Causes of weight regain after metabolic and bariatric surgery and precise determination of indications for revisional surgery

GONG Yao-li, WEI Ran, WU Zhen-peng, YANG Jing-ge

Chinese Journal of Practical Surgery ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (9) : 1194-1198.

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Chinese Journal of Practical Surgery ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (9) : 1194-1198. DOI: 10.19538/j.cjps.issn1005-2208.2026.09.06

Causes of weight regain after metabolic and bariatric surgery and precise determination of indications for revisional surgery

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Abstract

Weight regain after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is one of the most challenging clinical problems in bariatric surgery and the leading indication for revisional surgery. A unified definition of post-MBS weight regain remains lacking, and weight regain must be strictly distinguished from insufficient weight loss and a weight-loss plateau. Weight regain is driven jointly by anatomical abnormalities, behavioral and psychological factors, metabolic adaptation, medication-related effects, and inadequate follow-up management; among these factors, anatomical abnormalities are the only causes that can be directly corrected surgically. Before revisional surgery, patients must undergo systematic reassessment by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) and follow a four-tiered, stepwise intervention pathway comprising intensive lifestyle intervention, anti-obesity medication, endoscopic intervention, and revisional surgery. Revisional surgery should be individualized, etiology directed, and based on a careful risk-benefit assessment, with the procedure selected according to the primary operation and the cause of weight regain. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is preferred for patients with weight regain and refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease after sleeve gastrectomy. Revisional sleeve gastrectomy (ReSG) or sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition (SG-TB) may be considered for patients with marked dilation of the gastric remnant. When weight loss is the primary goal, procedures such as single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) provide superior weight-loss outcomes. Contraindications to revisional surgery must be strictly assessed, and the procedure should be performed at experienced bariatric centers. Coordinated surgical and pharmacological management centered on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists or dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonists emphasizes early warning, intervention before a weight-loss plateau, and combination strategies, which may enable more patients with weight regain to achieve the greatest benefit with the least trauma.

Key words

metabolic and bariatric surgery / weight regain / revisional surgery / multidisciplinary team / anti-obesity medication

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GONG Yao-li , WEI Ran , WU Zhen-peng , et al. Causes of weight regain after metabolic and bariatric surgery and precise determination of indications for revisional surgery[J]. Chinese Journal of Practical Surgery. 2026, 46(9): 1194-1198 https://doi.org/10.19538/j.cjps.issn1005-2208.2026.09.06

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腹腔镜胃袖状切除术(laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, LSG)是目前国内外开展最广泛的减重手术术式。随着手术的开展,术后复胖等各种原因造成的修正手术比例也逐年增加,如何个体化选择合适的修正术式并规范地开展修正手术是目前减重外科面临的热点问题之一。此文结合文献和作者临床经验就LSG术后修正手术的原因、术式选择等问题展开概述,为修正手术的规范化开展提供思路。
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Efficacy and safety of OAGB/MGB (one anastomosis/mini gastric bypass) have been well documented both as primary and as revisional procedures. However, even after OAGB/MGB, revisional surgery is unavoidable in patients with surgical complications or insufficient weight loss.A questionnaire asking for the total number and demographics of primary and revisional OAGB/MGBs performed between January 2006 and July 2020 was e-mailed to all S.I.C. OB centres of excellence (annual caseload > 100; 5-year follow-up > 50%). Each bariatric centre was asked to provide gender, age, preoperative body mass index (BMI) and obesity-related comorbidities, previous history of abdominal or bariatric surgery, indication for surgical revision of OAGB/MGB, type of revisional procedure, pre- and post-revisional BMI, peri- and post-operative complications, last follow-up (FU).Twenty-three bariatric centres (54.8%) responded to our survey reporting a total number of 8676 primary OAGB/MGBS and a follow-up of 62.42 ± 52.22 months. A total of 181 (2.08%) patients underwent revisional surgery: 82 (0.94%) were suffering from intractable DGER (duodeno-gastric-esophageal reflux), 42 (0.48%) were reoperated for weight regain, 16 (0.18%) had excessive weight loss and malnutrition, 12 (0.13%) had a marginal ulcer perforation, 10 (0.11%) had a gastro-gastric fistula, 20 (0.23%) had other causes of revision. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) was the most performed revisional procedure (109; 54%), followed by bilio-pancreatic limb elongation (19; 9.4%) and normal anatomy restoration (19; 9.4%).Our findings demonstrate that there is acceptable revisional rate after OAGB/MGB and conversion to RYGB represents the most frequent choice.© 2021. The Author(s).
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Footnotes

利益冲突 所有作者均声明不存在利益冲突

Funding

Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation Enterprise Joint Fund(2024A1515220130)
Basic and Applied Basic Research Project of Guangzhou Science and Technology Program(2024A03J1259)
Guangzhou Second Batch of Major Difficult and Rare Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center Construction Project(2026ZLZX-11)
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