Bariatric Surgery in Monrovia: Methods and Results

Bariatric surgery at the clinic is 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.

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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
• Past attempts to shed weight in conventional ways were unsuccessful

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.

Though often confused, the two have fundamentally different goals. Bariatric surgery is a medical treatment of obesity and related illnesses; it changes the functioning of the digestive tract to address the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery reshapes the outer contours of the body and neither treats obesity nor affects metabolism.

There are four main types of bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals guide the individual choice of method.

Our surgeons use modern laparoscopic technique: the operation goes through 4 small 5 to 15 mm punctures. With cosmetic sutures, the marks become almost invisible once healed.

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.

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

It is possible to get pregnant after bariatric surgery, but doctors recommend a minimum wait of 12–18 months. During it the body stabilizes, weight reaches its target and nutritional status is normalized.

Yes, vitamins are a must after bariatric surgery. Changes in digestive anatomy mean the body absorbs some nutrients less effectively, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements are part of the patient's life for good.

It is possible to regain weight after bariatric surgery, but very unlikely if you follow your doctor's advice. Proper nutrition, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists are essential.