Can you get the gastric sleeve after having a gastric plication done?

Question

I had a gastric plication for heart burn years ago. Did not lose any weight. Years later I lost 100 pounds by extreme dieting and exercise only to gain it all back. Should I get a gastric sleeve?

Ali Solmaz, MD · Answer

Yes, it is possible to get a gastric sleeve after having a gastric plication, but whether it’s the right option for you depends on a few individual factors, especially your anatomy post-plication and your overall health. Gastric plication involves folding the stomach in on itself and suturing it to reduce volume, but unlike the sleeve, it doesn’t involve removing any part of the stomach. Some people who’ve had plication without weight loss &mdash; or who regain weight later &mdash; do go on to have revisional surgery like the gastric sleeve.
Since your plication was done for heartburn and not for weight loss, and you didn’t experience any reduction in weight from it, you’re not alone &mdash; plication has shown mixed long-term results and is less commonly performed now for that reason. The fact that you later lost 100 pounds through extreme dieting and exercise shows you have a strong level of commitment, but it also highlights the difficulty of sustaining that level of intensity long-term, especially without surgical support. Regaining the weight is unfortunately very common, and it’s not a failure &mdash; it just shows that your body needs a more durable solution.
If you’re considering the gastric sleeve now, it may be a very reasonable next step. It removes part of the stomach permanently, affects hunger hormones, and has a strong track record for both weight loss and maintenance. That said, you’d need a thorough evaluation by a bariatric surgeon, ideally someone with experience in revision surgeries, to assess your stomach’s current state after the plication and determine if a sleeve is safe and appropriate.
So yes &mdash; a gastric sleeve may be a good option, and based on your history, it’s definitely worth exploring seriously.

Pablo Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello, I hope you are well. Yes, it is possible to get a gastric sleeve after a plication. However, since you struggle with heartburn it would be best to have you evaluated for the most appropiate bariatric procedure, as gastric sleeves tend to worsen those symptoms. It is also possible you have an associated hiatal hernia that needs repairing. I hope this answer was helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact us if anything else comes up.

H. Joseph Naim, MD, FACS · Answer

Sure, that’s one of the advantages of Gastric Plication! You can get a Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve...
It’s more work for the Surgeon as he may need to open the Plication, but in an experienced hand you should be fine and get to lose the 100 lbs and keep it off!

Mark Pleatman, MD (retired) · Answer

I humbly suggest that you had a Nissen fundoplication for treatment of your heartburn; not gastric plication, a not-so-great weight loss operation.  You could have a gastric sleeve or bypass, though I would warn you that your heartburn might come back aftersleeve gastrectomy, as the fundoplication has to be undone.

Can you get the gastric sleeve after having a gastric plication done?

Answers (4)

Answer: You didn't have a gastric plication

Answer: You didn't have a gastric plication

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Can you get the gastric sleeve after having a gastric plication done?

Answers (4)

Answer: You didn't have a gastric plication

Answer: You didn't have a gastric plication

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.