Obesity Surgery in Bielefeld: 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.

Experienced bariatric surgeons carry out bariatric operations at the clinic:

• 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.

Message us — our coordinator will reply soon and schedule your consultation. Your consultation with the bariatric surgeon is free.

Send a request

Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met

• The patient's body mass index (BMI)
• Overall health and any related chronic conditions
• Past attempts to shed weight in conventional ways were unsuccessful

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.

People often confuse these two, though their aims are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery is medical treatment of obesity and associated diseases. It changes the way the digestive tract works, acting on the causes of excess weight and on metabolism. Plastic surgery alters outer body contours and does not treat obesity or affect metabolism.

There are four main types of bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals guide the individual choice of method.

Our surgeons use modern laparoscopic technique: the operation goes through 4 small 5 to 15 mm punctures. With cosmetic sutures, the marks become almost invisible once healed.

Recovery varies with your activities. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming is permitted after 30 days; other exercise is added gradually as weight decreases. Travel and holidays: best scheduled at least a month 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.

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery is possible, though doctors recommend waiting at least 12–18 months. In that time the body stabilizes, weight reaches its target and nutritional status returns to normal.

Yes, after bariatric surgery vitamins cannot be skipped. As the digestive anatomy changes, some nutrients are absorbed less well, making regular vitamin and mineral supplements a permanent feature of the patient's life.

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.