Weight Loss Surgery in Belfast

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 surgery at the clinic is performed by experienced bariatric surgeons:

• Ruslan S. Menzulin — bariatric surgeon and surgical oncologist, 9 years of experience. 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.
• Andrey G. Ugay — lead bariatric surgeon, 27 years of experience. Has performed the largest number of SASJ operations in the country. Expert council member of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons.

Write to us — a coordinator will get back to you soon and arrange your consultation. The bariatric surgeon consultation is free of charge.

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Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met

• The patient's body mass index (BMI)
• Overall health and any related chronic conditions
• No success with earlier tries to slim down by usual means

The degree of obesity is mainly assessed with BMI: body weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²). As a rule, surgery is justified when BMI exceeds 40, or exceeds 35 alongside serious related conditions. In some cases lower values may also qualify for surgery if non-surgical approaches 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.

Four main types of bariatric surgery are performed at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. Each is selected individually based on BMI, related conditions and patient goals.

Modern laparoscopic technique is what we use. Just 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm are needed for the operation. Cosmetic sutures mean the marks are nearly invisible after healing.

Recovery depends on what you do. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming is allowed after 30 days, other exercise is added gradually as weight drops. Travel and holidays: best planned no earlier than a month after surgery.

Eating changes gradually: liquid food first, then soft, then solid. The focus is protein, with high-calorie, fatty food kept to a minimum.

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.

Yes, vitamins are essential after bariatric surgery. As digestive anatomy changes, the body absorbs certain nutrients less well, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements become a lasting part of the patient's life.

Weight may return after bariatric surgery, though that is very unlikely when you follow the doctor's advice. Key factors: proper nutrition, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists.