Will Weight Loss Surgery always keep my weight down?
The goal of weight loss surgery is a long-term reduction in your weight and improvement of your overall health. The available scientific evidence indicates that the majority of patients keep their weight significantly lower than their initial weight many years later. One of the most referenced research studies is the ‘Swedish Obesity Study’ which has had one of the best long-term follow-up rates of any of the research (a challenge for this type of research is that many patients do not follow-up long term so their weight remains unknown). This study showed that some weight regains occurred from the maximum weight loss but that at even 20yrs the average was still substantially below the starting weight. Some patients can continue to lose weight and keep it low long-term, equally some patients can put more weight back on. It is thought the reasons the weight may return include some physical changes to the stomach and bowel over time, ongoing problematic eating habits that may return, and sometimes a tendency for the body to return to the state it was in for a long time prior to surgery. Ensuring you make a commitment to positive lifestyle changes and attend the recommended follow-up are both important to set yourself up for long-term success.
Can I have weight loss Surgery again if I already have had this?
Yes, and this can be done by a different surgeon than your original surgeon. This is termed ‘revision’ bariatric surgery and is commonly performed in Australia by expert bariatric surgeons. There can be a number of reasons that this needs to be done. This may be for problems from the first operation, such as difficulty eating or regurgitation after gastric banding which may mean the removal of the gastric band and conversion to another bariatric procedure is best. It could be for reflux after sleeve gastrectomy and an assessment is needed to see if surgery is required to improve this. It could also be for poor weight loss or weight regain after the initial operation. Dr. Le Page is proficient in the assessment needed to appropriately discuss with a patient the options and also in the surgical expertise to undertake these more complicated operations.
