What do I do in case of a relapse after obesity surgery?]

No matter the type of bariatric surgery – sleeve, bypass or ring –, the patient is exposed to a risk of a relapse. How to dismiss it? What measures to implement in case of failure? Doctor Jacques Himpens and Doctor Anne-Catherine Dandrifosse, obesity surgeon in Liège and Brussels, informs you.

What does “relapse” after a bariatric surgery mean?

The specialist for an obesity treatment talk about “relapse” in three distinct cases:

Lose an inefficient amount of excess weight

A general rule, a loss of more than 50% of excess weight is considered as good results. However, it may happen that the expected results are inefficient.

Weight gain over long-term

The bariatric surgery is an intervention which fits in a long-term support. The patient must provide the efforts and get down to a healthy lifestyle in a postoperative phase immediately, a medium term and long term. In case of a relapse of efforts over time, it happens that the patient regains corporal mass.

Complications linked to a previous surgery               

Finally, the patient may also be prey to complications linked with a previous bariatric intervention: reflux of the gastro-omophagiatoo much trouble or facilities to eat, etc.

Risk factors for a relapse after an obesity surgery

There may be technical problems linked to the surgical mounting as well as behavioural problems, and sometimes complicated to make the difference. This is why the postoperative follow-up is particularly important. Eating disorders such as snacker or binge eating (including the hyperphagia, bulimic) can appear or disappear. The absence of family support is also a risk factor, just like a misunderstanding of the implications of the surgery. You have to be prepared to follow the dietary instructions long-term. 

Considered solutions if the postoperative failure

The steps to follow in case of a relapse vary case by case. It consists in the beginning to analyse with the specialists that support you, what is happening. On this basis, we can orientate towards the technical problem, the lack of motivation, a follow-up problem or sometimes simply a misunderstanding of the rules of a follow-up after an obesity surgery.

Complementary exams such as radios and blood test can be considered. There is, moreover several surgical possibilities to restart her life. It’s always about surgeries, though a little more technical.

Means implemented to prevent candidates of a bariatric surgery against the lapse risks

The follow-up over long-term and the global support by a multi-disciplinary team are very important because the personal predisposition to weight remains present. If bad eating habits or hormonal problem for example, to settle down with or without a technical problem of surgical mountings or a hormonal problem for example, a weight gain may occur.  The presence of a multi-disciplinary follow-up to detect situations of predispositions for a risk of a lapse.

Doctor Jacques Himpens, Doctor Anne-Catherine Dandrifosse and their team will inform you!

Do you have questions about a bariatric surgery? Do you want to make an appointment for a medical consultation with the Dr Dandrifosse and Dr Himpens? Contact us by telephone or via our on-line form.

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