Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
Patients from Texas and across the United States visit Dr. Kim because of his expertise when in need of additional weight loss surgery. He is uniquely qualified to perform weight loss revision surgery because of his vast experience with increasingly complex procedures such as the LAP-BAND, gastric bypass, and vertical sleeve gastrectomy.
Dr. Kim is a rarity among bariatric surgeons because of he is highly experienced and specializes in a wide spectrum of weight loss procedures. His expansive grasp of the complexities of each weight loss procedure gives him the necessary insight to understand why certain patients fall short of their initial goals. Dr. Kim understands the struggles associated with weight loss surgery and appreciates the chance to give patients left searching for the next answer due to insufficient weight loss a second chance. As those patients pursue a healthier, happier life, he believes he can provide patients with effective tools to inspire dramatic and lasting weight loss. As a bariatric surgeon in Dallas, Dr. Kim also finds weight loss revision surgery is often one of his most successful procedures; a fact he believes is due to the increased commitment to the meaningful choices made along the way in pursuit of a healthy transformation.
At the Live Life Again Center, 10% of the procedures Dr. Kim performs are revision bariatric surgery, with most patients undergoing their first procedure elsewhere. Typically, patients seek Dr. Kim’s advice because of his experience and reputation when considering a second procedure, as he has performed over 500 bariatric revision surgeries. The most common reason patients provide when considering such a procedure is unsatisfactory weight loss following their first procedure. However, Dr. Kim adds that the reasons a patient pursues a revision surgery are as varied and complex as the procedures themselves.
Dr. Kim stresses potential patients need to contact the Live Life Again Center for Bariatric Surgery to make an appointment for a private consultation in order to fully diagnose a patient’s needs, as well as their ability to qualify for bariatric revision surgery.
The LAP-BAND System is one of the most common procedures for weight loss. While Dr. Kim believes the gastric banding system is an excellent tool that can help patients lose a substantial amount of weight, he also believes there is a particular subset of reasons a procedure is not successful. When a patient has not succeeded with the banding system, the band is often removed and replaced by the gastric sleeve operation. Below is a list of common reasons patients cite for pursuing bariatric revision surgery, whether unsatisfied with the results of the initial procedure, or confronted with a complication that hampered their weight loss progress.
- Failed weight loss – the patient is hungry despite a number of band fills, leading to an unsatisfactory loss of weight.
- Difficulty swallowing – despite various inflations and deflations of the band, patients either experience a band that is too loose or too tight. The patient will often times choke or throw up when a band is too tight, or overeat when it is too loose. There is no “happy medium.”
- Limited Dietary Choices – a patient may be limited to consuming mushy or soft foods that are often rich in carbohydrates. When trying to eat protein-rich foods such as beef or poultry, they experience choking or vomiting. These restrictions often lead a struggling patient to make poor choices or deal with chronic hunger.
- Heartburn – also known as GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease) is typically worse at night, and can cause pulmonary infections such as pneumonia. While bariatric surgeons can address this issue through the repair of hiatal hernias during the operation, it cannot guarantee GERD will be prevented. GERD is unavoidable when the band exceeds lower esophageal sphincter pressure, and cannot be well-controlled with medications for acid reflux.
- LAP-BAND Slip – either the band slips out of position or the pouch abnormally dilates. In most cases, emptying the band does not fix the problem. Dr. Kim has noticed an empty band can give the appearance of a normal X-ray, and upon refill lead to another slip. A large slip can cut off circulation to the stomach, which is a serious cause for concern.
- LAP-BAND Erosion – another serious and potentially life-threatening concern occurs when part of the band digs into the lumen of the stomach organ itself.
- Weight Loss Plateau – occurs when a patient loses some weight, but experiences a plateau despite increased dedication. This can occur months to years after the band is inserted and hamper their ultimate weight loss goals [http://www.drdkim.net/html/life-after-weight-loss-surgery-dallas-texas.html], leaving them frustrated and discouraged.
- Mechanical Failure – occurs when there is a hole in the LAP-BAND, either in the port, tubing, or band itself. Instead of choosing to undergo another banding procedure, or risk the uncomfortable possibility of having to access the port, patients will consider other options, including the gastric sleeve.
At the Live Life Again Center, Dr. Kim performs a number of alternatives to unsuccessful LAP-BAND procedures for patients struggling to cope with insufficient weight loss. According to Dr. Kim, one of the most common choices is the gastric sleeve surgery as this procedure provides a potential solution to a number of the complications listed above.
- Swallowing reflex is easier with the gastric sleeve
- Because there is no device to restrict passage of food, choking or vomiting is rare
- No device means less office visits and no chance for a slipped band or mechanical failure
- Hunger hormones decrease allowing patients to better control their appetites
Despite the benefits and advantages gastric sleeve surgery presents when compared to the LAP-BAND system, bariatric revision surgery is still a serious procedure with its own set of complications to consider. As with any weight loss procedure, no guarantee can be offered for weight loss success. However, Dr. Kim adds that a positive attitude and his team’s extensive experience can create meaningful weight loss and the ability to live the life his patients desire. In the end, that’s what weight loss revision surgery is all about.
Dr. Kim has a complication rate of less than 1% with over 2,000 gastric sleeve surgeries performed, and patients continue to come from across the U. S. for a consultation at the Live Life Again Center for Bariatric Surgery, whether they are considering their first weight loss surgery, or bariatric revision surgery.
If you are unsatisfied with the weight loss following your LAP-BAND procedure, or another bariatric surgery and are willing to commit to a meaningful lifestyle change, please contact the Live Life Again Center for Bariatric Surgery to discuss all available options in a personal consultation with Dr. Kim.
Contact Our Bariatric Practice to Learn More
To find more information about the comprehensive care and support available to you at the Live Life Again Center throughout your course of treatment, or to learn more about bariatric revision surgery, contact our Dallas-Fort Worth practice today.
