Bariatric Surgery in Palermo: 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.

At the clinic, bariatric operations are carried out 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.

Write to us — a coordinator will get back to you soon and arrange your consultation. The bariatric surgeon consultation is free of charge.

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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
• Previous efforts at weight loss through standard methods did not work

BMI serves as the chief indicator of obesity severity. Divide body weight (kg) by height squared (m²) to calculate it. Surgery is normally justified at BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious accompanying conditions. In selected cases it is considered at lower values as well — if non-surgical methods did not help.

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.

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.

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.

Recovery depends on your activity. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming allowed after 30 days, other exercise added step by step as weight drops. Travel and holidays: plan them no earlier than a month after surgery.

Your diet changes in stages: from liquid food to soft, then to solid. The focus is on protein and on limiting high-calorie, fatty food.

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 become essential after bariatric surgery. The changed digestive anatomy lowers absorption of some nutrients, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements turn into a permanent part of the patient's life.

Weight can come back after bariatric surgery, but this is very unlikely if you follow your doctor's advice. Proper nutrition, skipping high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists are key.