Laparoscopic Revision Bariatric Surgery

Our Bariatric team is proud to offer a safe alternative to patients who had a Bariatric procedure in the past and they had either insufficient weight loss or developed serious complications (more often severe acid reflux) or side effects.

Most commonly, revisions involve conversion of a failed Lap-BandŽ procedure, Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG), or old type of gastric bypass to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Revision Bariatric surgery is much more challenging than primary Bariatric surgery. The area of the stomach and small intestine is not virgin and usually dense adhesions are present.

In addition, most of the Bariatric procedures were performed in an open fashion in the past which usually are associated with even denser adhesions and presence of abdominal wall hernias.

As a result, it is often very challenging to identify the anatomy and requires careful take-down of all adhesions. Laparoscopic completion of such procedures is even more challenging and can be performed only by a limited number of Bariatric surgeons around the country.

Dr. Raftopoulos has experience in Laparoscopic Revision Bariatric Surgery with zero deaths, no leaks, and no conversions to open surgeries for more than 2 years. His experience includes laparoscopic revisions of VBG, jejuno-ileal bypass and previous gastric bypass to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

A laparoscopic approach offers a tremendous benefit to the patient as recovery can shorten significantly with hospital stays of only 2 or 3 days.