Bariatric Surgery for Patients from Bulawayo

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
• Failure of previous attempts to lose weight by conventional means

Doctors assess obesity chiefly through BMI: take body weight (kg) and divide it by height squared (m²). Surgical treatment is usually justified at a BMI over 40, or over 35 with serious related conditions. Surgery may also be considered at lower values in some cases — where non-surgical approaches have failed.

It is common to confuse them, but their goals are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery treats obesity and related diseases medically. By changing how the digestive tract works, it addresses the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery shapes the body's outer contours; it does not treat obesity and has no effect on 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.

We rely on modern laparoscopic technique. The operation is performed through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Cosmetic sutures are used, so after healing the marks are barely visible.

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.

The diet shifts in stages — liquid, then soft, then solid food. Protein is the priority, while high-calorie, fatty food is limited.

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, bariatric surgery makes vitamins a must. Since digestive anatomy is changed, absorption of some nutrients drops, and regular vitamin and mineral supplements become permanent in 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.