Post Revision Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) Basics

Revision weight loss surgery is sometimes also known as mastopexy, an abdominoplasty in layman's terms. This type of weight loss surgery can also be done for both genders. There are two types of this surgery, namely restrictive and combined forms. A restrictive surgery reduces the overall volume of the stomach by making it smaller than desired. The second form eliminates the majority of the stomach fat while at the same time keeping some of it in the body. This is combined with a gastric bypass, which allows a portion of the stomach to be removed.

As with any type of medical treatment, there will be some amount of recovery involved after bariatric surgery. It may take several months or even several years before you begin to feel back to normal again. Depending on the type of surgery performed, you could be out of commission for up to six months. This period of time is often longer than is necessary, as proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices are essential post-operation.

During the recovery period, there will be some limitations to your daily activities. This will depend on the severity of your surgical condition. Your doctor will tell you what your limitations are and how to maintain them during your recovery. In addition, the doctor will instruct you on the physical therapy and diet that you will need to follow once you have been discharged from the hospital and your wounds have healed.

If you suffer from certain complications after your initial operation, you may be placed on a higher risk list than if you were healthy prior to the operation. These complications can include having a lower than normal blood pressure, developing a lung or heart disease, developing diabetes, or developing an autoimmune disorder such as Crohn's disease. While being placed on a higher risk list, these patients are generally offered the chance to be transferred to a lower risk division before their revision weight loss surgery if certain complications occur.

Once you have completed your surgery and your physical therapy program, you will return to the outpatient facility where your surgeon will continue to monitor your progress. Your progress will be documented and compared to what was expected before your surgery to determine if further treatment is needed. Your surgeon will also evaluate any setbacks that you have had with your previous attempts to lose weight and will review your case with you and discuss next steps. Your primary care physician should be involved in this process as well in order to check your health on a continuous basis.

Because revision weight loss surgery can be performed under anesthesia, it carries additional risks. These risks can include developing an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, developing an adverse reaction to the surgical material or foreign objects used during the procedure, developing excessive bleeding or infection, developing too much fluid in the stomach or intestines, developing too much scar tissue or not healing correctly between surgeries, developing a false eyelid, developing a droopy eyelid, developing excessive swelling of the abdomen, developing contracture of the muscles in the abdominal area, developing a hernia, developing excessive bleeding or a blood clot in the lungs, developing excessive pain in the abdominal area, developing a hernia, developing too much skin or not healing correctly between surgeries, developing too much facial hair, developing a high fever, developing excessive neck or shoulder pain, developing excessive lip or gum tissue, developing excessive sweating, developing too much fluid in the abdomen, developing too much fat in the abdomen, developing excessive bleeding or a lack of oxygen to the heart, developing a rash, developing a hearing problem or having nerve damage, and having a severe anesthetic reaction. Recovery from these complications varies and may last for several weeks or months.

Patients who undergo revision weight loss surgery must follow all post-operative instructions given by their surgeons carefully. Patients may need to adjust to their new diet and lifestyle regimen for many weeks before their body adjusts to its new size. Patients and their doctors should be aware that there is always a chance of further complications occurring from this surgery and especially from bariatric surgery to remove large amounts of body fat quickly. However, if these complications are properly managed, the risk of serious side effects or even death is very small.

Patients should also be aware that they may experience some difficulty in eating normally for some time after the removal of excess body weight. This difficulty in eating normally may be related to any number of medical conditions, including allergic reactions to certain foods, a lack of appetite, depression, low blood sugar, infection, constipation, nausea, sleep problems, urinary tract infections, and muscle weakness. While most patients can begin to resume normal activities in approximately two weeks after revision weight loss surgery, it may take up to six weeks after the surgery for patients to be able to eat normally without experiencing discomfort or adverse effects.