When Is Vertical Sleeve Revision to Gastric Bypass the Right Option?
Losing weight is a challenge, but for those who are significantly overweight, diet and exercise alone may not be enough. Vertical gastric sleeve reduces the size of the stomach, helping those who struggle with obesity to reach their weight loss goals and improve their health.
Although many have weight loss success with the vertical sleeve procedure, over time, some may no longer see the results they want or may develop other issues that may be resolved through surgical revision.
Dr. Francisco Gonzalez provides vertical sleeve revision to gastric bypass at Oasis of Hope Bariatrics located in Tijuana, México. For more information about vertical gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, we welcome you to schedule a consultation.
What's the Difference Between Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass?
Sometimes revision surgery is necessary after a vertical sleeve gastrectomy. For many facing revision surgery, the best option is often gastric bypass.
When considering revision surgery, it's helpful to understand the difference between the vertical sleeve procedure and gastric bypass.
- Vertical sleeve gastrectomy: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical procedure intended to help people who are significantly overweight reach their weight loss goals. In Dr. Gonzalez's Tijuana facility, he uses the vertical sleeve procedure to reduce the stomach by 90 percent. The result is a stomach that is about the size and shape of a banana.
- Gastric bypass: With gastric bypass, the stomach is divided into two separate pouches, a small upper pouch and lower pouch. The small upper pouch is then directly connected to the small intestine so that food is able to bypass most of the stomach and quickly reach the intestines.
When Is Vertical Sleeve Revision Necessary?
Unfortunately, some people who have had vertical sleeve surgery may find they are no longer getting the results they want or have developed other issues. As a result, vertical sleeve revision may be necessary. Some reasons revision may be helpful include:
- Hitting a weight loss plateau: One possible reason for vertical sleeve revision is hitting a plateau in weight loss. When this occurs, the patient may not be able to lose enough weight to reach a healthy body mass index.
- Severe reflux develops: A possible side effect of vertical sleeve surgery is the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. For some, GERD is severe enough to warrant revision surgery.
- No significant reduction of health problems: Because of a lack of weight loss some experience after vertical sleeve reduction, there may not be a significant enough decrease in the health risks, or comorbidities, associated with obesity. Through revision surgery it may be possible to lose additional weight and reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and other health problems related to obesity.
- Weight regain: Without maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, it is possible for those who have had vertical sleeve surgery to regain the weight they have lost. As a result, revision surgery may be necessary.
Why Choose Gastric Bypass for Vertical Sleeve Revision?
Dr. Gonzalez offers gastric bypass surgery at our Tijuana practice to those who are no longer losing weight or suffer from severe reflux after the vertical sleeve procedure.
Gastric bypass can provide better weight loss results after vertical sleeve surgery as it not only reduces the size of the stomach, making patients feel full with less food, it also reduces the time foods stay in the stomach and small intestine. This helps reduce the absorption of fat and calories from foods, further increasing weight loss results.
For those with severe reflux, gastric bypass can alleviate GERD symptoms. This is primarily because gastric bypass significantly reduces the amount of acid production within the stomach.
Schedule a Consultation
For more information about vertical sleeve revision and gastric bypass, or to discuss other weight loss options, please call (619) 690-8417 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gonzalez.