Bariatric Surgery for Patients from Bucharest

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.

The bariatric operations at our clinic are done 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
• Unsuccessful past attempts at weight loss by traditional means

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 confuse the two, yet their purposes are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery is medicine's treatment for obesity and related diseases: it changes how the digestive tract operates and addresses the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery reshapes outer contours of the body without treating obesity or affecting 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.

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 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.

Your diet changes in stages: from liquid food to soft, then to solid. The focus is on protein and on limiting high-calorie, fatty food.

Pregnancy is an option after bariatric surgery, but doctors advise waiting at least 12–18 months. By then the body has stabilized, weight has reached target values and nutritional status has normalized.

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.

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.