Safety & Risks

Risks and Limitations of Magnetic Metabolic Surgery

No metabolic, bariatric, or gastrointestinal procedure is without risk. This page summarizes the known risks documented in the current MagDI literature and FDA materials, the areas where data remain limited, and why ongoing follow-up matters.

Written by MagnaMetabolic Editorial Team Medically reviewed by Ariel Ortiz, MD — Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery Last reviewed: June 7, 2026

Known risks

Risks reported in the current MagDI and broader bariatric surgery literature include, but are not limited to:

  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Anastomotic stricture (narrowing of the connection)
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Need for reoperation or additional procedures
  • Failure to achieve expected weight loss or metabolic improvement
  • Standard risks associated with anesthesia and abdominal surgery

Current unknowns

  • Long-term outcomes beyond the follow-up periods currently published.
  • Long-term rate and timing of revision or additional intervention.
  • Individual variability in weight-loss and diabetes outcomes.
  • Comparative long-term effectiveness versus established procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Who should not consider this procedure

Specific contraindications and exclusion criteria are determined during clinical evaluation. See Contraindications for a general overview. Final candidacy must be determined by a qualified healthcare professional after individual assessment.

Evidence

Scientific References

Selected primary sources informing this page. External links open in a new tab; we do not control or endorse third-party content.

  1. FDAU.S. FDA — De Novo Classification DEN240013: MagDI System (Magnetic Duodeno-Ileostomy), De Novo marketing authorization granted July 2, 2024.
  2. FDAU.S. FDA — 510(k) Premarket Notification K242086: MagDI System (second generation), clearance granted October 24, 2024.
  3. Obesity SurgeryGagner M, et al. First-in-human experience of magnetic duodeno-ileostomy for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disease. Obesity Surgery.
  4. Surgical EndoscopyMulti-center early outcomes of sleeve gastrectomy combined with magnetic duodeno-ileostomy (Sleeve Plus MagDI). Surgical Endoscopy.
  5. SOARDMagnetic duodeno-ileal anastomosis after previous sleeve gastrectomy for weight regain, insufficient weight loss, or diabetes recurrence. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD).
  6. ASMBSAmerican Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and IFSO 2022 indications for metabolic and bariatric surgery.
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