Surgical Treatment of Obesity in East London

The clinic's bariatric procedures are performed 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.

Send us a message — our coordinator will get back to you shortly and set up your consultation. The bariatric surgeon consultation 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
• No success with earlier tries to slim down by usual 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.

The two are often mistaken for each other, but their goals are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery provides medical treatment for obesity and related diseases. Changing how the digestive tract works, it deals with the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery modifies the body's outer contours; it does not treat obesity or affect metabolism.

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

We work with modern laparoscopic technique. The operation needs only 4 small punctures, 5 to 15 mm each. Cosmetic sutures are applied, so healed marks are almost invisible.

Recovery is tied to what you do. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: you may swim after 30 days, and other exercise is added bit by bit as weight drops. Travel and holidays: best left until at least a month after surgery.

Your meals progress in stages: liquid food, soft food, then solid. The stress is on protein and on reducing high-calorie, fatty food.

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery can happen, though doctors advise holding off at least 12–18 months. In this period the body becomes stable, weight reaches target values and nutritional status normalizes.

Yes, after bariatric surgery vitamins are a must. The altered digestive anatomy reduces absorption of some nutrients, which makes regular vitamin and mineral supplements a permanent part of the patient's life.

Regain after bariatric surgery is possible, but very unlikely if you follow the doctor's advice. Proper nutrition, no high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up visits with City Medical Centre specialists make the difference.