guarantee
Weight Loss Surgery in Helsinki: Sleeve, Bypass, SADI-S
for good —
14,000 CMC patients already live in a new body. The outcome is set down in a formal contract: legally binding, not just promised.
patients
experience
from excess weight
rating
Weight Loss Surgery in Helsinki: Sleeve, Bypass, SADI-S
for good —
Everything for the result — included
Bariatric surgery —
is it right for me?
Tick the situations that sound familiar.
From 2 matches — a reason to talk to a surgeon.
Everything needed for the result —
already included
No hidden fees. No surprises. One package — the full journey.
Bariatric surgery —
is it right for me?
Tick the situations that sound familiar.
From 2 matches — a reason to talk to a surgeon.
Reasons to see a surgeon
You may need a surgical consultation because of related conditions, not only high BMI
Medical history
Excess weight since childhood or a genetic predisposition
Metabolic disorders
Type 2 diabetes and hypertension associated with obesity
Resistance to conservative treatment
No durable effect from dieting and medication over several years.
Medical history
Excess weight since childhood or a genetic predisposition
Metabolic disorders
Type 2 diabetes and hypertension associated with obesity
Resistance to conservative treatment
No durable effect from dieting and medication over several years.
When is bariatric surgery justified?
Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met
The role of body mass index (BMI)
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.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Failure of previous attempts to lose weight by conventional means
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Many people keep trying diets and exercise for years while the body resists: metabolism slows, appetite climbs and the weight they lost comes back. When diet changes and medicines alone clearly cannot fundamentally improve the situation, bariatric surgery turns into the only effective way out.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Failure of previous attempts to lose weight by conventional means
The role of body mass index (BMI)
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.
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Many people keep trying diets and exercise for years while the body resists: metabolism slows, appetite climbs and the weight they lost comes back. When diet changes and medicines alone clearly cannot fundamentally improve the situation, bariatric surgery turns into the only effective way out.
Medical indications
for bariatric surgery
With chronic diseases, please get advice from a clinic doctor!
Indications
Excess weight
Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Sleep apnea
Joint disease
Varicose veins
Fatty liver disease
Reproductive health problems
Contraindications
Age under 18
Malignant tumors
Less than six months since breastfeeding ended
Acute illness or flare-ups of chronic disease
Severe chronic and mental illness
Blood clotting disorders
Pregnancy
Bariatric surgery methods at City Medical Centre
Sleeve gastrectomy
During surgery the surgeon removes most of the stomach, turning it into a narrow tube. This greatly reduces portion size and lowers ghrelin, the hunger hormone, so the patient feels full much faster and eats less.
Effectiveness: the method suits a BMI of 35 to 45. On average patients lose 60–70% of their excess weight.
Specifics: results are less lasting than with bypass surgery. Weight can return if the diet is not kept, especially with high-calorie drinks and liquid foods.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
The surgeon builds a 50–70 ml pouch in the upper part of the stomach and attaches it directly to the small intestine. This caps food intake and lowers calorie absorption by shortening food's route through the gut.
Effectiveness: for a BMI over 45–50 with type 2 diabetes it is deemed the “gold standard”. Loss of excess weight is 75–85%.
Specifics: results last better than after other bariatric methods. Related conditions — diabetes, hypertension — often go into remission. The digestive anatomy is changed, so vitamin and mineral supplements are needed throughout life.
Mini gastric bypass (MGB)
This is an enhanced form of the classic bypass. The standard method differs: here the surgeon makes only one connection (anastomosis) between the small stomach and the small intestine. Thanks to the simpler technique, the patient has an easier time and recovers faster.
Effectiveness: in line with the classic Roux-en-Y bypass — loss of up to 75–80% of excess weight.
Specifics: a shorter operation and quicker recovery. The procedure can technically be reversed, but the single anastomosis carries a risk of bile reflux.
Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI-S)
SADI-S is an up-to-date combined technique joining the strengths of sleeve gastrectomy and intestinal bypass. There are two stages: the stomach is first made into a narrow tube, and then the small intestine is rerouted to exclude most of it from active digestion.
Effectiveness: one of the most powerful options in bariatric surgery: excess weight loss of 80–90%, lasting a long time.
Specifics: a reduced stomach without its ghrelin-producing zone means less appetite, and diverting food past part of the intestine restricts calorie absorption. It is suited to super obesity (BMI over 50), severe type 2 diabetes, or a second stage after an ineffective sleeve.
Book a consultation
Call or message us -
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us -
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Preparing for bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
First comes a consultation with the surgeon — your medical history, the method and a recovery plan
Lab tests
Blood and urine analysis, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation panel to check clotting.
Instrumental diagnostics
ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal and kidney ultrasound, and leg vein Doppler.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
Endocrinologist, GP, psychiatrist, cardiologist and, for women, gynecologist.
Diet
Cut back on fast carbs and fats 2–4 weeks before surgery, and eat light the day before.
Lifestyle
A month before, quit smoking, lower physical activity and shun stress.
The day before
Evening: last light meal. Fluids: stop 3–4 hours before the operation.
Lab tests
Blood and urine analysis, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation panel to check clotting.
Instrumental diagnostics
ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal and kidney ultrasound, and leg vein Doppler.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
Endocrinologist, GP, psychiatrist, cardiologist and, for women, gynecologist.
Diet
Cut back on fast carbs and fats 2–4 weeks before surgery, and eat light the day before.
Lifestyle
A month before, quit smoking, lower physical activity and shun stress.
The day before
Evening: last light meal. Fluids: stop 3–4 hours before the operation.
Our specialists
Skilled bariatric surgeons who genuinely care about patient health
Ruslan S. Menzulin
Bariatric surgeon · surgical oncologist
Mercy clinic training under Vadim Gushchin; speaker at the World Congress of bariatric surgery (2025). Among the co-authors of an international study in The Lancet.
Andrey G. Ugay
Lead bariatric surgeon · surgeon
Has carried out the largest number of SASJ operations in the country. Serves on the expert council of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons and presents regularly at national and international congresses.
City Medical Centre bariatric surgery centre
— your path
to confidence and harmony
At City Medical Centre obesity is treated with a comprehensive approach. Once examined, each patient receives a personal lab and instrumental diagnostic program aimed at finding every disorder in the body.
A method matched to your goal
The surgical method is selected individually by our doctors for every patient. Your health, weight history and related conditions are reviewed first, so the most suitable surgical treatment can be offered.
Support that stays in touch
The City Medical Centre team is with you after surgery too. For the full first year, specialists track weight loss, keep an eye on your tests and answer every diet and recovery question.
Fast recovery
All bariatric operations at City Medical Centre are laparoscopic, which greatly speeds recovery. Most patients get up and move on the first day and return to normal life within a week.
Full diagnostics on site
No need to travel between clinics. From our own lab to ultrasound and gastroscopy, the centre has all you need for your work-up. Preparation is fast, without queues, in one building.
Recovery after bariatric surgery
Recovery largely depends on the individual, but minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques keep rehabilitation as short as possible.
Duration
For 1 to 5 days the patient stays in the clinic under observation; this depends on the surgery's extent and related conditions.
Activity
Within the first hours after surgery you may sit up, stand and drink fluids.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
You may get back to work 7–14 days post-surgery, depending on the physical load of your job.
Restrictions
No bathhouse, sauna or intense physical exercise during the first weeks.
Diet
For 1–2 months a staged diet is prescribed — liquids first, then solids — to help the stomach adapt.
Pace
By following the specialists' advice, patients lose 10% of excess weight per month on average.
Stabilization
Reaching the final result takes 1.5–2 years. The patient has by then built steady eating habits that prevent weight from returning.
Important! Recovery is overseen by City Medical Centre specialists, with psychological and medical support at every step of weight loss.
Duration
For 1 to 5 days the patient stays in the clinic under observation; this depends on the surgery's extent and related conditions.
Activity
Within the first hours after surgery you may sit up, stand and drink fluids.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
You may get back to work 7–14 days post-surgery, depending on the physical load of your job.
Restrictions
No bathhouse, sauna or intense physical exercise during the first weeks.
Diet
For 1–2 months a staged diet is prescribed — liquids first, then solids — to help the stomach adapt.
Pace
By following the specialists' advice, patients lose 10% of excess weight per month on average.
Stabilization
Reaching the final result takes 1.5–2 years. The patient has by then built steady eating habits that prevent weight from returning.
Important! Recovery is overseen by City Medical Centre specialists, with psychological and medical support at every step of weight loss.
Book a consultation
Call or message us -
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us -
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Frequently asked questions
about bariatric surgery at CMC
Bariatric vs plastic surgery: what's the difference?
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.
How soon can I return to work and normal life?
Will there be visible scars?
We apply modern laparoscopic technique, operating through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Thanks to cosmetic sutures, the marks are almost invisible once they heal.
What diet do I need to follow?
The diet evolves in steps — from liquids to soft, then solid food — with a focus on protein and limits on high-calorie, fatty food.
What types of bariatric surgery are there?
Four main types of bariatric surgery are performed at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. Each is selected individually based on BMI, related conditions and patient goals.
Can I plan a pregnancy after surgery?
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.
Do I need to take vitamins after surgery?
Yes — vitamins are required after bariatric surgery. With the digestive anatomy changed, some nutrients are absorbed less well, and regular vitamin and mineral supplements become a permanent part of life.
Can the weight come back?
Weight regain after bariatric surgery is possible, but very unlikely if you follow the doctor's advice. Proper nutrition, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists are key.
Prices
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Service
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Weight loss surgery in Helsinki step by step
Surgery is usually justified with a BMI above 40, or above 35 when serious related conditions are present, and sometimes at lower values if other approaches have failed. People in Helsinki who have carried 30 kg or more above normal for years, whose weight returns after every diet, or who live with type 2 diabetes, hypertension or joint pain are typical candidates.
Several things are worth planning ahead. Pregnancy is advised no earlier than 12–18 months after surgery, once weight and nutritional status stabilise. Vitamins become a permanent part of life because the body absorbs some nutrients less well. Swimming waits 30 days, strength work longer. Patients from Helsinki discuss these points with the surgeon well before the operation date.
Weight loss is written into the contract, and the package includes every stage: consultation, diagnostics, the operation, inpatient care with meals and a year of support. A personal coordinator guides you from day one. To begin, patients from Helsinki leave a request on the page or message the clinic, then receive a free consultation with a bariatric surgeon.
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