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Bariatric Surgery in Melbourne: Methods and Results
for good —
14,000 CMC patients already live in a different body. The result is stated in an official contract — in law, not just in talk.
patients
experience
from excess weight
rating
Bariatric Surgery in Melbourne: Methods and Results
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 secret fees and no surprises — one package takes you all the way.
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
Both a high BMI and associated conditions can make a surgical consultation worthwhile
Medical history
Excess weight since childhood or a genetic predisposition
Metabolic disorders
Type 2 diabetes and hypertension associated with obesity
Resistance to conservative treatment
Diets and medicines have failed to give a lasting result for 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
Diets and medicines have failed to give a lasting result for years.
When is bariatric surgery justified?
Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met
The role of body mass index (BMI)
BMI is the principal gauge of how advanced obesity is, found by dividing body weight (kg) by height squared (m²). Typically, a BMI above 40 — or above 35 with serious related conditions — justifies surgery. Some patients with lower values are considered for surgery too, if non-surgical options have failed.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Past attempts to shed weight in conventional ways were unsuccessful
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
It is common to try various diets and exercise for years while the body resists — slower metabolism, stronger appetite, returning weight. When it becomes evident that diet changes and medication by themselves cannot fundamentally help, bariatric surgery becomes the only effective solution.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Past attempts to shed weight in conventional ways were unsuccessful
The role of body mass index (BMI)
BMI is the principal gauge of how advanced obesity is, found by dividing body weight (kg) by height squared (m²). Typically, a BMI above 40 — or above 35 with serious related conditions — justifies surgery. Some patients with lower values are considered for surgery too, if non-surgical options have failed.
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
It is common to try various diets and exercise for years while the body resists — slower metabolism, stronger appetite, returning weight. When it becomes evident that diet changes and medication by themselves cannot fundamentally help, bariatric surgery becomes the only effective solution.
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
The surgeon takes out most of the stomach and shapes the rest into a narrow tube. Portion size shrinks sharply and ghrelin, the hunger hormone, drops, so fullness comes much faster and the patient eats less.
Effectiveness: recommended for a BMI of 35 to 45. Typically patients shed 60–70% of excess weight.
Specifics: the result is less durable than with bypass operations. If the diet is not followed, especially with high-calorie drinks and liquid food, the weight can return.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
A small pouch of 50–70 ml is created from the upper stomach and connected directly to the small intestine. Food intake is limited, and fewer calories are absorbed because food travels a shorter path through the gut.
Effectiveness: the operation counts as the “gold standard” for BMI above 45–50 with type 2 diabetes; 75–85% of excess weight is lost.
Specifics: more lasting results than other bariatric methods. Associated conditions such as diabetes and hypertension often go into remission. Because digestion is anatomically altered, vitamins and minerals must be taken for life.
Mini gastric bypass (MGB)
It is an improved variant of the classic bypass. Unlike the standard method, here the surgeon forms only one connection (anastomosis) linking the small stomach to the small intestine. The simpler technique is less demanding and needs less recovery time.
Effectiveness: like the classic Roux-en-Y bypass, it helps patients lose up to 75–80% of excess weight.
Specifics: shorter surgery, quicker recovery. It is technically reversible, yet bile reflux is a risk because of the single anastomosis.
Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI-S)
SADI-S is a contemporary combined technique uniting what is best in sleeve gastrectomy and intestinal bypass. Two stages are involved: first a narrow tube is formed from the stomach, then the small intestine is rerouted, leaving most of it outside active digestion.
Effectiveness: one of the most effective bariatric operations — 80–90% of excess weight is lost, and the result lasts long.
Specifics: appetite falls as the smaller stomach loses the zone that produces ghrelin, while food rerouted around part of the intestine yields fewer absorbed calories. Right for super obesity (BMI over 50), severe type 2 diabetes, or as 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
It all opens with a surgeon's consultation — medical history, selecting a method, a recovery plan
Lab tests
Complete blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c, and a coagulation panel (clotting test).
Instrumental diagnostics
Chest X-ray, ECG, ultrasound of abdomen and kidneys, Doppler of leg veins.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
GP, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, cardiologist; gynecologist for female patients.
Diet
2–4 weeks before surgery, cut fast carbs and fats; the day before, switch to light meals.
Lifestyle
From a month before: no smoking, less physical activity, no stress.
The day before
Last light meal the evening before; stop fluids 3–4 hours before surgery.
Lab tests
Complete blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c, and a coagulation panel (clotting test).
Instrumental diagnostics
Chest X-ray, ECG, ultrasound of abdomen and kidneys, Doppler of leg veins.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
GP, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, cardiologist; gynecologist for female patients.
Diet
2–4 weeks before surgery, cut fast carbs and fats; the day before, switch to light meals.
Lifestyle
From a month before: no smoking, less physical activity, no stress.
The day before
Last light meal the evening before; stop fluids 3–4 hours before surgery.
Our specialists
Experienced surgeons in bariatrics who care about patient health
Ruslan S. Menzulin
Bariatric surgeon · surgical oncologist
Studied at Mercy clinic under Vadim Gushchin and gave a talk at the World Congress of bariatric surgery in 2025. Co-author of international research published in The Lancet.
Andrey G. Ugay
Lead bariatric surgeon · surgeon
Has performed more SASJ operations than any other surgeon in the country. Part of the expert council of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons; regularly presents 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
Our doctors choose the surgical method individually for each patient. Before deciding, they review your health, weight history and related conditions to offer the most suitable surgical treatment.
Support that stays in touch
Once the operation is done, the City Medical Centre team stays alongside you. Throughout the first year specialists follow your weight loss, review tests and answer all questions on diet and recovery.
Fast recovery
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre is done laparoscopically, greatly shortening recovery. Most patients stand and walk on the first day and are back to normal life within a week.
Full diagnostics on site
There is no need to rush between clinics. Our centre offers your entire work-up — our own lab, ultrasound, gastroscopy. Preparation goes quickly, with no queues, all in one building.
Recovery after bariatric surgery
How recovery goes is largely individual, yet minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques keep the rehabilitation period to a minimum.
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
In the first hours after the operation you can sit up, stand and drink fluids.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
You can resume working 7–14 days after surgery, based on how physically demanding your job is.
Restrictions
In the first weeks, avoid the bathhouse, sauna and intense physical exercise.
Diet
For 1–2 months, a staged diet moves you from liquids to solids to let the stomach adjust.
Pace
Average monthly loss is 10% of excess weight for patients following the specialists' advice.
Stabilization
The final result takes 1.5–2 years. By that stage, the patient has stable eating habits in place that block weight regain.
Important! Specialists from City Medical Centre supervise recovery and provide psychological and medical support at each weight-loss stage.
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
In the first hours after the operation you can sit up, stand and drink fluids.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
You can resume working 7–14 days after surgery, based on how physically demanding your job is.
Restrictions
In the first weeks, avoid the bathhouse, sauna and intense physical exercise.
Diet
For 1–2 months, a staged diet moves you from liquids to solids to let the stomach adjust.
Pace
Average monthly loss is 10% of excess weight for patients following the specialists' advice.
Stabilization
The final result takes 1.5–2 years. By that stage, the patient has stable eating habits in place that block weight regain.
Important! Specialists from City Medical Centre supervise recovery and provide psychological and medical support at each weight-loss stage.
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?
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.
How soon can I return to work and normal life?
Will there be visible scars?
The operation uses modern laparoscopic technique, through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. We place cosmetic sutures, and after healing the marks become almost invisible.
What diet do I need to follow?
Diet changes happen in stages, from liquids to soft food and then solids. It centers on protein and limits high-calorie, fatty food.
What types of bariatric surgery are there?
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.
Can I plan a pregnancy after surgery?
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.
Do I need to take vitamins after surgery?
Yes, bariatric surgery makes vitamins a must. Since digestive anatomy is changed, absorption of some nutrients drops, and regular vitamin and mineral supplements become permanent in the patient's 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
Discounted price
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Other services at our clinic
How obesity surgery works for Melbourne residents
Sleeve gastrectomy turns most of the stomach into a narrow tube, reducing portion size and levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone. It suits a BMI of 35 to 45, with patients losing on average 60–70% of excess weight. For anyone from Melbourne with a higher BMI or type 2 diabetes, a bypass may fit better; the surgeon compares options at the consultation.
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 Melbourne discuss these points with the surgeon well before the operation date.
A permanent team — not a duty shift — handles your case, and the whole package is transparent. Included are the operation, 24/7 care in the ward, meals, nursing and a personal coordinator from day one, plus support throughout the first year. Melbourne patients also get a contractual result guarantee. Book a free consultation to discuss your situation.
Stories of well-known people
Well-known people who spoke openly about this operation, in their own words.
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