I am now 70 years old. I had a sleeve done in 2014, I have slowly gained all of my weight back! Do you think it would be safe to have it again at my age? I'm thinking about talking to my Dr about it

Hi, @CherokeeGirl,

I'm 59, so close... I definitely think it's worthwhile to ask a bariatric surgeon about it. Of course, everyone's risk is unique based on your personal health characteristics. But bariatric surgery clients tend to be higher-risk just based on our weight and look how many of us there are! It doesn't hurt to find out what your options are and then whatever decision you make will be informed. Good luck!!

Also 59 and agree it never hurts to ask. And if a revision isn’t an option (for whatever reason) ask about GLP-1 meds or other options available to you. You never know the answer if you don’t ask the question.

All the best.

I'm in my 50s so also close. I had a sleeve 3 years ago. I'm not exactly sure what you mean when you talk about having it again - do you mean a revision of some kind?

Second procedures are necessary for many of us, for many reasons. If we can look at *why* we regained, sometimes we can avert regain a second time around. Sometimes not.

If you do go with further surgery (and many of us would if and when we regained I think) it might help before that to go back to the immediate post op rules and stick to those.

I went for a sleeve partly because it left the door open to a revision if I *did* regain. I'm only 3 years out and glad to have that escape hatch (but - more surgery is not enticing!!!!)

I am totally open to GLP-1 /GIP drugs if I do regain a lot. Just different tools. Also open to a revision if necessary - as I said I kind of chose the sleeve on those grounds.

I'm 60, but I think you may be asking the wrong question? Although safety is a potential concern at any age, this is something only your surgeon can properly determine. I can say plenty of people in their 70's have had bariatric surgery.

I think the real question should be: what are you expecting to be different this time if you have a revision? Would it still be worth it to you if you once again gained all the weight back?

In my opinion, the fact that you've gone back up you your pre-surgery weight means that there are other things going on here that you need to address first. If I had to guess, I'd think there are 2 things you need to address before considering revision surgery, GLP-1 meds, or even fat loss diets:

1. Your mental health. My personal opinion is that the virtually all obese or formerly obese people suffer from an eating disorder, or at least disordered eating of some sort. If you don't address this first, you're really likely to out eat any revision surgery you may have.
2. Your activity level. The fact is that most people that are able to successfully lose weight and keep the weight off (surgical or not), are really active. In fact, some studies show that formerly obese people have to be even more active than someone that was never heavy to maintain the same bodyweight. The reasons for that are complex, but if you don't address this, the likelihood of at least regaining a significant amount of weight are pretty high.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

On 12/20/2024 at 7:43 AM, SpartanMaker said:

I'm 60, but I think you may be asking the wrong question? Although safety is a potential concern at any age, this is something only your surgeon can properly determine. I can say plenty of people in their 70's have had bariatric surgery.

I think the real question should be: what are you expecting to be different this time if you have a revision? Would it still be worth it to you if you once again gained all the weight back?

In my opinion, the fact that you've gone back up you your pre-surgery weight means that there are other things going on here that you need to address first. If I had to guess, I'd think there are 2 things you need to address before considering revision surgery, GLP-1 meds, or even fat loss diets:

1. Your mental health. My personal opinion is that the virtually all obese or formerly obese people suffer from an eating disorder, or at least disordered eating of some sort. If you don't address this first, you're really likely to out eat any revision surgery you may have.
2. Your activity level. The fact is that most people that are able to successfully lose weight and keep the weight off (surgical or not), are really active. In fact, some studies show that formerly obese people have to be even more active than someone that was never heavy to maintain the same bodyweight. The reasons for that are complex, but if you don't address this, the likelihood of at least regaining a significant amount of weight are pretty high.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

I lost $ close family member in a 5 month period. I didn't handle it well..I just ate trough my grief! Then, I lost the mind set. I should of hopped here for support, or reached out to my Dr...but I didn't. Aaaaaanyway, yes, if I can have a revision , I'm going to do it.

Not sure what your coverage is for them but I strongly suggest you talk to your doctor about the GLP-1 if eating different is the cause for regain. Your tool is still there, you most likely just need help switching your diet back and the GLP-1 should take your appetite away almost completely making that a great deal easier. I have a friend that lost all of her weight and was actually losing too much and had to back off of them because she wasn’t getting enough nutrition. I had to keep reminding her to get in her protein and fluids. She has great coverage for them through her work insurance (she pays $25).

I actually wanted to do them when I did my revision this year but I didn’t have adequate coverage for them and financially they just weren’t an option so I went for the revision. I talked to my doctor about waiting but she thought it would be a couple years before anything changed in terms of coverage and my labs were creeping up so waiting wasn’t a good idea. I am doing great in terms of weight loss but faced with another medical issue now, the gastro changes I’ve had aren’t making things any easier for me.

Losing the weight is for sure the goal but if you can do it without surgery that’s always better. As far as I know revision is for people who gain without any real known reason. You are saying that you’re eating different for an emotional reason so you probably just need help changing back to your better habits both mentally and physically. Honestly, I think the GLP-1 will be the first option for many people in the very near future. They are considered safer at this point. It’s just a matter of them becoming more accessible for people. Take it with a grain of salt but it’s something I would at least consider before jumping to the surgery option.

also, your surgeon may not want to do a re-sleeve. Some still do but many consider it to be too risky and it yields too little reward (the weight loss for a second sleeve is statistically less than a virgin sleeve which is already less than the other surgeries). The typical surgery for revision is usually the bypass although a newer alternative to that is to revise to a surgery called the SADI which is what I just did and it is a little more aggressive so it yields faster loss and so far the research shows more durable loss as well. I have lost quite a bit rather quickly with it. You don’t need to know any of this yet. Your doctor of course will know if any of the options apply to you and explain them at that point but just know that it may be a little different surgery if you do go with a revision. One that alters your intestines this time which is a bit riskier.

Edited December 25, 20241 yr by ShoppGirl

I had sleeve 12/17/24 and am 71. You can do it.