Bariatric Surgery for Patients from Istanbul

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.

Experienced bariatric surgeons perform the 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.

Message us — our coordinator will be in touch shortly to arrange your consultation. There is no charge for the bariatric surgeon consultation.

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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
• Earlier attempts to lose weight by conventional means have failed

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.

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.

City Medical Centre carries out four main types of bariatric surgery: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. The choice of method is individual, 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.

The recovery timeline depends on your activity. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming allowed from 30 days, other exercise added gradually as weight comes down. Travel and holidays: best planned at least 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 are essential after bariatric surgery. As digestive anatomy changes, the body absorbs certain nutrients less well, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements become a lasting 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.