Bariatric Surgery in Lyon: Methods and Results

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.

Our clinic's bariatric operations 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 to have our coordinator contact you shortly and book your consultation; the bariatric surgeon consultation costs nothing.

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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.

It is common to confuse them, but their goals are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery treats obesity and related diseases medically. By changing how the digestive tract works, it addresses the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery shapes the body's outer contours; it does not treat obesity and has no effect on metabolism.

At City Medical Centre there are four main types of bariatric surgery — sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. Every method is chosen individually from 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.

Your recovery depends on your activities. Office work: in 2–4 weeks. Physical work: in 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming after 30 days, with other exercise introduced gradually as weight drops. Travel and holidays: plan them a month or more after surgery.

Eating changes gradually: liquid food first, then soft, then solid. The focus is protein, with high-calorie, fatty food kept to a minimum.

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 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.

Weight regain is possible after bariatric surgery but very unlikely provided you follow the doctor's advice. Eat properly, avoid high-calorie drinks and keep up regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists.