Question:
If I get this surgery and for some reason am not satisfied, can I have it undone?

I have been researching this and I think most of my questions have been answered except can the RNY be undone if for some reason I change my mind.    — Nicole C. (posted on December 21, 2002)


December 21, 2002
Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I do believe it can be reversed if needed. I don't think they do reversles only if you just want it done. It has to be medically necessary. I wouldn't have this surgery reversed for anything. It is the greatest. I am 5 and 1/2 months out and started at 253 lbs. I now weigh 172. That is -81 lbs. Woooo Hoooo. You will love your new life. Good Luck!!
   — DRutherford

December 21, 2002
Yes it can but its EXTREMLY rare. My surgeon has never done a reversal. To get insurance to pay for the reversal it would have to be considered medically necessary, just like getting approval for your original surgery. Beyond that a reversal will lead to regaining all the weight, and because of scar tissue its riskier than the original surgery, Basically its permanent. If you specifically want something easily reversed look into the lap band. But even then weight regain, and insurance hoops will be a problem. <P> I seriously doubt you will want reversed after a few months have passed. Theres nothing better than watching that scale drop. <P> I recomend you buy a book, like ythe one barb thompson a member here wrote. It covers so much.<P>http://www.wlscenter.com/<P> Whatever you decide good luck. WLS saved both my life and that of my wife Jen. I like nearly every other RNY would have surgery again in a instant.
   — bob-haller

December 21, 2002
The surgery cannot truly be undone in that you can never be exactly as you were before. Plus trying to take down the surgery is EXTREMELY risky - much more so than the original surgery. Many docs will not do a reversal, and those who do prefer to do it only on their own surgeries. You must regard this as a permanent and irreversible step. Really, it IS.
   — Michelle O.

December 21, 2002
EVERYONE IS RIGHT. Especially the last poster (Michelle). Only in for "life threatening" problem will they undo it. HOWEVER you are PERMANATELY changed. NEVER will your insides be as they were. (Heck I've had non WLS surgery that has "tried" to be reversersed "somewhat" because of my health- and I am left worse than before surgery). NEVER go into WLS thinking, "I can have it reversed if I want". BULL! Once your guts are cut and rearanged, you will never be what you were. KEEP RESEARCHING! I hope that no one will go into this thinking it can be reversed. Keep dieting! However you were probally just asking and not serious. ;) I know all to well how bad you can be when you have to have things reversed. Thankfully my WLS surgeon was skilled and did it right the first time. But if for some reason I wanted it reversed (and could pay for it myself) I would gain ALL my weight back AND TONS MORE. My metabolism is already slowed down greatly because of the low calorie consumption these last almost 20 months. I don't imagine I could ever exercise enough to burn what I did pre op. Good luck to you!
   — Danmark

December 21, 2002
My surgeon tells his patients (and we have to sign a paper) that this surgery Laporscopic RNY cannot be reversed. If in extreme medical conditions it could possible be "revised" but that our stomachs and everything would NEVER be the same as it was before surgery. Be very sure that this is what you want. Most everyone does experience some regret and depression afterwards and wishing they had not done the surgery (especially me) but these feelings tend to be temporary once we finally get used to how our new bodies work. Patty
   — Patricia C.

December 21, 2002
Ditto to what everyone has said. I just want to enforce that trying to get inurance to pay for that reversal will be like begging the devil. I'm guessing only in the case of much more serious life threatening problems, than caused you to have the surgery in the first place, will the insurance cover it. It would most likley only occur on a person who absolutely cannot stop the weight loss and is becoming so severely undernourished to approach anorexia, is my guess.<p>Recently someone posted that her doctor was talking about possibly having to reverse because of severe problems and she was devastated at the thought of losing the wonderful tool that gave her a new life. I believe if you follow the rules and eat right and take the meds you need and follow up with your doctor, the chance you would need reversal is so small it's not even on the charts.<p>If you have these kinds of thoughts you are not ready to go forward with this surgery - in my opinion. I also still have concerns and questions what things will be like afterwards as far as eating but have asked enough questions to feel comfortable that I have a reasonably good idea what to expect and the rest will be trial and error based on what my body will tolerate. I look at the fact that many thousands of people have had this surgery and have managed to work through the eating changes and I do not see myself as any different than those people. There will be good and bad times I am sure, but those exist with how I eat now. Heck I probably dump now (many things go through undigested and fast), from eating too much too fast, more than I will after surgery. Once I throw up that will keep me being careful. I detest throwing up.<p>Please get some counseling to work through your questions and concerns before proceeding. You have to be on-board and committed to making this work or it will turn out disasterous. My thoughts are with you!
   — zoedogcbr

December 21, 2002
If you get a lap band (adjustable gastric band), you can get it completely reversed with no ill effects on your body. That's the only surgery that's actually reversible to the extent that your body will be essentially the same as if you never had it done. These other surgeries can be reversed to a certain extent but you will always have some residual effects.
   — M. B.

December 21, 2002
I saw your post and I was not going to respond because I did not want to upset you or make you mad, but I kept looking at it and I had to say something. Do not be offended. This is a MAJOR LIFE CHANGING OPERATION. Some people die during this surgery and some people have majjor complications afterward.Not trying to scare these are just the realities of this and any kind of surgery. This is not something you take litely. I spent six years researching WLS before I finally made my mind up to do it. My health was getting worse and the risk of surgery were better than the risk I was given with my health problems so I went for it. I decided to do it ONLY AFTER HAVING MAJOR KNOWLEDGE OF WLS. Yes, in some cases surgery can be reversed, but if you are going into this with the thought that you are not going to like it DON"T DO IT. After surgery your insides will never be the same again if they have to reverse it. You will be functional, but there is no telling what affects you will have after being reveresed. DO NOT HAVE THIS SURGERY UNTIL YOU ARE SURE. PLEASE JUST WAIT IF YOU ARE NOT SURE. I wish you well and please people who read this and think I am being mean DO NOT SEND ME HATE MAIL. I am not being mean. Just being honest. If you need to talk about this please feel free to contact me. I am more than happy to try to calm your fears or share my knowledge and strentgh with you.
   — Skyedancer4u1

December 21, 2002
I suggest you attend some support group meetings to help with your fear of what life will be like post op. Out of the 85,000 or more members here I can think of only a couple who were reversed. The most notable Barb Henson. It appears her original surgeon made a error. She finally got reversed and is doing well. Technically the RNY can be reversed, but you wouldnt be exactly how you started, but close. Surgeons have patients sign those this is permanent and NOT reversible because some have a rough first month or so and a few demand a reversal. Do look as this as permanent, because it is. But then go look at the befores and after pictures and ask yourself if any of those people would want to regain all the weight...
   — bob-haller

December 22, 2002
You all didn't have to jump on me I am only in the researching stage I don't know what I want to do yet that's why I am asking questions. My goodness!!
   — Nicole C.

December 22, 2002
Nicole, I am sorry that you feel like we were jumping down your throat. I believe we were all being honest and open and thourgh with our information. We have had the surgery already and by no means are experts, but we do know what we know and you asked and we answered. We just wanted you to know the hard facts. There are some people who are under the impression that this is like a light switch and you can turn it on and off and it is just not so. You could have written me to my personal email and not my surgery page and made it look like I was just really evil answering your question if you felt like I was being mean to you. I was merely answering your question. This is the last time I will ever answer a question on the Q&A board. I wish you well and good luck with whatever you decide to do.
   — Skyedancer4u1

December 22, 2002
The second time I saw my surgeon I told him I needed to ask him a really weird question. During surgery he takes the residual stomach out. No issue there with reversals! :)So I asked, "Does anyone ever want their stomach back?" He smiled at that question and asked me in what instance did I think they would need it back. Stomach cancer or ulcers in your pouch? He said that would be very rare. I have read some pretty gnarley stories on here about complications that people have encountered during and after this surgery and all but one person so far said even if they knew that they would encounter the same complications they would have it done all over again. The book by Barbara Thompson is excellent in answering probably everything anyone could think to ask. It has helped me a lot. I won't even lend it out but carry it around with me like some talisman, and will until I get through this surgery! I had a bunch of questions about everything but that is all part of the learning process. You have every right to ask anything you'd like to ask. If I had to vote I would side with just considering this irreversible. Best of luck to you in your search for answers to help you understand this more clearly!
   — Joy A.

December 22, 2002
Nicole- It is good you ask this question! You need to know everything before you decide to go through with it. It would be a shame if someone had the RNY surgery and thought it was reversable because they never asked. Like most of the posters said though...once you get it, you are pretty much "stuck" with it. Which actually is a good thing, because if we reversed it, we would probably and most likely gain all of our weight back. The RNY is very very drastic, and just be careful in making your decision. RESEARCH A LOT! I am glad I had the surgery, but it isn't always an easy road. Good Luck! (open RNY 7/23/02 -95 lbs)
   — Shawnie S.

December 22, 2002
I've read and re read all the posts. I don't believe anyone jumped on you. We are all scared that "perhaps" in the back of your mind you are thinking that if you have the surgery you can have it reversed for whatever reason. Most people on this site are caring people and hate to see anyone make a mistake and get hurt.
   — Danmark

December 22, 2002
Nicole - Sorry you felt jumped on - we were just concerned you would go forward with a misconception and did not want you to find out the reality afterwards. In answer to your original question - NO the surgery can not be undone because you change your mind. I do not believe any surgeon would "undo" it other than for life threatening reasons. Good Luck in your continued research and decision making process.
   — zoedogcbr




Click Here to Return
×