beforeafterIrina, 26
Bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery
$3,600
$4,800 · First consultation — Free
Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes
before
after
Message our coordinator
Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes
Message us on TelegramMessage us on WhatsAppBy messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Bariatric surgery for patients from Bari at City Medical Centre starts at €3,250 (from $3,600). The first online consultation is free; the doctor names the final price and it is fixed in the contract.
How it works · Bariatric surgery prices
Information current as of 24 October 2026
Results
Each result belongs to a real patient of the clinic.
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
beforeafterBariatric surgery
Comparison
Two main bariatric operations are available: sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. Study how they work, what they are meant for and when they apply, then choose confidently.
Reducing the stomach volume

Discounted price
$3,600 $4,800
Less stomach volume and a changed route for food

Discounted price
$4,000 $5,200
Recovery times and benefits are averaged for each method and shown for orientation. Your anatomy and individual features shape the extent of surgery and recovery, and the surgeon confirms both at the consultation.
Book a consultationAbout us
Comfortable rooms, modern equipment and care for each person

We answer your questions and pick a convenient consultation time
By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Get a consultationTogether with the surgeon, you decide on surgery after a consultation and check-up.


Unsure which column describes you?
Message us on Telegram and our coordinator will tell you if bariatric surgery suits you. The consultation with the surgeon is free and does not commit you to surgery.
Find out if it suits me
Prices
At the consultation, when your plan is ready, we name the cost and fix it in the contract.
Discounted price
Reducing the stomach volume

$3,600$4,800
Discounted price
Weight loss and a new route for food

$4,000$5,200
Free
A treatment plan after the surgeon's examination

Free
the cost of surgery is named
and fixed in the contract
The doctor checks your health, goes over your goals and chooses a suitable bariatric surgery method. The cost is stated at the consultation and fixed in the contract.

Message our coordinator
Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes
Message us on TelegramMessage us on WhatsAppBy messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy
price
One package spans preparation through 12 months of support, and there are no hidden extras.Starting with preparation for surgery
and ending with support for 12 months.
What to expect
Support for a year, hospital monitoring and a treatment plan agreed in advance.
1Assessing your health and discussing your goals, the doctor orders the tests needed to select the appropriate bariatric method.
2We secure a date for your surgery: you can pay the deposit by card at the clinic or by bank transfer online. The terms are fixed in the medical services contract
3Ahead of surgery you take blood and urine tests, an ECG, an ultrasound and a gastroscopy, and see the specialists. The exact list is given by the doctor at the consultation.
4Your surgeon performs the bariatric operation with the chosen method under general anaesthesia, and after surgery the medical team monitors you.
5How you feel and how complex the operation was determine your hospital stay after surgery — from 1–3 to 4–5 days, under doctors' supervision.
6On discharge you receive diet and recovery advice. Scheduled check-ups monitor how you feel, your weight and your test results, and the clinic team supports you for a year.
At the consultation the doctor draws up your plan and explains the surgery step by step

The consultation costs nothing, takes place before surgery and has no obligation.
Book a consultation
Doctors

27 years of experience
Lead bariatric surgeon

9 years of experience
Bariatric surgeon
Surgical oncologist
The surgeon who operates on you also follows you, from the first consultation to the result.
The patient care manager holds your first consultation free of charge: they work out your BMI, explain the methods and book your appointment with the surgeon.
Book a consultationCoordinators
We support you at every stage
Your first point of contact at the clinic, from your first message to the consultation
Specialist in patient care
Answers your questions before the first consultation and helps you choose a convenient date
Supports you before and during your stay — from booking through to discharge
Specialist in patient care
Helps you prepare for surgery and stays in touch during your stay at the clinic
By your side through recovery, from discharge to your final check-up
Specialist in patient care
Keeps in contact while you recover and schedules your follow-ups with the surgeon
Advantages

We find the best method for your health, lifestyle and goals. All the way through, our team is with you.

We help you adopt new eating habits, track your results and make them last.

A higher quality of life, better well-being and steady weight loss.

Your time matters to us: we work 24/7, booking is simple and we take a personal approach at your pace.

After your consultation, the method is chosen by the surgeon and the price is made clear — no hidden fees and no surprises before your result.
FAQ
Yes, bariatric surgery is the medical term for it. At City Medical Centre the main methods are sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve) and gastric bypass; the surgeon chooses the method by your BMI and health.
Usually a BMI over 40, or over 35 with related health conditions. The surgeon confirms whether surgery suits you at the consultation.
Bariatric operations here are carried out by experienced bariatric surgeons:
Write to us and our coordinator will respond shortly and book you in for a consultation. The consultation with the bariatric surgeon is free.
Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met
To gauge obesity, doctors rely primarily on BMI, which equals body weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m²). An operation is usually warranted with a BMI over 40, or over 35 with serious associated conditions. Occasionally surgery is weighed at lower values as well, once non-surgical options have failed.
Though often confused, the two have fundamentally different goals. Bariatric surgery is a medical treatment of obesity and related illnesses; it changes the functioning of the digestive tract to address the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery reshapes the outer contours of the body and neither treats obesity nor affects metabolism.
The four main types of bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre are sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. Each method is matched individually to BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals.
The operation uses modern laparoscopic technique, through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. We place cosmetic sutures, and after healing the marks become almost invisible.
Recovery is tied to what you do. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: you may swim after 30 days, and other exercise is added bit by bit as weight drops. Travel and holidays: best left until at least a month after surgery.
Diet changes happen in stages, from liquids to soft food and then solids. It centers on protein and limits high-calorie, fatty food.
Bariatric surgery does not rule out pregnancy, but doctors suggest waiting 12–18 months or more. During that time the body settles, weight reaches target values and nutrition status normalizes.
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.
Regain after bariatric surgery is possible, but very unlikely if you follow the doctor's advice. Proper nutrition, no high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up visits with City Medical Centre specialists make the difference.
Prices are in US dollars; the amount in brackets is an approximate conversion to EUR at the rate of 02.10.2026. The final price is fixed in your contract.
Prices start from $3,600 (≈ €3,250). The surgeon sets the final price at the free consultation, and it is fixed in the contract, with no hidden extras.
General anaesthesia, a personal coordinator from day one, monitoring in the hospital and support for one year.
The hospital stay is 1–5 days, depending on the method and how you feel. Office work is possible after 2–4 weeks.
Yes. The first consultation is free and does not oblige you to anything. You can start online by sending a message to the coordinator.
Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram using the buttons below. A coordinator will answer your questions and book a free consultation where the doctor names the exact price.
By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Mini gastric bypass is an improved version of the classic operation with a single connection between the small stomach and the intestine. The technique is simpler, recovery shorter, and weight loss reaches 75–80% of excess weight. It is technically reversible, but bile reflux is a possible risk. For people from Bari, the surgeon explains such trade-offs before any decision.
A personal coordinator is assigned from day one, so no one goes through the process alone. After the first examination, each patient gets an individual diagnostic programme to identify every disorder in the body. Then the surgeon selects the method and performs the laparoscopic operation, and a doctor stays nearby 24/7. That is the sequence for everyone from Bari.
Starting is simple. Leave your name and phone number or write in any messenger, and a coordinator will arrange a free consultation. In about 15 minutes the surgeon will say whether bariatric surgery is right for you and which method fits. For people from Bari, this conversation is the fastest way to replace temporary fixes with a lasting solution.
Well-known people who spoke openly about this operation, in their own words.
Al Roker and gastric bypass: twenty years of talking about it honestlyAl Roker had gastric bypass surgery in March 2002 and has talked about it for 20 years. His words, how the operation works and what recovery involves.
Did Billy Gardell have bariatric surgery? Yes — and he says it saved his lifeThe Mike & Molly star had bariatric surgery in 2021 after a diabetes diagnosis. His quotes on the decision, the 100-pound loss and his children.
Did Graham Elliot have weight-loss surgery? Yes, and he did it for his familyChef Graham Elliot had weight-loss surgery in 2013, saying it was what he needed to do for his family. His words, the operation and recovery.
Did Mama June have a gastric sleeve? Yes — in her own wordsJune 'Mama June' Shannon had a gastric sleeve in May 2015. Her quotes on the 550-pound start, the regain and starting over.
Did Randy Jackson have gastric bypass surgery? Yes, and he still talks about maintaining itRandy Jackson had gastric bypass surgery in 2003 and lost 114 pounds. His own words, how the operation works today and what recovery involves.
Remi Bader and her weight-loss surgery: what she actually saidRemi Bader said in 2023 she had weight-loss surgery removing 80% of her stomach and lost 140 lbs. What she said, how the operation works, and recovery.What patients write after this operation. Reviews are translated from the original language.
Irina, 26
For a long time I doubted whether to go ahead with surgery, but after the consultation I felt much calmer. Andrey Georgievich explained in detail how gastric bypass is done, what to expect after the operation and how recovery would go. I especially liked that they talked to me calmly and without pressure. I am now gradually getting used to my new way of life and I am very glad I took this step.
Bariatric surgery
Doctor: Andrey G. Ugay
Angelina, 22
For me the hardest part was deciding to have the operation. At the consultation Ruslan Sergeyevich answered all my questions in detail and explained the specifics of sleeve gastrectomy and recovery. After the operation I always understood what I was doing and why. Thank you to the doctor and the whole team for their attentiveness.
Bariatric surgery
Doctor: Ruslan S. Menzulin
Anna, 31
For a very long time I tried to deal with my excess weight on my own, but I did not get the result I wanted. After the consultation with Andrey Georgievich I finally understood what to do next. I came through the operation well, and my recovery was supervised by the doctors. It was important for me to feel that I was not left alone after surgery.
Bariatric surgery
Doctor: Andrey G. Ugay
Veronika, 25
Before the operation I had many fears, mostly of the unknown. Ruslan Sergeyevich explained every stage of treatment in detail and answered even the simplest questions. Thanks to that I felt much more confident. I keep following the recommendations and I am gradually seeing the changes I had the operation for.
Bariatric surgery
Doctor: Ruslan S. Menzulin
Valentina, 23
The decision to have bariatric surgery was not easy for me. I worried both about the operation itself and about how my life would change afterwards. At the consultation Andrey Georgievich explained everything in detail, so little by little my fear turned into confidence. What matters most to me now is the result and the chance to treat my health and lifestyle differently.
Bariatric surgery
Doctor: Andrey G. Ugay
Anna, 27
I am very grateful to Ruslan Sergeyevich for his attentiveness. Before the operation I had a huge number of questions, and I got a clear answer to every one of them. After the operation it was also clear which recommendations to follow and how to eat. It was important to me that the doctor stayed in touch and I felt supported at every stage.
Bariatric surgery
Doctor: Ruslan S. Menzulin
Page medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
Bari is a port city on the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy, with 316,248 residents in the 2026 ISTAT figure and 1,218,073 across the Metropolitan City. When a person here starts reading about weight-loss surgery, the national numbers are a useful backdrop. ISTAT data for 2023 show that 46.3% of Italian adults aged 18 and over were overweight or obese. Overweight accounted for 34.6% and obesity for 11.8%, up from 10.3% in 2013. No regional split for Apulia turned up, so these are national percentages, not a verdict on Bari. They do show that excess weight is a common medical situation, not an individual failing.
The same data report that 35% of people aged 3 and over are sedentary. That figure matters for planning. After a bariatric operation, results depend on eating pattern and gradual physical activity as much as on the operation itself. The consultation therefore covers daily movement, work rhythm and food habits alongside the BMI calculation.
BMI is the starting measure: body weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. In the programme described here, surgery is generally justified at a BMI above 40, or above 35 when serious related conditions are present. Sometimes lower values are considered when non-surgical methods have not worked. The Italian criteria summarised in national medical literature are close to this. They name a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or more, or 35 to 39.9 with one or more obesity-related diseases, and an adult patient for whom conservative therapy has failed. The sections below show how those thresholds relate to the way a patient from Bari prepares.
Italy's Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) was established in 1978. It provides universal coverage to citizens and residents and is run on a regional basis. The Ministry of Health sets the national Essential Levels of Care (LEA). For a resident of Bari this means Apulia's own health administration organises much of the actual access, within a national framework.
On bariatric surgery specifically, a January 2024 article on the Italian site money.it says that purely aesthetic surgery is available only privately. It adds that procedures needed to reduce the risks of severe obesity are "mutuabili, compresa la chirurgia bariatrica", that is, reimbursable by the SSN, including post-obesity abdominoplasty. That article is a secondary source, so treat it as orientation, not a legal ruling. Whether a particular person qualifies, in which facility, and on what schedule is decided by the public system itself.
The distinction between a medical operation and a cosmetic one also helps with expectations. Bariatric surgery is medical treatment of obesity and related illnesses: it changes how the digestive tract works. Plastic surgery reshapes the outer contours of the body and neither treats obesity nor affects metabolism. The Italian article mentions that the public system can cover reconstructive work after trauma, burns or mastectomy and defined functional cases. Aesthetic work remains private. Many people lose weight first and only then consider skin-related questions, so it is useful to keep the two topics separate from the start.
Waiting is the part patients ask about most. Descriptions of the Italian system say waits are usually up to a few months in the big public facilities. Private facilities contracted with the SSN usually take up to a few weeks. No official waiting-list figure for Apulia was found, so these are general descriptions. The same sources note evidence of patients moving from poorer southern regions to the more prosperous north for care. Anyone in Bari who has been told that the queue is too long, or who simply wants a second opinion while waiting, can use an online consultation. It takes no place in a public queue and does not commit you to anything.
Co-payments exist for specialist visits without diagnostics, with exemptions by age (over 65, under 6), by income or because of chronic illness. If you hold an exemption, mention it to the coordinator. It affects how you plan the public-system steps around any private plan, though it has no bearing on the content of our online consultation.
Criteria appear in several places, and the numbers can look similar but differ in detail. The Italian description of bariatric surgery lists the following conditions:
- an adult patient;
- a BMI of 40 or more, or 35 to 39.9 with at least one obesity-related disease;
- type 2 diabetes with HbA1c above 8%;
- failed conservative therapy;
- abstinence from alcohol, drugs and smoking for at least 6 weeks before the operation.
The programme described here uses a very similar frame. Surgery is generally justified above a BMI of 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions. The conditions the operation is expected to help include excess weight, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, varicose veins, joint disease, fatty liver disease and reproductive health problems. The contraindications are age under 18, malignant tumours, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders, severe chronic and mental illness, acute illness or flare-ups of chronic disease, and less than six months since breastfeeding ended.
In practice, a resident of Bari who already holds a public-system file can bring its numbers to the online consultation: weight history, height, diabetes results, earlier diets. The coordinator uses them to calculate BMI. The bariatric doctor then looks at which column fits you, "suitable" or "not suitable", and nothing is decided until tests are done. The 6-week abstinence point from the Italian description is a useful habit to start early if smoking is part of your routine, even before any date exists. Whether it applies to your case is confirmed by the doctor.
The two core methods are sleeve gastrectomy, which reduces stomach volume and suits obesity without marked reflux, and gastric bypass, which reduces volume and changes the path of food and suits obesity with diabetes or reflux. The programme also carries out Roux-en-Y bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. The choice is individual, based on BMI, related conditions and goals.
Safety is a legitimate worry. The Italian Society of Obesity Surgery (SICOB) collected data on 13,871 operations, with an overall operative mortality of 0.25%. That figure comes from a summary of national data, not from this programme, and it describes a group of operations, not any single patient. It does not mean an operation carries no risk. Every general anaesthesia procedure has some. The honest use of such a number is to ask better questions at the consultation: which method fits my anatomy, which of my conditions raise the complexity, and what monitoring follows?
The operation here is laparoscopic, through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm, with cosmetic sutures, so once healed the marks become almost invisible. Stay in hospital ranges from 1 to 5 days under observation, depending on complexity and how you feel. Before the operation come blood and urine tests, an ECG, an ultrasound and a gastroscopy, plus specialist appointments. The exact list is given at the consultation. Because many of these tests are routine, a patient in Bari can often do them close to home. The coordinator explains what each one is for and reminds you when they are due.
Diet after bariatric surgery moves in stages: liquid, then soft, then solid food. The main focus is protein and restricting high-calorie, fatty food. Vitamins and mineral supplements become a lasting part of life, because the body absorbs certain nutrients less well after the digestive anatomy changes. Avoiding high-calorie drinks is one of the key habits for keeping weight off.
Sources about Bari offered no verified detail on local cuisine, so this text does not describe any dish. A more useful method is for the patient to bring their own list to the consultation: the foods that appear most often at home, the family meals, the snacks between work and evening. The coordinator and the doctor can then go through the stages with those items in mind. Most of what makes the diet hard is routine, not recipes. Typical difficulties include a shared family meal, a work lunch and a drink that looks harmless but is high in calories. Planning each of these in advance is more effective than relying on willpower alone.
The programme's follow-up uses photos and messages. Over the 12 months of support you can send pictures of your plate, ask whether a food fits the current stage, and have your weight and test results reviewed at scheduled check-ups. The aim is to build habits that last, because the final result is reached 18 to 24 months after surgery.
Recovery depends on activity. Office work usually resumes after 2 to 4 weeks. Physical work follows after about 1.5 months. Swimming is fine after 30 days, and other exercise is added gradually as weight drops. Planning any longer break from routine is best left to a month after surgery.
Bari's climate gives some practical context for timing. Long-term records show a July mean high of 30.6 °C and a low of 20.0 °C, with August at 30.5 and 20.1. January has a mean high of 12.6 °C and a low of 4.1 °C. The annual mean high is 21.1 °C and the low 11.5 °C. Records reach as high as 45.6 °C and as low as -7.6 °C, in January and December. Rain is modest: 466.6 mm a year over 61.4 days with at least 1 mm. November is the wettest month at 62.0 mm and October follows at 53.9 mm, while August is the driest at 13.3 mm and July follows at 17.8 mm. Sunshine totals 2,829.5 hours a year, 355.6 in July and 120.4 in December. Relative humidity averages 68.5%, with 60.4% in July and 74.9% in November.
For someone recovering in the first weeks, these numbers suggest practical choices. Walking is easier to schedule in mild months, and in July and August the daytime highs near 30.5 °C suggest going out in the cooler hours. With 120.4 hours of sunshine in December and 74.9% humidity in November, indoor routines such as short home walks and stretching deserve a plan. They are not a medical instruction, only a way to keep activity regular. The doctor sets the real limits according to your recovery.
An example: if the operation date is set for the week of 9 November 2026, the first month falls in November and early December, with the wettest weather in the climate records. A person who normally walks outdoors may want a rainy-day alternative. The 30-day swimming milestone would fall in December, so the practical plan is simple walking first and water exercise later when the doctor agrees.
Some city facts matter for scheduling. The University of Bari, founded in 1925, is listed alongside the Polytechnic University of Bari, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Conservatory. Students and staff of these institutions often have fixed timetables, and an online consultation can be placed in a gap between classes or shifts. The coordinators answer round the clock on WhatsApp and Telegram, so the timing is yours to choose.
Italian national holidays include 1 January, 6 January, Easter Monday, 25 April, 1 May, 2 June, 15 August, 4 October, 1 November, 8 December, 25 and 26 December, and every Sunday. In Bari the feast of St Nicholas on 8 May is a notable local date, although it is not confirmed as a public holiday on the national list. When planning a hospital stay and first follow-ups, it is sensible to check these dates. Public offices and many practices close on holidays, and you may want blood tests or check-ups to fall on working days. The coordinators can help line up the dates.
The city also has its sporting calendar. SSC Bari plays in Serie B at Stadio San Nicola, which seats 58,000, was built for the 1990 FIFA World Cup and hosted the 1991 European Cup final. Bari also hosted the 2007 CMAS World Games for underwater sports. For a patient who enjoys watching or playing sport, these are reminders that activity is part of life here. A return to active routines is gradual and set by the doctor, and sport and exercise are added step by step as weight drops.
Many patients are young adults. Pregnancy after bariatric surgery can happen, though doctors advise waiting at least 12 to 18 months. In this period the body becomes stable, weight reaches target values and nutritional status normalises. If you or your spouse are planning a family, tell the coordinator at the first message, because it affects how the follow-up is timed. Less than six months since breastfeeding ended is among the contraindications.
Italy's healthcare spending was 9.7% of GDP in 2020, and life expectancy was 83.4 years in 2018 according to OECD figures, the 4th highest in the OECD. A long life expectancy makes long-term habits the real topic. An operation is a single event, while follow-up lasts for years. The programme's support runs for 12 months after surgery, with one coordinator from day one, remote progress checks by photos and scheduled check-ups of well-being, weight and test results. Beyond that year, regular follow-up with specialists remains important, as does regular vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Weight regain is possible after bariatric surgery, although it is very unlikely if you follow the doctor's advice. Proper eating, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up are the key points. Because follow-up is online, a patient in Bari can send photos and questions from home on any day, including Sundays and national holidays.
They are close. The Italian description names an adult patient with a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or more, or 35 to 39.9 with one or more obesity-related diseases, after conservative therapy has failed. The programme here says surgery is generally justified above a BMI of 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions, and sometimes at lower values when non-surgical methods have not worked. The bariatric doctor confirms what applies to you after the consultation and tests.
It can. The Italian criteria mention type 2 diabetes with HbA1c above 8%, and the programme lists type 2 diabetes among the conditions that surgery helps with. Gastric bypass is indicated for obesity with diabetes or reflux. Send your latest results to the coordinator so that the doctor can discuss the method that fits your case.
A January 2024 article on money.it says that procedures to reduce the risks of severe obesity, including bariatric surgery, are covered by the SSN, while purely aesthetic surgery is private. That is a secondary source, so confirm eligibility with the public system. An online consultation with us does not interfere with any public file. It gives you a plan, a method and a cost named in the contract that you can compare with other options.
Descriptions of the Italian system say waits are usually up to a few months in the big public facilities, and up to a few weeks in private facilities contracted with the SSN. No official waiting-list figure for Apulia was found, so treat this as a general picture. If you are waiting, you can use the time to complete the tests the doctor lists, which include blood and urine tests, an ECG, an ultrasound and a gastroscopy.
The Italian description of bariatric surgery lists abstinence from alcohol, drugs and smoking for at least 6 weeks before the operation. It is a general criterion, and the doctor tells you at the consultation how it applies in your case. Starting earlier is sensible if you smoke, because it gives you time to prepare.
It comes from data collected by SICOB on 13,871 operations, as summarised in Italian medical literature. It describes a group of operations in Italy and not any single patient or this programme. It does not mean an operation is without risk. Use it as a prompt to ask the doctor about your own anatomy, related conditions and the monitoring after surgery.
The climate records show a July mean high of 30.6 °C and a January mean low of 4.1 °C, with November the wettest month at 62.0 mm. Office work usually resumes after 2 to 4 weeks and swimming is fine after 30 days. In hot months, plan walks for cooler hours. In wet months, prepare indoor routines. The doctor sets the real limits for your recovery.
Italian national holidays include 1 November, 8 December, 25 and 26 December, 1 and 6 January, and every Sunday. The feast of St Nicholas on 8 May is a notable local date, though it is not confirmed as a public holiday on the national list. Public offices and many practices may be closed on holidays, so place blood tests and check-ups on working days. The coordinators can help you line up the dates.
No. That figure from ISTAT 2023 includes overweight at 34.6% and obesity at 11.8%. Most people in these groups do not meet the criteria for surgery, which depend on BMI, related conditions and earlier attempts at non-surgical weight loss. The consultation is how you find out whether you are in the group for whom it is justified.
Pregnancy after bariatric surgery can happen, although doctors advise waiting at least 12 to 18 months while weight and nutritional status stabilise. If you or your spouse are planning a family, say so in the first message so that the follow-up is timed with that in mind. Less than six months since breastfeeding ended is a contraindication.
Support lasts 12 months and includes one coordinator from day one, remote progress checks by photos and scheduled check-ups of well-being, weight and test results. You write on WhatsApp or Telegram, and coordinators reply round the clock, so Sundays and holidays are covered. Regular vitamin and mineral supplements and regular follow-up remain important after that year.