Weight Loss Surgery in Durban: Sleeve, Bypass, SADI-S

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.

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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
• Previous tries at losing weight with ordinary methods have failed

BMI is the main tool for assessing the degree of obesity. It is calculated by dividing body weight (kg) by height squared (m²). Surgery is usually justified with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions. In some cases surgery is considered at lower values too — if non-surgical approaches have failed.

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 performs four main types of bariatric surgery: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. Each method is chosen individually based on BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals.

We use modern laparoscopic technique. The operation is done through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Cosmetic sutures are placed, so once healed the marks become almost invisible.

How soon you recover depends on what you do. Office work: 2–4 weeks later. Physical work: 1.5 months later. Sport and activity: swimming from day 30, other exercise brought in gradually as weight falls. Travel and holidays: ideally not sooner than a month after surgery.

Stage by stage, you move from liquid food to soft and then solid. Priority goes to protein, and high-calorie, fatty food is limited.

Bariatric surgery does not rule out pregnancy, but doctors suggest waiting 12–18 months or more. During that time the body settles, weight reaches target values and nutrition 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.

It is possible to regain weight after bariatric surgery, but very unlikely if you follow your doctor's advice. Proper nutrition, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists are essential.