with patients who are looking for less invasive options. Our goal is to give you a comprehensive understanding of all of the factors involved in bariatric revision so you can make an informed decision about undergoing surgery.
