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Bariatric surgery

Obesity Surgery in Murcia: Bariatric Methods

Discounted price

$3,600

$4,800 · First consultation — Free

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Real result
Bariatric surgery: a patient before surgery and after weight loss before after
Weight loss with support and guidance
all along. Your surgery and recovery plan is discussed at no cost — before deciding.

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Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) in Murcia: price and key facts

Bariatric surgery for patients from Murcia at City Medical Centre starts at €3,250 (from $3,600). The first online consultation is free; the doctor names the final price and it is fixed in the contract.

Price
€3,250 (from $3,600)
Performed by
Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon
Stay
1–5 days under observation
Recovery
back to work after 2–4 weeks
Final result
18–24 months after surgery
How it works
Send photos on WhatsApp or Telegram, get a free doctor assessment and the price, then confirm the plan and dates before anything is booked.

How it works · Bariatric surgery prices

Information current as of 24 October 2026

Free online consultation on WhatsApp and Telegram

Results

Weight loss results of our patients

Only real clinic patients appear here.

Irina, 26 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Irina, 26

Bariatric surgery

Angelina, 22 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Angelina, 22

Bariatric surgery

Anna, 31 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Anna, 31

Bariatric surgery

Veronika, 25 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Veronika, 25

Bariatric surgery

Valentina, 23 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Valentina, 23

Bariatric surgery

Evgenia, 41 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Evgenia, 41

Bariatric surgery

Anna, 27 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Anna, 27

Bariatric surgery

Veronika, 26 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Veronika, 26

Bariatric surgery

Kristina, 23 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Kristina, 23

Bariatric surgery

Anna, 24 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Anna, 24

Bariatric surgery

Veronika, 34 — before and after bariatric surgerybeforeafter

Veronika, 34

Bariatric surgery

Comparison

Weight loss
methods

We offer two main options: gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. Weigh up how each works, its purpose and its indications to settle on your method with confidence.

Sleeve gastrectomy

A smaller stomach volume

A surgeon explains sleeve gastrectomy to a patient on an anatomical model

Discounted price

$3,600 $4,800

Main goal
Weight loss, feeling full quickly
When it is performed
Obesity without marked reflux
Anaesthesia, length of stay
General anaesthesia, hospital stay of 1–3 to 4–5 days

Gastric bypass

Reducing the stomach volume and rerouting food

A surgeon shows a patient on a model how gastric bypass is done

Discounted price

$4,000 $5,200

Main goal
Weight loss, better metabolism
When it is performed
Obesity, diabetes or reflux
Anaesthesia, length of stay
General anaesthesia, hospital stay of 1–3 to 4–5 days

Treat the recovery times and benefits here as guidance averaged by method: how extensive the surgery is and how you recover depend on your own anatomy and features, and the surgeon confirms this at the consultation.

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About us

A calm clinic where you can relax

Comfortable rooms, modern equipment and care for each person

A doctor and a patient in a clinic ward

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

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Get a consultation

Not every patient is a candidate for bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery)

Whether to have surgery is decided together with the surgeon after the consultation and check-up.

SuitableBariatric surgery addresses

A bariatric surgeon explains the indications for surgery to a patient
  • Excess weight
  • Hypertension
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Varicose veins
  • Joint disease
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Reproductive health problems

Not suitableContraindications

A surgeon discusses contraindications to bariatric surgery with a patient
  • Age under 18
  • Malignant tumors
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Severe chronic and mental illness
  • Acute illness or flare-ups of chronic disease
  • Less than six months since breastfeeding ended

Not sure which group you fall into?

Write to us on Telegram — a coordinator will let you know whether bariatric surgery is an option for you. The surgeon consultation costs nothing and carries no obligation to operate.

Find out if it suits me
A clinic coordinator talks to a patient in the waiting area

Prices

You know the price
before surgery

At the consultation, when your plan is ready, we name the cost and fix it in the contract.

Discounted price

Sleeve gastrectomy

A smaller stomach volume

Surgeons during a sleeve gastrectomy

$3,600$4,800

Lock in the price

Discounted price

Gastric bypass

Losing weight by changing the food route

A surgeon during a gastric bypass

$4,000$5,200

Lock in the price

Free

First consultation

The surgeon examines you and draws up a treatment plan

First consultation

Free

the surgery price is set
and written into the contract

Book a consultation

Find out your method and the cost of surgery

Your doctor assesses your health, discusses your goals and chooses the appropriate bariatric surgery method. The consultation gives you the cost, which is fixed in the contract.

A nurse and a patient in a clinic ward after bariatric surgery

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Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes

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A bariatric surgeon discusses a treatment plan with a patient

price

What the $3,600 (≈ €3,250) price includes

Preparation to 12 months of support in one package — nothing extra to pay.From preparation for surgery
to support for 12 months.

  • Surgery and the surgeon's work
  • General anaesthesia
  • Post-operative hospital stay
  • Meals at the clinic
  • Support while you keep the weight off
  • A coordinator assigned to you from day one
  • Remote progress check by photos

$3,600$4,800

Discounted price

Lock in the price

How it works

Treatment at the clinic —
from admission to discharge

Support for a year, hospital monitoring and a treatment plan agreed in advance.

A bariatric surgeon shows a patient the surgery plan on a tablet1

Consultation and a treatment plan

Your doctor assesses your health, discusses what you want to achieve and orders tests to find the right bariatric surgery method.

Booking the surgery date2

Reserving your surgery date

We book your surgery date: the deposit is payable by card at the clinic or online via bank transfer. All terms are fixed in the contract for medical services

A blood sample tube for tests before bariatric surgery3

Tests to prepare for surgery

Preparation for surgery means blood and urine tests, an ECG, an ultrasound, a gastroscopy and specialist consultations. Your doctor gives you the exact list at the consultation.

Surgeons performing a bariatric operation4

Surgery

The surgeon performs the bariatric operation with the chosen method under general anaesthesia. After surgery the patient is monitored by the medical team.

A hospital ward at the clinic5

Inpatient stay

After the operation you stay in hospital under doctors' supervision for 1–3 to 4–5 days, depending on the complexity of the operation and how you feel.

A doctor and a patient in the ward during recovery6

Recovery

After you leave hospital, you receive advice on diet and recovery. Scheduled check-ups monitor your weight, test results and how you feel. The clinic team supports you for a year.

A plan is drawn up by the doctor at the consultation, with an explanation of how surgery will go

A surgeon shows a patient the result forecast on a tablet

The consultation is free, before surgery and with no obligation.

Book a consultation
A surgeon shows a patient the result forecast on a tablet

Doctors

Surgeons to rely on

Bariatric surgeon Andrey G. Ugay

Andrey G. Ugay

View profile

27 years of experience

Lead bariatric surgeon

  • Has performed the largest number of SASJ operations in the country
  • Expert council member of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons
  • Speaks regularly at national and international congresses
Bariatric surgeon Ruslan S. Menzulin

Ruslan S. Menzulin

View profile

9 years of experience

Bariatric surgeon
Surgical oncologist

  • 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

From the first consultation to the result, your surgeon operates and follows you.

The first consultation, free of charge, is with our patient care manager, who works out your BMI, explains the methods and books you in with the surgeon.

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Coordinators

Clinic coordinators

We support you at every stage

Your personal coordinator

From the first message to the consultation, your first point of contact at the clinic

Svetlana

Care specialist for patients

Helps you find a convenient date and answers your questions before your first consultation

  • Explains each step of preparation
  • Reminds you about tests and check-ups
Your personal coordinator

With you before and during your stay — from booking to discharge

Olesya

Care specialist for patients

Helps you get ready for surgery and keeps in touch while you stay at the clinic

  • Supports you before and after surgery
  • Helps with documents and bookings
Your personal coordinator

With you through recovery — from discharge to your final check-up

Alisa

Care specialist for patients

Books your follow-up visits with the surgeon and keeps in touch during recovery

  • Answers questions during recovery
  • Books follow-up visits

Advantages

What makes patients choose City Medical Centre

A surgeon consults a patient in the clinic

Each stage is tailored to you

The method we choose is the best one for your health, lifestyle and goals — and our team stays with you throughout.

A tablet with a meal plan and a patient's diary after bariatric surgery

Long-term
care after surgery

We help you adopt new eating habits, track your results and make them last.

A patient at the clinic

Real results that last

Steady weight loss, better well-being and a higher quality of life.

A patient picks a convenient visit time in her planner and phone calendar

We work around your schedule

We work 24/7: booking is easy, the approach is personal and we adapt to your pace.

A contract with a fixed price for surgery and no hidden fees

Fixed prices

After the consultation you know the method the surgeon has chosen and the clear price, with no hidden fees and no surprises on the way to your result.

Prices

Prices for bariatric surgery

Apply by the end of the month and get a free consultation for any service

  • Bariatric surgeon's consultation

    Free

    Book
  • Sleeve gastrectomy

    Price without discount: $4,800$3,600

    Book
  • Gastric bypass

    Price without discount: $5,200$4,000

    Book

FAQ

Answers to frequent questions
before booking

Bariatric Surgery in Murcia: price and what is included

Prices are in US dollars; the amount in brackets is an approximate conversion to EUR at the rate of 02.10.2026. The final price is fixed in your contract.

How much does bariatric surgery in Murcia cost?

Prices start from $3,600 (≈ €3,250). The surgeon sets the final price at the free consultation, and it is fixed in the contract, with no hidden extras.

What is included in the price?

General anaesthesia, a personal coordinator from day one, monitoring in the hospital and support for one year.

How long do the procedure and recovery take?

The hospital stay is 1–5 days, depending on the method and how you feel. Office work is possible after 2–4 weeks.

Is the first consultation free?

Yes. The first consultation is free and does not oblige you to anything. You can start online by sending a message to the coordinator.

How do I get my exact price?

Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram using the buttons below. A coordinator will answer your questions and book a free consultation where the doctor names the exact price.

By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Bariatric surgery in Murcia: from consultation to result

Why do diets fail? The body fights back: metabolism slows, appetite grows, and lost kilos return. When diet changes and medication cannot fundamentally improve the situation, surgery becomes the effective way out. Murcia residents who have tried diets, fasting and pills for years without a lasting result are exactly the patients for whom bariatric operations are intended.

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 Murcia discuss these points with the surgeon well before the operation date.

One package covers the full journey, from consultation to final result. There are no separate charges added later: ward, meals, nursing care and coordinator support are included. To find out whether surgery suits you, patients in Murcia can book a free surgeon consultation; the doctor reviews BMI, health and weight history and recommends a method.

Stories of well-known people

Well-known people who spoke openly about this operation, in their own words.

All stories about this operation →

Patient reviews

What patients write after this operation. Reviews are translated from the original language.

Irina, 26

For a long time I doubted whether to go ahead with surgery, but after the consultation I felt much calmer. Andrey Georgievich explained in detail how gastric bypass is done, what to expect after the operation and how recovery would go. I especially liked that they talked to me calmly and without pressure. I am now gradually getting used to my new way of life and I am very glad I took this step.

Bariatric surgery

Doctor: Andrey G. Ugay

Angelina, 22

For me the hardest part was deciding to have the operation. At the consultation Ruslan Sergeyevich answered all my questions in detail and explained the specifics of sleeve gastrectomy and recovery. After the operation I always understood what I was doing and why. Thank you to the doctor and the whole team for their attentiveness.

Bariatric surgery

Doctor: Ruslan S. Menzulin

Anna, 31

For a very long time I tried to deal with my excess weight on my own, but I did not get the result I wanted. After the consultation with Andrey Georgievich I finally understood what to do next. I came through the operation well, and my recovery was supervised by the doctors. It was important for me to feel that I was not left alone after surgery.

Bariatric surgery

Doctor: Andrey G. Ugay

Veronika, 25

Before the operation I had many fears, mostly of the unknown. Ruslan Sergeyevich explained every stage of treatment in detail and answered even the simplest questions. Thanks to that I felt much more confident. I keep following the recommendations and I am gradually seeing the changes I had the operation for.

Bariatric surgery

Doctor: Ruslan S. Menzulin

Valentina, 23

The decision to have bariatric surgery was not easy for me. I worried both about the operation itself and about how my life would change afterwards. At the consultation Andrey Georgievich explained everything in detail, so little by little my fear turned into confidence. What matters most to me now is the result and the chance to treat my health and lifestyle differently.

Bariatric surgery

Doctor: Andrey G. Ugay

Anna, 27

I am very grateful to Ruslan Sergeyevich for his attentiveness. Before the operation I had a huge number of questions, and I got a clear answer to every one of them. After the operation it was also clear which recommendations to follow and how to eat. It was important to me that the doctor stayed in touch and I felt supported at every stage.

Bariatric surgery

Doctor: Ruslan S. Menzulin

All patient reviews

Page medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .

What the Spanish obesity figures say about a decision made in Murcia

The Spanish National Statistics Institute's 2020 European Health Survey gives a plain picture. Among adults aged 18 and over, 16.0 % live with obesity: 16.5 % of men and 15.5 % of women. A further 37.6 % are classed as overweight, so 53.6 % of adults are above the weight considered normal. These are national figures, not a count for the municipality. They do show that a person in Murcia who is thinking about weight loss treatment is far from unusual.

Murcia is the seventh most populous municipality in Spain, with 471,982 residents in the 2024 figure and a metropolitan area of 672,773. The Spanish-language reference gives 479,405 for 2025. If the national shares applied evenly, tens of thousands of adults in the municipality alone would be living with obesity. That is arithmetic on national proportions, not a measured local statistic, so treat it as an order of magnitude. The takeaway is that the condition is common, medically recognised, and treated with methods whose limits and indications are well defined.

BMI is the first number we discuss. It is body weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Surgery is generally justified at a BMI above 40, or above 35 when serious related conditions are present. In some cases it is considered at lower values, if non-surgical methods have not worked. The coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram can help you calculate it from your height and weight. The doctor then confirms at the free online consultation whether an operation suits you at all.

The same survey shows why the related conditions matter. Hypertension is the most commonly diagnosed chronic problem among people aged 15 and over (19.0 %), followed by high cholesterol (15.3 %) and osteoarthritis (14.4 %). Low back pain affects 13.7 %. Several of these conditions are on the list of problems that bariatric surgery can help with: hypertension, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, joint disease and fatty liver disease. When you describe your health to the coordinator, mention these diagnoses even if they seem unrelated to weight. They influence which of the four methods the doctor proposes and how the plan is built.

The operation is a medical treatment of obesity and of the illnesses that accompany it. It changes how the digestive tract works, which is why it differs fundamentally from plastic surgery. Plastic surgery reshapes the outer contours of the body and neither treats obesity nor affects metabolism.

Public health cover and waiting lists: reading the Spanish rules

The national health system's common portfolio of services is set out in Royal Decree 1030/2006. Its section on morbid obesity surgery includes the adjustable gastric band for adults with a BMI above 40 kg/m², or above 35 with a significant associated condition. The condition for inclusion is that conservative alternatives have failed: diet, exercise and behaviour modification. Two things follow from this wording. First, it names a particular technique, and the methods used at City Medical Centre are sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S. Second, it sets out the sequence of steps a public pathway expects before surgery. Which procedure is available inside a public programme in the Región de Murcia, and in what order, is for the regional health service to say.

The same decree states that techniques whose purpose is "mere aesthetic or cosmetic improvement" are not financed, and that procedures with an aesthetic purpose unrelated to an accident, illness or congenital malformation are excluded from specialised care. This is a useful boundary for anyone mixing up two kinds of operation. Bariatric surgery treats obesity and its complications. Body contouring afterwards, if someone considers it, belongs to a different category with different rules. At the online consultation the doctor talks about the first only. Plastic surgery is a separate subject, with its own indications.

Waiting time is the practical reason many people compare routes. At the end of 2025 the national health system recorded 853,509 patients on surgical waiting lists. The average wait was 121 days, and 21.6 % had been waiting more than six months. The ministry later issued a correction note because of data from Castilla-La Mancha, so read these as the initial publication. For the Región de Murcia the figures for 31 December 2025 are 34,197 patients in structural surgical waiting, 21.52 per 1,000 inhabitants, with an average wait of 103 days.

Averages hide a lot. Plastic surgery has the longest average wait of any specialty nationally, at 269 days, and neurosurgery 172. In the Región de Murcia, traumatology alone has 9,811 patients waiting for surgery, with an average of 113 days. An average also says nothing about where one particular patient sits, or how long a given procedure waits in a given hospital. None of these tables isolates bariatric surgery for Murcia, so we do not claim a figure for it. If you are already in a public pathway, ask your health centre where you stand. If you are considering a private plan, our coordinator can lay out the dates and steps in advance.

The online consultation does not replace any step that the public system requires, and it does not commit you to an operation. It gives you a second assessment with a plan, so you can compare options with real information in hand.

Health problems that occur together with excess weight, and how they shape the plan

The national health survey figures for hypertension, cholesterol, osteoarthritis and back pain are worth reading together. These conditions often occur together with extra body weight, and each changes what the doctor looks for at the consultation. Someone with joint disease and a high BMI faces a different set of questions from someone whose main concern is type 2 diabetes. The choice between sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass often follows from this.

The two core procedures differ in purpose. In sleeve gastrectomy the stomach volume is reduced. The main aims are weight loss and feeling full quickly, and it is indicated for obesity without marked reflux. In gastric bypass the stomach volume is reduced and the path of food is changed. The aims are weight loss and better metabolism, and it is indicated for obesity with diabetes or reflux. The service also carries out mini gastric bypass and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. The final choice depends on BMI, related conditions and your goals, and the doctor confirms it after your health assessment.

Public waiting figures show how often people in Spain wait for joint operations. For hip prostheses the average wait is 98 days, with 13.7 % exceeding the maximum period of 180 days. For knee prostheses it is 105 days and 15.9 %. These are different operations from the ones we describe, but they illustrate a common situation. Excess weight and joint wear often exist side by side, and a patient may be waiting for one procedure while thinking about another. Tell the coordinator about any scheduled joint operation, since the order of treatments is something the doctors decide together with you.

The consultation list of contraindications is short and concrete. Surgery is not suitable under age 18, with malignant tumours, during pregnancy, with blood clotting disorders, with severe chronic or mental illness, during an acute illness or flare-up of a chronic disease, or in the first six months after breastfeeding ends. If any of these applies to you, say so in the first message. It is better to know before spending time on tests.

First-time specialist consultations in the public system also have a queue. At the end of 2025, 84.42 of every 1,000 people were waiting for a first specialist consultation, with an average wait of 102 days. Traumatology has the longest consultation wait, 132 days. This helps explain why some people start by asking a private online question: a first conversation that takes days instead of months.

Eating after the operation, in a city built around the huerta

The Segura river crosses Murcia from west to east, in the middle of the huerta, with hills to the north and the Cordillera Sur behind. The facts we use describe geography and climate. They do not describe what people eat, so we will not claim a menu. What we can say is how the eating plan is built, and why it matters in any city with a strong food culture.

After a bariatric operation your diet moves in stages: liquid, then soft, then solid food. The main focus is protein, and high-calorie, fatty food is restricted. High-calorie drinks are a particular source of regained weight, so avoiding them is an explicit part of the advice. Vitamins and mineral supplements become a lasting part of your routine, because the digestive anatomy has changed and the body absorbs some nutrients less well.

This matters most at the table. Murcia has two universities, the University of Murcia (its origins date to 1272) and the Catholic University San Antonio, with around 50,000 students between them. It has a large calendar of celebrations too. The Spring Festival runs the week after Easter Sunday, with the Bando de la Huerta on Tuesday and the Burial of the Sardine on Saturday, both of International Tourist Interest. Holy Week carries the same designation. The September Fair takes place in the first half of September and is the most crowded festival of the year. Village festivals cluster in June and September.

None of this is a reason to postpone treatment. It is a reason to plan. Family meals, shared plates and long evenings are part of many calendars. Recovery after the operation is gradual, and if your date falls near a major celebration, tell the coordinator so the dates and your diet stage can be fitted together. A person in the soft-food phase can attend a gathering, but should know ahead of time what they will eat. The coordinator can go through typical situations with you before the operation, not after it.

For physical activity, the facts give us one concrete item: MuyBici, the public bicycle system for everyday journeys, has existed since April 2015. The plan from the service text is more specific. Swimming is fine after 30 days, and other exercise is added gradually as weight drops. Ask the doctor which of these suits you, and when.

Heat, sun and the recovery weeks

Murcia has a hot semi-arid climate. In July and August the average maximum is 34.3 and 34.5 °C, with minimums of 21.2 and 21.8 °C. January is the coldest month, with an average maximum of 17.2 °C and a minimum of 5.3 °C. The record is 46.2 °C in August, and the lowest reading −7.5 °C. Snow is almost absent, 0.1 days a year. Annual precipitation is about 282 mm, July is the driest month at 1.2 mm, and September is the wettest at 37.6 mm, followed by December at 32.5 mm. The city has 3,077 hours of sun a year and average relative humidity of 57 %.

For a recovery plan, the useful number is how long you spend at home. The hospital stay is 1–5 days under observation. Office work resumes after 2–4 weeks, physical work after about 1.5 months. In the first days after discharge you will want a cool, calm room and a stable supply of fluids as directed by the doctor. Lightweight clothing matters when the cuts are healing. Cosmetic sutures are used, and once healed the marks become almost invisible.

The seasons shape the timing in practical ways. If your recovery weeks fall in July or August, a daytime maximum of over 34 °C means short outdoor walks are best early in the morning or after sunset. In January a maximum of 17.2 °C is mild by comparison, though evenings drop to 5.3 °C on average. Neither season is a barrier. Ask the coordinator to help you choose dates around your work and family calendar, and around any local festival that matters to you.

An example for planning: if a patient settles on a date in January 2027, an office worker could expect to return somewhere between the end of January and mid-February, depending on how they feel. A physically demanding job would begin around the beginning of March. These are the ranges in the service text. The doctor confirms them for your anatomy and your individual traits.

Follow-up online over the first year and beyond

The package includes support for 12 months, from preparation through recovery. One coordinator stays with you from the first day, and progress is checked remotely by photos. This design suits a city of this size. Murcia municipality covers 881.86 km², from 25 m at the final stretch of the Segura up to 1,031 m at Morro de la Fuente in the Carrascoy range, and the sea lies about 40 to 46 km away. For some residents of outlying villages, even a short check-up takes time. An online check-up on WhatsApp or Telegram, available round the clock, removes that obstacle for routine questions.

The practical sequence is as follows. First, you send photos and basic information, and the doctor gives a free assessment. Second, the plan and dates are confirmed before anything is booked. Third, tests are done before surgery: blood and urine tests, an ECG, an ultrasound and a gastroscopy, plus specialist appointments. The doctor gives the exact list at the consultation. Fourth, the operation is carried out under general anaesthesia, laparoscopically, through four small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Fifth comes the hospital stay, and sixth, recovery with scheduled check-ups of well-being, weight and test results.

The final result comes 18–24 months after the operation. That is a long period, and the first months are only part of it. Weight regain is possible, though unlikely if you follow the doctor's advice: eating properly, avoiding high-calorie drinks and keeping regular contact with the specialists. We would rather say this plainly than promise anything beyond it.

Foreign-born residents make up 16.3 % of the municipality (76,853 people in 2024). We mention it only because the coordinators handle conversations in several situations, and nobody should feel that a language or background question stands in the way of asking. Describe what you need in the first message.

Finally, the free consultation does not oblige you to have surgery. If the doctor concludes that an operation is not right for you, you will hear that directly.

How do Spain's obesity figures relate to the BMI thresholds I will hear at the consultation?

The 2020 European Health Survey reports obesity in 16.0 % of adults and overweight in 37.6 %, so 53.6 % are above normal weight. Those are population shares. The consultation uses your own BMI: surgery is generally justified above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions, and sometimes at lower values when non-surgical methods have not worked. The doctor confirms the decision individually.

Does the public health system cover obesity surgery, and does this online consultation replace its steps?

The common portfolio set by Royal Decree 1030/2006 includes the adjustable gastric band for adults with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with a significant associated condition, after conservative alternatives such as diet, exercise and behaviour change have failed. It does not finance procedures that are purely aesthetic. Our online consultation does not replace any public step and does not commit you to anything. It gives you an independent assessment and a plan to compare.

How long are waiting lists in the Región de Murcia?

At 31 December 2025 the region had 34,197 patients in structural surgical waiting, 21.52 per 1,000 inhabitants, with an average of 103 days. Nationally the average was 121 days and 21.6 % waited more than six months, in the initial publication that was later corrected for data from one region. These tables do not isolate bariatric surgery, so we cannot quote a figure for it. Your health centre can tell you where you stand.

I am already waiting for a hip or knee operation. Should I mention it?

Yes. National figures show an average wait of 98 days for hip prostheses, with 13.7 % beyond the 180-day maximum, and 105 days for knee prostheses, with 15.9 %. Excess weight and joint disease often occur together, and joint disease is among the problems bariatric surgery can help with. Tell the coordinator about any scheduled operation so the doctors can consider the order of treatments with you.

Is body contouring after weight loss part of this service?

No. Bariatric surgery treats obesity and related illnesses by changing how the digestive tract works. Plastic surgery reshapes outer contours and does not affect metabolism. Spanish public rules also exclude procedures with a purely aesthetic aim from financed care, so the two are handled as separate subjects.

How should I plan recovery around Murcia's summer heat?

The July and August averages are a maximum of 34.3 to 34.5 °C and a minimum of 21.2 to 21.8 °C, and the record is 46.2 °C. With 1–5 days in hospital and a return to office work after 2–4 weeks, plan short walks early or late in the day and ask the doctor how much fluid and activity suit you. January is milder, with an average maximum of 17.2 °C and a minimum of 5.3 °C. The coordinator can help you choose dates.

Can I have the operation near the Spring Festival or the September Fair?

It is possible, but plan the timing. The Spring Festival falls the week after Easter Sunday and the September Fair in the first half of September. Meals at gatherings matter because your diet moves from liquid to soft to solid food, with a focus on protein and limited high-calorie, fatty food. Tell the coordinator the dates that matter to you so the diet stage and the recovery weeks can be matched to them.

Does living outside the city centre make follow-up harder?

The municipality covers 881.86 km² and includes many outlying areas. Routine follow-up runs online: one coordinator is with you from the first day, answers questions on WhatsApp or Telegram round the clock, and progress is checked remotely by photos over 12 months. Which questions can be handled remotely, and which need a separate step, is something the doctor explains at the consultation.

Which health conditions in the national survey are linked with what bariatric surgery can treat?

The survey lists hypertension (19.0 %), high cholesterol (15.3 %), osteoarthritis (14.4 %) and low back pain (13.7 %) among common problems. The service text names hypertension, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, joint disease and fatty liver disease as conditions that surgery can help with. Mention any diagnosis in your first message, since it influences the choice between sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.

What can I do for activity after the operation without leaving the city centre?

Murcia has had the MuyBici public bicycle system since April 2015, but any activity has to match your recovery. Swimming is fine after 30 days, physical work after about 1.5 months, and other exercise is added gradually as weight drops. Ask the doctor before starting cycling or any other new activity.

When can I plan a pregnancy after the operation?

Pregnancy can happen after bariatric surgery, though doctors advise holding off at least 12–18 months. In that period the body becomes stable, weight reaches target values and nutritional status normalises. Raise the subject at the consultation so it is part of your plan from the start.