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Bariatric Surgery in Barcelona: Methods and Results
for good —
14,000 CMC patients already have a new body. We put the result in an official contract, so it is legal rather than merely verbal.
patients
experience
from excess weight
rating
Bariatric Surgery in Barcelona: Methods and Results
for good —
Everything for the result — included
Bariatric surgery —
is it right for me?
Tick the situations that sound familiar.
From 2 matches — a reason to talk to a surgeon.
Everything needed for the result —
already included
No concealed charges or surprises. The whole journey, one package.
Bariatric surgery —
is it right for me?
Tick the situations that sound familiar.
From 2 matches — a reason to talk to a surgeon.
Reasons to see a surgeon
A surgical consultation makes sense with a high BMI and also with related conditions
Medical history
Excess weight since childhood or a genetic predisposition
Metabolic disorders
Type 2 diabetes and hypertension associated with obesity
Resistance to conservative treatment
No lasting result from diets and medication over several years.
Medical history
Excess weight since childhood or a genetic predisposition
Metabolic disorders
Type 2 diabetes and hypertension associated with obesity
Resistance to conservative treatment
No lasting result from diets and medication over several years.
When is bariatric surgery justified?
Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met
The role of body mass index (BMI)
Doctors assess obesity chiefly through BMI: take body weight (kg) and divide it by height squared (m²). Surgical treatment is usually justified at a BMI over 40, or over 35 with serious related conditions. Surgery may also be considered at lower values in some cases — where non-surgical approaches have failed.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Standard approaches to weight loss have not worked before
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Many people try various diets and exercise for years, but the body fights back: metabolism slows, appetite grows and the lost weight returns. When it becomes clear that diet changes and medication alone cannot fundamentally improve the situation, bariatric surgery becomes the only effective way out.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Standard approaches to weight loss have not worked before
The role of body mass index (BMI)
Doctors assess obesity chiefly through BMI: take body weight (kg) and divide it by height squared (m²). Surgical treatment is usually justified at a BMI over 40, or over 35 with serious related conditions. Surgery may also be considered at lower values in some cases — where non-surgical approaches have failed.
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Many people try various diets and exercise for years, but the body fights back: metabolism slows, appetite grows and the lost weight returns. When it becomes clear that diet changes and medication alone cannot fundamentally improve the situation, bariatric surgery becomes the only effective way out.
Medical indications
for bariatric surgery
Have chronic conditions? Please consult one of the clinic's doctors!
Indications
Excess weight
Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Sleep apnea
Joint disease
Varicose veins
Fatty liver disease
Reproductive health problems
Contraindications
Age under 18
Malignant tumors
Less than six months since breastfeeding ended
Acute illness or flare-ups of chronic disease
Severe chronic and mental illness
Blood clotting disorders
Pregnancy
Bariatric surgery methods at City Medical Centre
Sleeve gastrectomy
In the operation the surgeon removes most of the stomach, leaving a narrow tube. Portions become much smaller and levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, fall, so the patient feels full far sooner and eats less.
Effectiveness: works for a BMI from 35 to 45. On average, 60–70% of the excess weight is lost.
Specifics: results are less lasting than with bypass surgery. Weight can return if the diet is not kept, especially with high-calorie drinks and liquid foods.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
The operation creates a small 50–70 ml stomach pouch at the top and connects it directly with the small intestine. Less food can be taken in, and fewer calories are absorbed because the path through the gut is shorter.
Effectiveness: regarded as the “gold standard” for a BMI over 45–50 with type 2 diabetes. Loss of excess weight reaches 75–85%.
Specifics: outcomes are more durable than with other bariatric procedures. Diabetes, hypertension and other related conditions often go into remission. With the digestive anatomy changed, lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements are a must.
Mini gastric bypass (MGB)
This is a refined form of the classic bypass. Unlike the standard technique, the surgeon makes just one connection (anastomosis) between the small stomach and the small intestine. The simpler approach is gentler on the patient and requires less recovery time.
Effectiveness: similar to the classic Roux-en-Y bypass; up to 75–80% of excess weight is lost.
Specifics: surgery takes less time and recovery is faster. It can technically be reversed; the single anastomosis, though, poses a risk of bile reflux.
Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI-S)
SADI-S is a modern combined technique that unites the benefits of sleeve gastrectomy and intestinal bypass. It is done in two stages: first the stomach is turned into a narrow tube, then the small intestine is rerouted so that most of it is excluded from active digestion.
Effectiveness: one of the most powerful options in bariatric surgery: excess weight loss of 80–90%, lasting a long time.
Specifics: a reduced stomach without its ghrelin-producing zone means less appetite, and diverting food past part of the intestine restricts calorie absorption. It is suited to super obesity (BMI over 50), severe type 2 diabetes, or a second stage after an ineffective sleeve.
Book a consultation
Call or message us -
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us -
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Preparing for bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
Everything begins with a surgeon's consultation: medical history, method choice and a recovery plan
Lab tests
Tests: complete blood count, urinalysis, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation panel (clotting).
Instrumental diagnostics
Chest X-ray, ECG, kidney and abdomen ultrasound, Doppler for leg veins.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
GP and endocrinologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, and gynecologist for women.
Diet
For 2–4 weeks before surgery, cut out fast carbs and fats; the day before, eat light meals.
Lifestyle
In the month before, quit smoking, scale down physical activity and avoid stress.
The day before
Final light meal in the evening; last drinks 3–4 hours before surgery.
Lab tests
Tests: complete blood count, urinalysis, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation panel (clotting).
Instrumental diagnostics
Chest X-ray, ECG, kidney and abdomen ultrasound, Doppler for leg veins.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
GP and endocrinologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, and gynecologist for women.
Diet
For 2–4 weeks before surgery, cut out fast carbs and fats; the day before, eat light meals.
Lifestyle
In the month before, quit smoking, scale down physical activity and avoid stress.
The day before
Final light meal in the evening; last drinks 3–4 hours before surgery.
Our specialists
Experienced bariatric surgeons devoted to their patients' health
Ruslan S. Menzulin
Bariatric surgeon · surgical oncologist
Trained at Mercy clinic, mentored by Vadim Gushchin, and spoke at the World Congress of bariatric surgery in 2025. A co-author of an international study in The Lancet.
Andrey G. Ugay
Lead bariatric surgeon · surgeon
No one in the country has performed more SASJ operations. On the expert council of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons; gives regular talks at national and international congresses.
City Medical Centre bariatric surgery centre
— your path
to confidence and harmony
City Medical Centre handles obesity comprehensively. After the first exam, every patient gets an individual diagnostic program (lab plus instrumental) designed to pinpoint every disorder in the body.
A method matched to your goal
Each patient gets an individually chosen surgical method from our doctors. Before a decision, they look at your health, weight history and associated conditions to recommend the most fitting surgical treatment.
Support that stays in touch
Once the operation is done, the City Medical Centre team stays alongside you. Throughout the first year specialists follow your weight loss, review tests and answer all questions on diet and recovery.
Fast recovery
At City Medical Centre, bariatric operations are laparoscopic, which significantly shortens recovery. Most patients are up and active on day one and return to normal life within a week.
Full diagnostics on site
No shuttling between clinics. Your full work-up happens at our centre, from our own lab to ultrasound and gastroscopy. Preparation is quick, there are no queues, and it is all in one building.
Recovery after bariatric surgery
How recovery goes is largely individual, yet minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques keep the rehabilitation period to a minimum.
Duration
The patient is monitored at the clinic for 1 to 5 days, according to the extent of surgery and any related conditions.
Activity
You are permitted to sit up, stand and drink fluids in the first hours after surgery.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
You may get back to work 7–14 days post-surgery, depending on the physical load of your job.
Restrictions
Bathhouse, sauna and intense workouts are off-limits for the first weeks.
Diet
The prescribed staged diet runs 1–2 months, shifting from liquids to solids so the stomach adapts.
Pace
On specialists' advice, patients typically lose an average of 10% of excess weight per month.
Stabilization
In 1.5–2 years the final result is reached, and by then the patient's stable eating habits prevent the weight coming back.
Important! Specialists at City Medical Centre supervise recovery, providing medical and psychological support across every stage of weight loss.
Duration
The patient is monitored at the clinic for 1 to 5 days, according to the extent of surgery and any related conditions.
Activity
You are permitted to sit up, stand and drink fluids in the first hours after surgery.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
You may get back to work 7–14 days post-surgery, depending on the physical load of your job.
Restrictions
Bathhouse, sauna and intense workouts are off-limits for the first weeks.
Diet
The prescribed staged diet runs 1–2 months, shifting from liquids to solids so the stomach adapts.
Pace
On specialists' advice, patients typically lose an average of 10% of excess weight per month.
Stabilization
In 1.5–2 years the final result is reached, and by then the patient's stable eating habits prevent the weight coming back.
Important! Specialists at City Medical Centre supervise recovery, providing medical and psychological support across every stage of weight loss.
Book a consultation
Call or message us -
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us -
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Frequently asked questions
about bariatric surgery at CMC
Bariatric vs plastic surgery: what's the difference?
These two are frequently confused, although their goals differ at the core. Bariatric surgery is a medical treatment of obesity and related diseases that changes the workings of the digestive tract, targeting the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery corrects outer body contours; it does not treat obesity or change metabolism.
How soon can I return to work and normal life?
Will there be visible scars?
We apply modern laparoscopic technique, operating through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Thanks to cosmetic sutures, the marks are almost invisible once they heal.
What diet do I need to follow?
In stages, your diet goes from liquid to soft to solid food. The main focus is protein and restricting high-calorie, fatty food.
What types of bariatric surgery are there?
Four main bariatric surgery types are available at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. The method is picked individually, considering BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals.
Can I plan a pregnancy after surgery?
Pregnancy is possible after bariatric surgery; doctors advise waiting no less than 12–18 months. This gives the body time to stabilize, for weight to reach target values and nutritional status to normalize.
Do I need to take vitamins after surgery?
Yes, vitamins after bariatric surgery are a must. Because the digestive anatomy changes, the body absorbs some nutrients less well, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements become a permanent part of the patient's life.
Can the weight come back?
Regaining weight after bariatric surgery is possible, yet very unlikely when you stick to the doctor's advice. The keys are proper nutrition, no high-calorie drinks and regular check-ups with City Medical Centre specialists.
Prices
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Service
Discounted price
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Other services at our clinic
Bariatric surgery in Barcelona: what you should know
All bariatric operations here are laparoscopic, performed through four small punctures of 5 to 15 mm with cosmetic sutures, so the marks become almost invisible after healing. This greatly shortens recovery. For those from Barcelona, the choice between sleeve, classic bypass, mini bypass and SADI-S depends on BMI, related diseases and the result you want to reach.
Preparation is practical. Two to four weeks before surgery, cut fast carbohydrates and fats; a month before, quit smoking, reduce physical activity and avoid stress. The day before, switch to light meals, with the last light meal in the evening and last fluids 3–4 hours before the operation. The same plan applies to everyone preparing for bariatric surgery in Barcelona.
One package covers the full journey, from consultation to final result. There are no separate charges added later: ward, meals, nursing care and coordinator support are included. To find out whether surgery suits you, patients in Barcelona can book a free surgeon consultation; the doctor reviews BMI, health and weight history and recommends a method.
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