When Bariatric Surgery Needs a Revision: Reasons, Options and How the Decision Is Made

The follow-up appointment was supposed to be routine. Seven years after a sleeve gastrectomy, she had kept off most of the weight, but the heartburn had become a nightly companion, the kind that means sleeping propped up on three pillows and keeping antacids in the glovebox. When the surgeon mentioned that a second operation might be on the table, her first reaction was not relief. It was a quiet sense of failure.

That feeling is common, and it is misplaced. Bariatric revision surgery exists because the stomach and intestine are living tissue, not machinery. Anatomy changes, bodies change, and some early operations simply aged less well than others. A revision is a clinical decision about a specific problem, not a verdict on someone’s discipline.

This explainer walks through why revisions happen, which options surgeons weigh for each original procedure, what the workup involves, and how the decision is actually made, using the evidence rather than the myths.

What is bariatric revision surgery, and how common is it?

Bariatric revision surgery is any operation performed on someone who has already had weight-loss surgery, with the aim of fixing a complication, restoring the intended anatomy or converting one procedure into another. Surgeons often sort revisions into three loose groups: a corrective revision that repairs something (tightening a stretched connection, repairing a hernia), a conversion that swaps one operation for another (a band or sleeve becoming a bypass), and a reversal that puts the anatomy back as close to normal as possible, which is rare and reserved for serious problems.

How common is this? The candid answer is that no single national registry figure is quoted by the mainstream patient sources this article draws on, so beware any confident percentage you read online. What the evidence does show is a clear pattern: the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases notes that some people need follow-up operations after bariatric surgery, and the likelihood depends heavily on which operation was done first. Adjustable gastric bands, which were widely placed in an earlier era, account for a large share of revisions because the device itself can slip, erode or stop working. Sleeve gastrectomies more often come back for reflux. Gastric bypasses tend to return for ulcers, strictures or internal hernias.

Two facts matter most here. First, a revision is technically more demanding than a first operation, because the surgeon is working through scar tissue and altered anatomy. Second, the question is never simply “revise or not” but “what exactly is wrong, and which intervention addresses that specific problem with the least risk?” Everything that follows is about answering that second question honestly.

Why do people need bariatric revision surgery?

Reasons for revision fall into two broad families, and it helps to keep them separate in your mind because the workup and the urgency differ.

The first family is anatomical or medical complications. These include gastroesophageal reflux disease (chronic backwash of stomach acid into the food pipe) that no longer responds to medicine, a gastric band that has slipped or eroded into the stomach wall, a marginal ulcer (a sore at the join between pouch and intestine after bypass), a stricture (narrowing that blocks food), a fistula (an abnormal channel between two organs), a stretched pouch or stoma, or, less often, protein malnutrition and vitamin deficiency severe enough that the intestine needs to be re-routed. The NHS lists gallstones, blockages, internal bleeding and leaks among the recognized risks of the original operations, and some of these lead to a second procedure.

The second family is insufficient weight loss or weight regain, sometimes paired with the return of conditions such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea. This category is harder, because the cause is rarely a single thing. A sleeve can genuinely dilate over years. A bypass pouch can stretch. Hormonal adaptation, changes in appetite regulation, life events, medicines that promote weight gain, and eating patterns all contribute, and surgery only addresses the anatomical part.

Why does the distinction matter? A slipped band or a bleeding ulcer is a problem the surgeon can see on imaging and endoscopy, and the fix follows from the finding. Weight regain, by contrast, requires the team to ask whether anatomy is actually the culprit before offering an operation. A revision performed for regain without that assessment risks trading one set of problems for another. Good programs therefore treat the reason for revision as a diagnosis in its own right.

Weight regain after gastric sleeve or bypass: how much is normal?

Here is the number people most want and are least often told: some regain after bariatric surgery is expected, not exceptional. MedlinePlus describes weight loss after gastric bypass as fastest in the first year, then slowing, and it explains that many people lose one third to one half of their excess weight over time. The steepest part of the curve happens early, and the body then settles toward a new set point that is often somewhat higher than the lowest weight reached.

Why does this happen? The stomach and intestine are not static. A sleeve, which is roughly the size and shape of a banana at creation, can gradually stretch. Gut hormones that suppress appetite in the early months can shift. Eating slowly returns to a pattern of grazing on soft, calorie-dense foods that slide through a small stomach without triggering fullness. None of this is a character flaw; it is physiology meeting daily life.

So when does regain become a surgical question? Surgeons look at several things together rather than one threshold. Has a large proportion of the lost weight returned, and over what period? Have obesity-related conditions come back? Does endoscopy or a swallow study show a dilated sleeve, an enlarged pouch, a widened stoma or a gastro-gastric fistula that lets food bypass the restriction? Has the person had structured support from a dietitian and, where appropriate, a behavioral health specialist, and has that been tried for a meaningful stretch?

The honest position is that modest regain with intact anatomy is usually managed without surgery. Regain with a demonstrable anatomical cause, or regain accompanied by returning disease, is where revision enters the conversation. Anyone who quotes a single “normal” percentage without knowing your history is guessing.

Revision surgery after lap band: why the band leads the list

The adjustable gastric band was, for a time, the least invasive option on the menu. A silicone ring is placed around the upper stomach and inflated through a port under the skin, creating a small pouch above it. Nothing is cut or re-routed, which was its appeal. The same feature explains why revision surgery after lap band is so common today: the band is a foreign device sitting on soft tissue for years.

MedlinePlus lists the recognized problems: the band can slip out of position, the stomach can herniate up through it, the band can erode into the stomach wall, the port or tubing can leak or become infected, and the pouch or esophagus can dilate over time. People typically report trouble swallowing, vomiting, night-time regurgitation, or a band that seems to work only when it is uncomfortably tight. Weight loss with bands is also, on average, smaller and less durable than with sleeve or bypass, so many people arrive with both a device problem and regain.

What are the options? Broadly three. The band can be repositioned or replaced, which is now uncommon because the underlying issue tends to recur. It can be removed alone, which resolves the mechanical problem but typically leads to weight regain because nothing else changes. Or it can be removed and converted to a sleeve gastrectomy or a gastric bypass, either in a single operation or in two stages separated by months to let inflamed tissue heal.

Surgeons weigh the state of the stomach wall, the degree of esophageal dilation, reflux symptoms and the person’s goals when choosing. Where the band has caused significant reflux or the esophagus has widened, conversion to a bypass is often favored over a sleeve, because a sleeve can worsen reflux. That choice is individual and belongs with the treating team.

Gastric sleeve revision: reflux, stretching and the conversion question

Sleeve gastrectomy removes roughly three quarters of the stomach along its outer curve, leaving a narrow tube. It has become the most frequently performed bariatric operation in many countries because it avoids re-routing the intestine. The trade-off is pressure: a narrow, high-pressure tube sitting beneath the valve at the bottom of the esophagus can push acid upward. Mayo Clinic lists gastroesophageal reflux among the longer-term risks of the procedure.

Reflux is the leading reason for gastric sleeve revision. Some people who never had heartburn develop it; others find pre-existing reflux becomes unmanageable. Medicines that reduce acid production help many, but when symptoms persist despite them, or when endoscopy shows esophageal inflammation or changes in its lining, the conversation turns to surgery. The most common conversion is sleeve to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, because diverting the stomach contents away from the esophagus and creating a low-pressure pouch tends to relieve acid exposure. Repair of a hiatal hernia (part of the stomach slipping up through the diaphragm) is often done at the same time when present.

The second reason is sleeve dilation with weight regain. A sleeve can widen over the years, especially at its upper end. Options here include re-sleeving (trimming the stomach again), conversion to bypass, or conversion to a procedure with a longer intestinal bypass component. Each carries different nutritional consequences, and the longer the intestinal bypass, the greater the lifelong need for supplements and monitoring.

The critical point: reflux and regain are different problems with different solutions. A re-sleeve for regain may make reflux worse. A bypass for reflux may bring dumping syndrome or ulcer risk. The team will match the operation to the dominant problem rather than to a default.

Gastric bypass revision surgery: pouch, stoma, ulcers and hernias

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass creates a small stomach pouch and connects it directly to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the first stretch of intestine. It has decades of follow-up data behind it, which also means its long-term failure modes are well described. Gastric bypass revision surgery usually addresses one of a handful of them.

Marginal ulcers form at the join between pouch and intestine. Smoking, anti-inflammatory painkillers and acid exposure raise the risk. Most heal with medicine, but persistent, bleeding or perforating ulcers may need the connection re-made. Strictures, where scar tissue narrows that same join, are often stretched endoscopically first; surgery is reserved for cases that keep recurring. Internal hernias, where loops of intestine slip through gaps created by the original operation, can present with sudden severe pain and are an emergency because the bowel can lose its blood supply. MedlinePlus lists hernia, bowel obstruction and stomach ulcers among the recognized complications.

For weight regain after bypass, surgeons look at whether the pouch or stoma (the outlet from the pouch) has enlarged, and whether a gastro-gastric fistula has formed, letting food leak back into the bypassed stomach. Options range from endoscopic tightening of the stoma to surgical pouch resizing to lengthening the bypassed intestinal segment. The last option increases malabsorption and therefore the risk of protein and vitamin deficiency, which is why it is offered cautiously and only with committed follow-up.

Bypass can also be revised for the opposite reason: too much malabsorption. Severe protein deficiency or intractable dumping syndrome occasionally requires shortening the bypass or, rarely, reversal. These are complex operations. The common thread is that bypass revisions are tailored to a documented finding, not to a general wish for more weight loss.

How does revision surgery actually work in the operating room?

Picture the first operation as building on open ground and the second as renovating a house someone else built, with the blueprints partly missing. That is the surgeon’s task. Most revisions are performed laparoscopically, through several small incisions using a camera and long instruments, though the surgeon will warn that conversion to a larger open incision is more likely than in a first operation if scar tissue makes safe progress impossible.

The first phase is exploration and release. Adhesions, the internal scar bands that form after any abdominal surgery, are divided so the stomach, esophagus and intestine can be seen clearly. This alone can take a substantial share of the operating time. The surgeon then identifies the existing anatomy and compares it with the pre-operative imaging and endoscopy.

The second phase is the specific correction. For a band removal, the capsule of scar around the ring is opened, the band is cut and withdrawn, and the port is removed from under the skin. For a sleeve-to-bypass conversion, the upper sleeve is divided to create a small pouch, a loop of small intestine is brought up and joined to it, and a second join re-connects the intestine downstream. For pouch resizing, the stretched portion is stapled and removed. Any hiatal hernia found is repaired at the same time.

The third phase is testing. Surgeons commonly check new staple lines and connections for leaks before closing, using dye or air under direct vision. An anesthetic team manages the whole process, and the person is asleep throughout.

Operating times vary widely with complexity, and hospital stays are described by the NHS as a few days for standard weight-loss surgery; revisions sometimes run longer. Your surgeon will give a range specific to your plan.

Who is bariatric revision surgery usually for, and who is asked to wait?

Revision is not offered to everyone who is unhappy with their result, and the reasons for that are protective rather than gatekeeping. The second operation carries higher risk than the first, so the potential benefit has to be correspondingly clear.

People most often considered for bariatric revision surgery share one of these profiles. They have a documented anatomical complication: a slipped or eroded band, a stricture that keeps recurring, reflux with visible esophageal damage, a persistent ulcer, a fistula or a symptomatic hernia. Or they have significant weight regain, or inadequate loss from the start, with evidence on imaging or endoscopy that the anatomy has changed, and they have engaged with nutritional and behavioral support without enough response. Or, less commonly, they have malnutrition serious enough to threaten health despite supplementation and dietary changes.

Who is usually asked to wait, or offered a different path first? Someone whose regain is modest and whose anatomy looks intact, because for them the anatomy is not the problem, and structured lifestyle support or medicines prescribed by their clinician are the first line. Someone who currently smokes, because smoking sharply raises the risk of ulcers, leaks and poor healing; most programs ask for a sustained smoke-free period. Someone with active untreated mental health conditions or disordered eating, because these predict poorer outcomes and deserve treatment in their own right. Someone whose nutritional status is poor, who is usually optimized first. And someone with medical conditions that make anesthesia unusually risky until they are better controlled.

Being asked to wait is not a refusal. It is the team lowering the risk of an operation they expect you may still need. The NIDDK is clear that bariatric surgery of any kind works best as part of ongoing lifelong care, and revision is no exception.

How do you qualify for bariatric revision surgery? Inside the workup

The path to a revision decision is deliberately slower than most people expect, and the slowness is where the safety lives. A thorough program builds the picture from several angles before anyone books an operating room.

It begins with history. The team will want the operative report from your original surgery, not just your memory of it, because details such as pouch size, band type or limb length change what is possible. They will map your weight trajectory over time, your current symptoms, medicines (including any that promote weight gain or irritate the stomach), and previous attempts at non-surgical treatment.

Then imaging and endoscopy. An upper endoscopy (a camera passed down the esophagus under sedation) shows the pouch or sleeve directly, identifies ulcers, strictures, band erosion, hiatal hernia and inflammation of the esophagus, and allows biopsies. A contrast swallow study or CT scan shows the shape and size of the pouch or sleeve, the position of a band, and any fistula or hernia. Where reflux is the question, some programs add tests that measure acid exposure and pressure in the esophagus.

Nutrition assessment follows: blood tests for protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, folate and other micronutrients, because deficiencies must be corrected before surgery and because the results influence which operation is safe. A dietitian reviews eating patterns in detail. A behavioral health assessment screens for binge eating, untreated depression or substance use.

Finally, the case is usually discussed by a multidisciplinary team: surgeon, dietitian, physician, psychologist and anesthetist. They ask whether a problem has been identified that surgery can plausibly fix, whether non-surgical options have been genuinely tried, and whether the risk is acceptable. That collective judgment, not a single test result or a body mass index cutoff, is how qualification is actually decided.

Revision options compared: a summary table

No table can replace an individual consultation, but a side-by-side view helps make sense of why a surgeon might propose one route over another. The options below are the ones most commonly discussed; availability and suitability depend on the original operation, the specific problem and local expertise.

Starting point	Common problem	Options often considered	Main trade-offs
Adjustable band	Slippage, erosion, dysphagia, regain	Removal alone; removal plus conversion to sleeve or bypass (one or two stages)	Removal alone usually leads to regain; conversion adds operative risk but addresses weight and reflux
Sleeve gastrectomy	Severe reflux	Conversion to gastric bypass, often with hiatal hernia repair	Bypass relieves acid exposure but introduces ulcer and dumping risk and lifelong supplement needs
Sleeve gastrectomy	Dilation with regain	Re-sleeve; conversion to bypass or longer intestinal bypass	Re-sleeve may worsen reflux; longer bypass increases malabsorption
Gastric bypass	Ulcer, stricture	Endoscopic dilation or medicine first; surgical re-making of the connection if persistent	Endoscopic approaches are lower risk but may need repeating
Gastric bypass	Enlarged pouch or stoma, fistula	Endoscopic stoma tightening; surgical pouch resizing; fistula closure	Modest expected effect on weight; anatomy may stretch again
Gastric bypass	Severe malnutrition, dumping	Shortening the bypass; rarely, reversal	Resolves nutritional harm; expect weight regain

Two patterns stand out. Conversion to a bypass appears repeatedly because it addresses both reflux and weight, which is why it is the most frequently performed revision after band and sleeve. And the options that promise the most additional weight loss, those with longer intestinal bypass, carry the heaviest nutritional burden. The NIDDK emphasizes lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation after malabsorptive procedures, and that commitment is part of the decision, not an afterthought.

What the days and weeks after revision usually look like

The rhythm of recovery after a revision echoes the first operation, with one honest difference: it tends to be a little slower, because the surgery took longer and the tissue was already scarred.

In hospital, the first day is about breathing, walking and sipping. Early mobility matters because it reduces the risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs, and most programs have people up and moving within hours. Pain is managed by the anesthetic team; nausea is common and treatable. Some surgeons order a swallow study before the first drink to confirm there is no leak. The NHS describes a hospital stay of a few days for weight-loss surgery in general, and your team will tell you if they expect longer for your revision.

The first weeks at home follow a staged diet. Clear fluids give way to full liquids, then pureed foods, then soft foods, then regular textures, each stage lasting roughly one to two weeks in typical protocols, though the NHS notes that the exact timeline is set by the individual team. The purpose is to protect fresh staple lines and joins while they heal. Protein comes first at every meal; fluids are sipped between rather than with meals; carbonated drinks and alcohol are avoided.

Fatigue is normal and often surprises people who felt well after their first operation. The NHS suggests that returning to usual activities, including work and light exercise, generally takes several weeks, and heavy lifting is restricted for longer. Walking is encouraged from the start.

Follow-up is dense in the first months: wound checks, blood tests for nutrition, dietitian visits, and adjustment of any medicines by the prescribing clinician as absorption changes. Anyone converted to a bypass starts lifelong supplements. Expect this to feel like a program, not a single event, because that is what the evidence says works.

What people often get wrong about revision surgery

Myths about revision cluster around shame, promises and shortcuts. Each deserves a plain correction.

“Needing a revision means I failed.” Bands erode because they are foreign objects. Sleeves cause reflux because of pressure physics. Pouches stretch because tissue stretches. Regain has hormonal and metabolic roots that no amount of willpower rewrites. The evidence points to biology and to the limits of a first-generation operation far more than to personal fault.

“A revision will get me back to my lowest weight.” No mainstream guideline or patient resource promises that, and this article will not either. Weight change after revision is generally more modest than after a first operation, and it varies widely with the type of revision. Operations done for complications are aimed at symptom relief, and weight may not change at all.

“Revision is just the same operation again, so the risk is the same.” Working through scar tissue raises the risk of bleeding, leaks and conversion to open surgery. The NHS lists leaks, blockage, bleeding, blood clots and gallstones as risks of weight-loss surgery in general, and surgeons consistently describe these as higher in revisions. This is exactly why the workup is so thorough.

“If I just get the band taken out, the problem is solved.” Removal resolves the mechanical complication and usually leads to regain, because nothing now limits intake. That is a legitimate choice for some people, but it should be made knowingly.

“Reflux after a sleeve is just heartburn; I can live with it.” Long-standing acid exposure can damage the esophageal lining. Persistent reflux deserves endoscopic evaluation, not indefinite over-the-counter management.

“Medicines make surgery unnecessary.” Newer appetite-regulating medicines have a genuine role, and for some people with modest regain they are the right first step. Whether they suit you, and whether they replace or complement a revision, is a decision for the prescribing clinician.

Questions to ask your care team

A good consultation about revision is a conversation, and arriving with questions changes its quality. The list below is not exhaustive, but each question probes something the evidence says matters.

• What exactly have you found on my endoscopy and imaging, and how does that finding explain my symptoms or regain?
• Which non-surgical options have we tried or could still try, and for how long would you want to see the response before deciding?
• What specific operation are you proposing, and why that one rather than the alternatives for my situation?
• Will this be done in one stage or two, and what determines that?
• What are the most likely complications of this particular revision, and how does that risk compare with my first operation?
• What is the realistic range of weight change after this revision, and what does the evidence show for people with my history?
• Which of my current conditions, such as reflux, diabetes or sleep apnea, do you expect this to help, and which it will not?
• What will change about my diet and supplements permanently, and how often will my blood be tested?
• How will my other medicines be affected by changed absorption, and who will manage that?
• What is the plan if the revision does not achieve what we hope?
• Who do I call at night or on a weekend if something feels wrong?

Notice that several questions ask the surgeon to explain the link between a finding and a proposed fix. That link is the heart of good revision surgery. If the answer is vague, or if the operation is being proposed without imaging and endoscopy, it is reasonable to ask why, and to seek a second opinion within the same health system or elsewhere. The treating team makes the recommendation; you should understand it well enough to give real consent.

When to call your doctor

Two situations call for prompt contact: warning signs after a revision, and warning signs in someone with an older bariatric operation that might indicate a complication needing assessment. Both matter, because internal hernias and band erosions can present years after the original surgery.

Seek emergency care immediately if you experience sudden severe abdominal pain, especially pain that comes in waves or does not ease with position; a rapid heartbeat with fever, chills or shortness of breath, which can signal a leak or infection; vomiting blood or passing black, tarry stools, which suggests bleeding; inability to swallow even liquids or persistent vomiting, which can indicate obstruction or a slipped band; chest pain or calf pain with swelling, which can indicate a blood clot; or sudden confusion, weakness or fainting.

Call your surgical team the same day for redness, warmth, spreading swelling or discharge from an incision; a fever that develops in the weeks after surgery; pain that is getting worse rather than better; difficulty keeping fluids down for more than a day; or new night-time regurgitation or persistent heartburn that is not settling.

Raise at your next appointment, or sooner if worsening: ongoing fatigue, hair loss, tingling in the hands or feet, or muscle weakness, which can reflect vitamin or protein deficiency and need blood tests; frequent dizziness, sweating or cramping after meals, which can be dumping syndrome; or a steady return of weight alongside returning symptoms of diabetes or sleep apnea.

The NHS notes that complications of weight-loss surgery can be serious and sometimes need urgent treatment. When in doubt, call. Your team would far rather hear about a false alarm than a real problem caught late. Every decision about investigation and treatment sits with them, and this article is no substitute for that conversation.

Frequently asked questions

Is bariatric revision surgery worth it?

It depends entirely on why it is being considered. For clear complications such as a slipped band, a persistent ulcer or reflux damaging the esophagus, revision addresses a defined medical problem. For weight regain, the case is stronger when an anatomical cause is documented and non-surgical options have been tried. Your surgeon should explain the specific benefit expected for you.

How do you qualify for bariatric revision surgery?

Qualification rests on a documented problem that surgery can plausibly fix, established through history, endoscopy, imaging, nutritional blood tests and behavioral assessment, plus evidence that non-surgical approaches have been tried where appropriate. Most programs also require a sustained smoke-free period and controlled medical conditions. A multidisciplinary team makes the final call rather than a single test or cutoff.

What is the success rate of a gastric sleeve revision?

No single figure is meaningful, because sleeve revisions are done for different reasons with different goals. Conversion for reflux is judged on symptom relief and esophageal healing; revision for regain is judged on weight and returning conditions. Mainstream patient resources do not quote a universal rate, so treat any confident percentage online with caution and ask your surgeon for evidence relevant to your situation.

What can you never eat again after gastric bypass?

Very few foods are permanently forbidden, but several are strongly discouraged. Sugary foods and drinks can trigger dumping syndrome, carbonated drinks stretch the pouch, and tough or fibrous items may block the narrow outlet. Alcohol is absorbed faster and affects people more strongly. Your dietitian will personalize the list based on your anatomy and how you tolerate individual foods.

How much weight regain after gastric sleeve is normal?

Some regain after the first year or two is common and reflects normal physiology as the body settles toward a new set point. There is no single normal percentage. Surgeons become concerned when a large share of lost weight returns, when obesity-related conditions come back, or when endoscopy or imaging shows the sleeve has dilated. Modest regain with intact anatomy is usually managed without surgery.

What are the options for revision surgery after lap band?

Three broad routes exist: removing the band alone, which fixes the mechanical problem but typically leads to weight regain; removing it and converting to a sleeve gastrectomy; or removing it and converting to a gastric bypass. Conversion may happen in one operation or two stages. Where reflux or esophageal dilation is present, bypass is often preferred over sleeve.

Is gastric bypass revision surgery riskier than the first operation?

Generally yes. Surgeons operate through scar tissue and altered anatomy, which raises the risk of bleeding, leaks and conversion to an open incision compared with a first operation. That added risk is the main reason revisions are preceded by detailed endoscopy, imaging and nutritional optimization, and why the expected benefit must be clear before proceeding.

Can a gastric sleeve be converted to a bypass for reflux?

Yes, and this is the most common gastric sleeve revision. The high-pressure sleeve is divided to create a small pouch that drains into the small intestine, which lowers acid exposure to the esophagus. A hiatal hernia, if present, is usually repaired at the same time. The trade-offs include ulcer and dumping risk and lifelong supplementation, which your team will discuss.

How long does recovery from bariatric revision surgery take?

Typical hospital stays are a few days, and the NHS indicates that returning to usual activities after weight-loss surgery generally takes several weeks, with revisions sometimes running longer because the operation is more complex. A staged diet from liquids to solids spans the first several weeks. Exact timelines are set by your surgical team based on your operation.

Do I have to take vitamins for life after a revision?

If your revision involves a bypass component, yes. Malabsorptive procedures reduce uptake of iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, folate and other nutrients, and NIH guidance calls for lifelong supplementation and regular blood monitoring. Even after purely restrictive revisions, most programs recommend ongoing supplements and periodic testing. Your clinician will specify what is needed for your anatomy.

References

• Bariatric Surgery – National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH)
• Gastric bypass surgery – MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
• Laparoscopic gastric banding – MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
• Weight loss surgery – Afterwards – NHS

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.