Revision Bariatric Surgery in Tijuana

Name: Revision Bariatric Surgery
Brand: Tijuana Bariatric Center
Rating: 4.7 (155 reviews)

Refine Your Treatment with Revision Bariatric Surgery

Sometimes an initial bariatric procedure doesn't work as you thought it would and you need revision weight loss surgery in Tijuana. You may experience inadequate weight loss, or maybe you have even started to regain a considerable amount of weight that puts you back in the danger zone of obesity. If your long-term results have been unsuccessful, why not consider revision bariatric surgery in Tijuana to achieve your health and wellness goals?

Discover Our Bariatric Procedures

Meet Dr. Fernando Garcia

Reasons for Revision Weight Loss Surgery

While most patients who undergo weight loss surgery successfully meet their goals to shed excess body weight, some hit a wall. Still others even regain the weight. Remember that obesity is a chronic disease and that bariatric surgery is a tool, not a cure.

Statistics indicate that around 15% to 35% of bariatric surgery patients cannot reach their goal weight and require intervention. The exact percentage depends on the type of initial weight loss surgery. Sometimes, bariatric patients need a revision procedure for anatomical reasons. Their stomach pouch may have stretched out considerably, or the opening from the stomach to the small intestine may have become too big, resulting in a less-than-full feeling after eating.

Before & Afters Bariatric Surgery

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Bariatric Surgery Revision Checklist

If you think that bariatric revision surgery may be an option, we invite you to ask yourself the following questions:

Have I regained most of my excess weight?
Has my gastric band slipped out of place?
Am I self-conscious of my appearance because of my weight?
Have I met my goal weight?
Have I experienced complications from previous weight loss surgery, including severe gastric reflux, infections, constant nausea, or gastric leaks?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you may want to consider revision weight loss surgery in Tijuana, Mexico, with our experienced board-certified bariatric surgeons.

Dr. Fernando Garcia – A Leading Bariatric Authority and Revision Specialist

Dr. Garcia has over a decade of expertise in his field and has performed more than 10,000 successful bariatric procedures. Thousands of these have been revisions, as he is a verified expert when it comes to reversing failed bariatric surgeries. He is known to take on the most difficult and challenging cases, believing that every patient deserves to live life free from debilitating obesity and its associated health concerns.

Dr. Garcia has a prestigious training background, having completed multiple Fellowships in gastric sleeve surgery, minimally invasive gastric bypass surgery, and LAP-BAND procedures. He obtained his Licensed Physician Degree from Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo after completing a demanding residency in General Surgery at Hospital General (General Hospital), endorsed by Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC). Dr. Garcia serves as a professor of Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery at Universidad Autonoma de Baja California and has been on staff for over a decade at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

In the Doctor’s Own Words

My nuanced surgical approach is carefully tailored to each individual's anatomy. Using cutting-edge, precision-oriented techniques, I am able to complete seamless revisions that restore the patient’s chances at a healthy, fulfilling life. At Tijuana Bariatric Center, we also emphasize a comprehensive post-operative plan that includes dietary counseling and social support. It's this blend of surgical excellence, individualized care, and my continuous pursuit of knowledge in the bariatric field that I believe sets our practice apart.

A Painstaking Evaluation Process

Weight loss revision surgery either adjusts or alters your initial bariatric procedure. To determine which revisional bariatric surgery will best meet your needs, the Tijuana Bariatric Center staff will review your health history and evaluate your medical needs to recommend a bariatric revision surgery that will work best for you.

All bariatric patients benefit from thorough education on the benefits and risks of revision weight loss surgery. With this knowledge, you can make an informed, confident decision on the path you want to take to achieve your weight loss goals.

It's important that you understand that your doctor will recommend non-surgical solutions whenever possible, including a stricter diet or more vigorous exercise. Keeping up with the stringent requirements of a post-bariatric surgery diet can be difficult, along with the needed exercise regimen.

Benefits of Bariatric Revision Surgery in Tijuana

Enhance Your Initial Results – If you did not lose the amount of weight you wanted or regained weight after your initial surgery, a revision could improve your results. Studies have shown that patients who undergo surgery again lose about 60% of their excess body weight.
Improve Your Health – Revision weight loss surgery can help reduce or eliminate comorbidities accompanying obesity, including type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obstructive sleep apnea. For patients with acid reflux, bariatric revision surgery can also alleviate symptoms of acid reflux.
Boost Your Confidence – A second bariatric surgery can give you a renewed sense of purpose for your weight loss journey. Backed by a newfound determination to maintain your weight, you can be more successful at achieving your wellness goals. Our bariatric surgery team also provides you with lifelong resources, including dietary and group support, to help you achieve superb weight loss results.

Revision Surgery Candidacy at a Glance

The general candidacy guidelines are similar to those for other weight loss surgeries. To qualify, you must have the following characteristics:

Be in overall good health
Be committed to diet and exercise
Have realistic expectations

Remember that no matter your starting weight, you should bear in mind that your results will vary from other bariatric patients. You may also require additional procedures, including various cosmetic treatments, to reach your ideal body image. By carefully evaluating your candidacy, we can help prevent certain medical complications and take all precautions to ensure your revision bariatric surgery in Tijuana, Mexico will be successful.

The Need to Revise Outdated Bariatric Surgery Techniques

Although LAP-Band (gastric banding) was once one of the most popular weight loss options due to its minimal invasiveness, many bariatric patients suffered complications afterward, including band slippage. Some patients eventually lost interest in visiting their doctors to adjust their bands.

These factors resulted in patients experiencing a less-than-perfect weight loss journey. Some patients even tended to regain weight after their band no longer worked properly. Although you can have your band adjusted surgically, we recommend moving to a bariatric surgery revision for better results.

Similarly, gastric plication, another outdated procedure, frequently results in insufficient excess weight loss. Leakage is also a problem for many patients because of improper surgical techniques.

Had my Surgery 8/2/2022. Best experience ever. Dr. Garcia and his staff are amazing. The facility is well-organized and very clean. I have lost 43 lb since my pre-op diet. I feel much healthier and had no complications at all. I recommend Tijuana Bariatrics 100%.

— Edna Tamayo

Bariatric Revision Surgeries We Commonly Perform

Bariatric surgery revision on prior procedures, including gastric banding, gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass, are the ones we most commonly perform at Tijuana Bariatric Center. A study of nearly 41,000 bariatric procedures over ten years indicated the following conversion or revision surgery rates:

LAP-Band – 26%
Gastric sleeve – 10%
Gastric bypass – 5%

If revision bariatric surgery is necessary, Dr. Garcia will work with you to identify the most suitable treatment. While the same procedure can be performed again to refine your results, bariatric surgeons usually recommend a different weight loss procedure. We thoroughly educate our patients on the benefits and risks of each procedure and we are happy to answer any questions you have. All patients have the right to as much information as possible to make informed decisions about their treatment.

Gastric Bypass Surgery to Gastric Bypass Revision

Traditional gastric bypass sometimes fails to produce sufficient weight loss in super obese patients with starting BMIs of 50 to 60. A JAMA study showed that five years after surgery, more than half of those patients still had a BMI of over 40. Reasons for failed surgery that results in weight gain include:

Pouch enlargement
Staple-line disruption
Stoma enlargement or failure
Patient’s body adjusting to lower caloric intake

The procedure known as distal gastric bypass revision procedure can help you lose weight by decreasing the calories your body absorbs. During this revision solution, bariatric surgeons move the roux limb from its original position and connect it to the very distal part of the small intestine, about 79 inches from the end. Now, food will only mix with digestive juices in the very last portion of the small intestine, significantly decreasing absorption. With this adjustment, patients can again lose about 60% of their excess weight.

Compared with endoscopic gastric pouch suturing to modify a gastric bypass, the distal procedure offers more durable and significant weight loss. It also has fewer risks, as this bariatric revision surgery is usually done laparoscopically. Most patients can leave the hospital after staying one to two nights. If our staff determines that a gastric bypass may not be the right choice for you, we may recommend another bariatric revision surgery like duodenal switch.

Gastric Sleeve to Gastric Bypass Revision

Also known as a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, gastric sleeve surgery involves removing part of the stomach to create a small pouch so patients consume fewer calories and experience reduced sensations between meals. Failed gastric sleeve frequently occurs when the rugae significantly expand the pouch after the initial surgery. The patient's body adjusting to lower caloric intake can also cause failure.

Some surgeons may opt for a simple gastric sleeve revision, but if your clinical history shows that your body has become used to the lower caloric intake, conversion to another weight loss surgery may produce better results. We have found that converting a gastric sleeve surgery to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or a mini gastric bypass surgery is the most effective option to achieve successful weight loss.

Recovery From Revisional Bariatric Procedures

You can expect a recovery period and post-op diet similar to the one for your first surgical procedure. Starting with a clear liquid diet, you will progress through the various stages of pureed and soft foods until you can once again eat a normal post-bariatric diet.

Risks of Bariatric Surgery Revision

Generally, revision weight loss surgery carries a higher risk of complications than an initial bariatric surgery. These risks include:

Bleeding
Nutritional deficiencies
Hernias

Other risks common with revisions include leakage, revising the procedure from laparoscopic to open surgery, bleeding, incisional hernia, etc. Those considering revision surgery should remain aware that a second bariatric surgery carries an almost 50% higher rate of complications than the initial one. Human tissue forms adhesions in response to disturbances like previous procedures.

Revision surgery takes more operating room time and skill because careful dissection of layers of adhesions is required. The surgeon must also deal with altered blood supply because of previous procedures. You may also have different long-term complications as well with revision surgery. For example, patients undergoing distal gastric bypass surgery may experience chronic diarrhea.

Rest assured, we will discuss the possible complications of revisional surgery with you in greater depth during your private consultation. Dr. Garcia and his team have over a decade of success in this area and are the ideal providers to educate you on your surgical options.

Contact Us for Affordable Bariatric Surgery

You can lose weight and have the body and healthy future that you have always envisioned. Call Tijuana Bariatric Center at 1-800-970-0577 or fill out our convenient online form to request a free consultation to start your new journey to a healthy weight.