By Dr. John H. Rodriguez, Chief of Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
For many years, obesity has been misunderstood. Too often, it is seen as a matter of willpower or lifestyle choices alone, rather than what it truly is: a complex, chronic disease influenced by genetics, biology, metabolism, environment, and long-term health factors. [1]
As a bariatric surgeon, I have the privilege of seeing both sides of this reality every day. I have seen how weight-loss surgery can transform a person’s health – restoring mobility, improving chronic conditions, reducing long-term risks, and giving patients back a sense of confidence and control after years of struggle. [2]
But I have also seen the emotional and physical impact when weight begins to return years later. It can be deeply discouraging for patients who believed they had “failed,” when in truth, weight recurrence is a recognized part of the chronic nature of obesity, not a personal shortcoming.
For many, this is not due to a lack of willpower or discipline. It’s because obesity is a chronic, complex disease. The body adapts, metabolism slows, and the anatomy we create during surgery can change over time. When this happens, patients make the common mistake of blaming themselves. Weight regain is a medical reality, not a moral or behavioral failure.
At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, we have been focused on finding safer, more effective ways to help these patients. Recently, our team performed a groundbreaking procedure that offers exactly that: a magnetic, minimally invasive approach to treat weight regain after sleeve gastrectomy.
A gentle alternative to traditional revisional surgery
In the past, when a patient experienced significant weight regain, the only solution was another major operation, often more complex and higher risk than the first. Revisional surgeries require re-stapling or reshaping parts of the stomach and intestines, which can increase the likelihood of complications and lengthen recovery time. [3]
The new magnetic approach changes that. Instead of cutting or stapling tissue, we use two small, specially designed magnets, one placed in the stomach and another in the small intestine. Over the course of a few weeks, these magnets gently move together, creating a natural connection between the two areas. This connection helps food reach a part of the intestine that enhances metabolic activity and promotes renewed weight loss.
Once this connection forms, the magnets naturally separate and pass safely through the digestive tract. The process requires no incisions, no sutures, and leaves no foreign material behind. Most patients go home the next day and can return to daily life much faster than after traditional revisional surgery.
For me, what makes this procedure so exciting is its simplicity and respect for the patient’s anatomy. It’s precise, gentle, and offers another chance of success for those who may have lost hope.
Restoring confidence and health
Patients who come in after regaining weight carry more than just extra weight; they carry frustration, disappointment, and sometimes shame. There’s a psychological aspect to weight loss surgeries and, consequently, weight regain that deeply affects patients. My goal, and that of our entire team, is to replace that with understanding and optimism.
At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, we care for these patients through a comprehensive obesity and metabolic program. It’s not just about performing a procedure; it’s about addressing every factor that influences health. From metabolism and hormones to nutrition, exercise, and emotional well-being. Our team of caregivers includes endocrinologists, dietitians, psychologists, and surgeons who work side by side to support each patient before, during, and long after their procedure. [4]
We’ve seen patients regain control of their weight, as well as their confidence, energy, and sense of possibility. That’s what drives me every day, helping people reclaim their lives safely and sustainably.
Innovation with compassion
This achievement also represents something much bigger: the evolution of care in the region. As Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi marked its tenth anniversary this year, it stands as a center of excellence in advanced, patient-centered care. Our Digestive Disease Institute performed more than 11,000 procedures last year alone, reflecting both the growing need for metabolic and gastrointestinal expertise and our commitment to meeting that need with world-class innovation. [5]
Before joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, I spent more than a decade at Cleveland Clinic in the United States, where I saw firsthand the power of bringing together research, technology, and humanity. Today, we are building on that legacy here in the UAE, blending global expertise with local compassion.
For many of our patients, this magnetic procedure represents something they thought they’d lost: a second chance, which carries no shame and comes with a stronger understanding of different aspects of weight regain. Personally, I believe that this represents the future of bariatric care, one that’s less invasive, more compassionate and humane, and entirely focused on helping people live fuller, healthier lives.
A message to patients
If you’ve regained weight after bariatric surgery, please know this: you are not alone, and you have not failed. Your body is simply reminding us that obesity is a lifelong condition that deserves lifelong care. There are safe, effective options available, and you deserve to explore them.
References
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/obesity#tab=tab_1
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11388-bariatric-surgery
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21984-bariatric-surgery-revision
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12333-obesity
- https://www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae/en/media-center/news/ccad-performs-innovative-magnetic-procedure-to-treat-weight-regain-after-bariatric-surgery?utm_source=chatgpt.com
