Obesity Surgery in Berlin: Bariatric Methods

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.

At the clinic, experienced bariatric surgeons perform the bariatric operations:

• 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.

Drop us a message and our coordinator will get back to you shortly to book your consultation. The bariatric surgeon consultation is free.

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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
• Conventional weight-loss methods have failed in past attempts

The main way to assess the degree of obesity is BMI. It is body weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²). Generally, surgery is justified with BMI above 40, or above 35 combined with serious related conditions. Lower values may sometimes be considered for surgery too, when non-surgical measures have failed.

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.

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.

We use modern laparoscopic technique. The operation is done through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Cosmetic sutures are placed, so once healed the marks become almost invisible.

Your recovery depends on your activities. Office work: in 2–4 weeks. Physical work: in 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming after 30 days, with other exercise introduced gradually as weight drops. Travel and holidays: plan them a month or more after surgery.

You move through diet stages from liquid food to soft and finally solid. Protein comes first, and high-calorie, fatty food is restricted.

You can become pregnant after bariatric surgery, but doctors advise a wait of at least 12–18 months. Over this period the body stabilizes, weight hits target values and nutritional 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.

After bariatric surgery weight regain can happen, but it is very unlikely if the doctor's advice is followed. What matters is proper nutrition, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists.