Weight Loss Surgery in Cologne

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 — 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

BMI is the key measure used to assess how severe obesity is. You get it by dividing body weight (kg) by height squared (m²). Surgery is generally justified at a BMI above 40, or above 35 when serious related conditions are present. Sometimes it is also considered at lower values — when non-surgical methods have not worked.

Many people confuse them, but the goals are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery is a medical way to treat obesity and related diseases. It changes how the digestive tract works, getting at the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery only reshapes the body's outer contours; it does not treat obesity or affect metabolism.

Four main bariatric surgery types are available at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. The method is picked individually, considering BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals.

Modern laparoscopic technique allows the operation through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Cosmetic sutures make the marks almost invisible when fully healed.

When you recover depends on your activity. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming is fine after 30 days; other exercise gets added gradually as weight drops. Travel and holidays: best planned from a 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.

Getting pregnant after bariatric surgery is possible, but doctors advise waiting at least 12–18 months, so the body can stabilize, weight can reach target values and nutritional status can normalize.

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.

Weight can be regained after bariatric surgery, but this is very unlikely with the doctor's advice followed. Proper nutrition, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists are crucial.