Bariatric Surgery for Patients from Birmingham

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.

Write to us and our coordinator will respond shortly and book you in for a consultation. The consultation with the bariatric surgeon 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
• Standard approaches to weight loss have not worked before

Obesity is graded mainly by BMI, calculated as body weight (kg) over height squared (m²). A BMI above 40 usually justifies surgery, as does a BMI above 35 with serious related conditions. In certain cases surgery is considered at lower values too, if approaches without surgery have not succeeded.

Many mix them up, but they pursue fundamentally different goals. Bariatric surgery medically treats obesity and related diseases by changing how the digestive tract functions, addressing the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery reshapes the external contours of the body; it does not treat obesity or influence metabolism.

City Medical Centre offers four main types of bariatric surgery: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. The method is chosen individually according to BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals.

We apply modern laparoscopic technique, operating through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Thanks to cosmetic sutures, the marks are almost invisible once they heal.

Recovery time depends on the activity. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming allowed after 30 days, other exercise gradually added as weight goes down. Travel and holidays: plan no sooner than one month after surgery.

The diet evolves in steps — from liquids to soft, then solid food — with a focus on protein and limits on high-calorie, fatty food.

After bariatric surgery pregnancy is possible, yet doctors recommend at least 12–18 months of waiting. Meanwhile the body stabilizes, weight arrives at target values and nutritional status normalizes.

Yes, vitamins after bariatric surgery are necessary. The body absorbs certain nutrients less well due to the changed digestive anatomy, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements become a permanent part of the patient's life.

Weight can come back after bariatric surgery, but this is very unlikely if you follow your doctor's advice. Proper nutrition, skipping high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists are key.