# Revisional Bariatric Surgery > Citation bundle for Revisional Bariatric Surgery on The Treatment Registry. > URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/revisional-bariatric-surgery > Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/revisional-bariatric-surgery - Category: weight-loss ## Description Bariatric surgery is a group of surgical procedures used to manage obesity and related conditions. Long-term weight loss with bariatric surgery may be achieved through alteration of gut hormones, physical reduction of stomach size, reduction of nutrient absorption, or a combination of these. ## Overview Bariatric surgery — also known as metabolic or weight-loss surgery — is a group of surgical procedures used to manage obesity and related conditions, with long-term weight loss achieved through alteration of gut hormones, physical reduction of stomach size, reduction of nutrient absorption, or a combination of these. Standard-of-care procedures include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. A proportion of patients later require a further operation, whether to manage a complication or because earlier weight loss has been insufficient. Reported reoperation rates vary by the original procedure: in one analysis the percentage of procedures requiring reoperation due to complications was 8% for adjustable gastric banding, 6% after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 1% for sleeve gastrectomy and 5% after biliopancreatic diversion. Over a ten-year comparison, 9% of patients who received a sleeve gastrectomy required some form of reoperation within five years, compared with 12% of those who received a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; both were fewer than the rates reported with adjustable gastric banding. Weight-loss surgery in adults carries an elevated risk of complications compared with non-surgical treatment, and complications are grouped into early events within 30 days of surgery and late events after 30 days. Overall mortality is low, reported at 0 to 0.01%, and morbidity is also low at around 5%; severe complications such as gastric perforation or necrosis have been significantly reduced by improved surgical experience and training. ## Peer-reviewed outcome rates - **Complication rate:** 8.25% (range 6.50–10.00%) — from 2 cited sources ## Common risks - Elevated complication risk compared with non-surgical treatment - Early complications within 30 days of surgery - Late complications after 30 days - Gastric perforation or necrosis (severe complications) - Need for reoperation due to complications - Reduced nutrient absorption requiring supplementation ## FAQs ### What is revisional bariatric surgery? It is a further weight-loss operation carried out after a previous bariatric procedure, either to manage a complication or because earlier weight loss has been insufficient. Bariatric surgery itself is a group of procedures used to manage obesity and related conditions. ### How often do bariatric patients need a further operation? Reoperation rates differ by the original procedure. In one analysis, reoperation due to complications was required for 8% of adjustable gastric banding, 6% of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 1% of sleeve gastrectomy and 5% of biliopancreatic diversion. Over ten years, 9% of sleeve gastrectomy patients needed some reoperation within five years, compared with 12% after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. ### How does bariatric surgery produce weight loss? Long-term weight loss may be achieved through alteration of gut hormones, physical reduction of stomach size, reduction of nutrient absorption, or a combination of these. Studies suggest bariatric procedures affect the hormones that regulate hunger and satiety, which helps make the weight loss more durable. ### What are the risks? Weight-loss surgery in adults carries an elevated risk of complications compared with non-surgical treatment, grouped into early events within 30 days and late events after 30 days. Overall mortality is low at 0 to 0.01% and morbidity is around 5%; severe complications such as gastric perforation or necrosis have been significantly reduced by improved surgical experience and training. ### What is recovery like? Laparoscopic bariatric surgery typically involves a hospital stay of about 2 to 5 days. Diet is reintroduced in stages, beginning with clear liquids for roughly 2 to 3 weeks, then puréed or soft, high-protein foods. Patients avoid alcohol for the first 6 months to a year and may take a daily multivitamin to offset reduced nutrient absorption. ### Who is eligible for bariatric surgery? Historically eligibility was a body mass index above 40, or above 35 with an obesity-associated condition, based on the 1991 NIH Consensus Statement. In 2022 the criteria were revised to include adults with a body mass index above 35, and those above 30 with metabolic syndrome, with a modified threshold above 27.5 for people of Asian descent. ## Cited authors - Noah J Switzer — Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Room 405 CSC, 10240 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 3V9, Canada. - Mahnoor Zia — Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas. ## Sources - [Revisional Bariatric Surgery.](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.suc.2016.03.004) — The Surgical clinics of North America (accessed 2026-06-28) - [Elevated Hb A1C level and revisional bariatric surgery complications.](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2024.03.023) — Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (accessed 2026-06-28)