City Medical Centre · multi-specialty surgery clinicOpen 24/7

Bariatric surgery

Weight Loss Surgery in Bari: Sleeve, Bypass, SADI-S

Discounted price

$3,600

$4,800 · First consultation — Free

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Real result
Bariatric surgery: a patient before surgery and after weight loss before after
Weight loss guided and supported
throughout. Your surgery and recovery plan is reviewed at no charge — prior to deciding.

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Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) in Bari: price and key facts

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.

Price
€3,250 (from $3,600)
Performed by
Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon
Stay
1–5 days under observation
Recovery
back to work after 2–4 weeks
Final result
18–24 months after surgery
How it works
Send photos on WhatsApp or Telegram, get a free doctor assessment and the price, then confirm the plan and dates before anything is booked.

How it works · Bariatric surgery prices

Information current as of 24 October 2026

Free online consultation on WhatsApp and Telegram

Results

Weight loss results of our patients

Each result belongs to a real patient of the clinic.

Irina, 26 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Irina, 26

Bariatric surgery

Angelina, 22 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Angelina, 22

Bariatric surgery

Anna, 31 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Anna, 31

Bariatric surgery

Veronika, 25 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Veronika, 25

Bariatric surgery

Valentina, 23 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Valentina, 23

Bariatric surgery

Evgenia, 41 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Evgenia, 41

Bariatric surgery

Anna, 27 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Anna, 27

Bariatric surgery

Veronika, 26 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Veronika, 26

Bariatric surgery

Kristina, 23 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Kristina, 23

Bariatric surgery

Anna, 24 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Anna, 24

Bariatric surgery

Veronika, 34 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Veronika, 34

Bariatric surgery

Comparison

Weight loss
methods

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.

Sleeve gastrectomy

Reducing the stomach volume

A surgeon explains sleeve gastrectomy to a patient on an anatomical model

Discounted price

$3,600 $4,800

Main goal
Weight loss, feeling full quickly
When it is needed
Obesity without marked reflux
Anaesthesia and hospital stay
General anaesthesia, hospital stay of 1–3 to 4–5 days

Gastric bypass

Less stomach volume and a changed route for food

A surgeon shows a patient on a model how gastric bypass is done

Discounted price

$4,000 $5,200

Main goal
Weight loss, better metabolism
When it is needed
Obesity, diabetes or reflux
Anaesthesia and hospital stay
General anaesthesia, hospital stay of 1–3 to 4–5 days

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.

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About us

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Comfortable rooms, modern equipment and care for each person

A doctor and a patient in a clinic ward

Choose how you would like to contact us

We answer your questions and pick a convenient consultation time

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Get a consultation

Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) is not for everyone

Together with the surgeon, you decide on surgery after a consultation and check-up.

SuitableSurgery helps with

A bariatric surgeon explains the indications for surgery to a patient
  • Excess weight
  • Hypertension
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Varicose veins
  • Joint disease
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Reproductive health problems

Not suitableContraindications

A surgeon discusses contraindications to bariatric surgery with a patient
  • Age under 18
  • Malignant tumors
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Severe chronic and mental illness
  • Acute illness or flare-ups of chronic disease
  • Less than six months since breastfeeding ended

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
A clinic coordinator talks to a patient in the waiting area

Prices

You know the price
before surgery

At the consultation, when your plan is ready, we name the cost and fix it in the contract.

Discounted price

Sleeve gastrectomy

Reducing the stomach volume

Surgeons during a sleeve gastrectomy

$3,600$4,800

Lock in the price

Discounted price

Gastric bypass

Weight loss and a new route for food

A surgeon during a gastric bypass

$4,000$5,200

Lock in the price

Free

First consultation

A treatment plan after the surgeon's examination

First consultation

Free

the cost of surgery is named
and fixed in the contract

Book a consultation

Find out your method and the cost of surgery

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.

A nurse and a patient in a clinic ward after bariatric surgery

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A bariatric surgeon discusses a treatment plan with a patient

price

What the $3,600 (≈ €3,250) price includes

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.

  • Surgery and the surgeon's work
  • General anaesthesia
  • Hospital stay after surgery
  • Meals at the clinic
  • Support while you keep the weight off
  • From the first day you have a personal coordinator
  • Remote progress check by photos

$3,600$4,800

Discounted price

Lock in the price

What to expect

Treatment at the clinic —
from check-in to discharge

Support for a year, hospital monitoring and a treatment plan agreed in advance.

A bariatric surgeon shows a patient the surgery plan on a tablet1

Consultation and a treatment plan

Assessing your health and discussing your goals, the doctor orders the tests needed to select the appropriate bariatric method.

Booking the surgery date2

Booking your operation date

We 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

A blood sample tube for tests before bariatric surgery3

Lab tests before the operation

Ahead 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.

Surgeons performing a bariatric operation4

Surgery

Your surgeon performs the bariatric operation with the chosen method under general anaesthesia, and after surgery the medical team monitors you.

A hospital ward at the clinic5

Inpatient stay

How you feel and how complex the operation was determine your hospital stay after surgery — from 1–3 to 4–5 days, under doctors' supervision.

A doctor and a patient in the ward during recovery6

Recovery

On 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

A surgeon shows a patient the result forecast on a tablet

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

Book a consultation
A surgeon shows a patient the result forecast on a tablet

Doctors

Surgeons you can trust

Bariatric surgeon Andrey G. Ugay

Andrey G. Ugay

View profile

27 years of experience

Lead bariatric surgeon

  • Has performed the largest number of SASJ operations in the country
  • Expert council member of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons
  • Speaks regularly at national and international congresses
Bariatric surgeon Ruslan S. Menzulin

Ruslan S. Menzulin

View profile

9 years of experience

Bariatric surgeon
Surgical oncologist

  • Trained at Mercy clinic (USA) under Vadim Gushchin
  • Spoke at the World Congress of bariatric surgery in Santiago (2025)
  • Co-author of an international study published in The Lancet

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 consultation

Coordinators

Clinic coordinators

We support you at every stage

Your personal coordinator

Your first point of contact at the clinic, from your first message to the consultation

Svetlana

Specialist in patient care

Answers your questions before the first consultation and helps you choose a convenient date

  • Explains each step of preparation
  • Reminds you about tests and check-ups
Your personal coordinator

Supports you before and during your stay — from booking through to discharge

Olesya

Specialist in patient care

Helps you prepare for surgery and stays in touch during your stay at the clinic

  • Supports you before and after surgery
  • Helps with documents and bookings
Your personal coordinator

By your side through recovery, from discharge to your final check-up

Alisa

Specialist in patient care

Keeps in contact while you recover and schedules your follow-ups with the surgeon

  • Answers questions during recovery
  • Books follow-up visits

Advantages

Why patients come to City Medical Centre

A surgeon consults a patient in the clinic

An approach shaped around you at every stage

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

A tablet with a meal plan and a patient's diary after bariatric surgery

Long-term
support after the operation

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

A patient at the clinic

Real results that last

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

A patient picks a convenient visit time in her planner and phone calendar

We work around your schedule

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

A contract with a fixed price for surgery and no hidden fees

Fixed prices

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.

Prices

Bariatric surgery prices

Apply before the end of the month and get a free consultation for any service

  • Meeting the bariatric surgeon

    Free

    Book
  • Sleeve gastrectomy

    Price without discount: $4,800$3,600

    Book
  • Gastric bypass

    Price without discount: $5,200$4,000

    Book

FAQ

What people usually ask us
before booking

Bariatric Surgery in Bari: price and what is included

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.

How much does bariatric surgery in Bari cost?

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.

What is included in the price?

General anaesthesia, a personal coordinator from day one, monitoring in the hospital and support for one year.

How long do the procedure and recovery take?

The hospital stay is 1–5 days, depending on the method and how you feel. Office work is possible after 2–4 weeks.

Is the first consultation free?

Yes. The first consultation is free and does not oblige you to anything. You can start online by sending a message to the coordinator.

How do I get my exact price?

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

Sleeve, bypass or SADI-S in Bari: a short guide

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.

Stories of well-known people

Well-known people who spoke openly about this operation, in their own words.

All stories about this operation →

Patient reviews

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

All patient reviews

Page medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .

Obesity figures behind the question

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.

What the national health service covers, and what waiting means in practice

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.

Reading the Italian criteria next to the programme's own

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 data and what to ask

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.

Eating after the operation, and the Apulian table

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 against the calendar and the weather of the Apulian coast

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.

Rhythm of the city and how it fits the schedule

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.

Pregnancy, family and the long road of follow-up

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.

Do the Italian criteria for bariatric surgery differ from those used in the online programme?

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.

I have type 2 diabetes. Does that change anything?

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.

Will the national health service cover the operation, and can I still ask for an online opinion?

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.

How long might I wait in the public system, and does that matter for planning?

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.

Does the 6-week rule on smoking and alcohol apply to me?

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.

How reliable is the 0.25% mortality figure I read about?

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.

How should I plan recovery in the Bari climate?

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.

Which dates should I avoid when scheduling tests and check-ups?

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.

Since 46.3% of adults in Italy are overweight or obese, is surgery common advice?

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.

Can I plan a pregnancy, and how should I talk about it with the coordinator?

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.

How does the online follow-up work for someone living in Bari?

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.