guarantee
Gastric Sleeve and Bypass in Pretoria
for good —
14,000 CMC patients already live in a new body. The outcome is set down in a formal contract: legally binding, not just promised.
patients
experience
from excess weight
rating
Gastric Sleeve and Bypass in Pretoria
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
All costs upfront, no surprises. One package, the full journey.
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
Grounds for a surgeon's consultation include related conditions as well as a high BMI
Medical history
Excess weight since childhood or a genetic predisposition
Metabolic disorders
Type 2 diabetes and hypertension associated with obesity
Resistance to conservative treatment
No lasting result from diets and medication over several 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
No lasting result from diets and medication over several 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 main tool for assessing the degree of obesity. It is calculated by dividing body weight (kg) by height squared (m²). Surgery is usually justified with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions. In some cases surgery is considered at lower values too — if non-surgical approaches have failed.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Weight-loss attempts using conventional methods have not succeeded
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Many people try various diets and exercise for years, but the body fights back: metabolism slows, appetite grows and the lost weight returns. When it becomes clear that diet changes and medication alone cannot fundamentally improve the situation, bariatric surgery becomes the only effective way out.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Weight-loss attempts using conventional methods have not succeeded
The role of body mass index (BMI)
BMI is the main tool for assessing the degree of obesity. It is calculated by dividing body weight (kg) by height squared (m²). Surgery is usually justified with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions. In some cases surgery is considered at lower values too — if non-surgical approaches have failed.
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Many people try various diets and exercise for years, but the body fights back: metabolism slows, appetite grows and the lost weight returns. When it becomes clear that diet changes and medication alone cannot fundamentally improve the situation, bariatric surgery becomes the only effective way out.
Medical indications
for bariatric surgery
Please check with a clinic doctor if you live with chronic conditions!
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: the method suits a BMI of 35 to 45. On average patients lose 60–70% of their excess weight.
Specifics: bypass operations give a more durable result. Should the diet be ignored, especially with high-calorie drinks and liquid food, weight can return.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
The surgeon shapes a small pouch, 50–70 ml, from the top of the stomach and routes it directly to the small intestine. Food intake drops and calorie absorption decreases as food covers a shorter distance in the gut.
Effectiveness: with a BMI over 45–50 and type 2 diabetes, this is the “gold standard”. Excess weight loss is as high as 75–85%.
Specifics: results hold better than with other bariatric methods. Related conditions like diabetes and hypertension frequently go into remission. Since digestive anatomy is altered, vitamin and mineral supplements are needed 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: on par with the classic Roux-en-Y bypass — patients shed up to 75–80% of excess weight.
Specifics: shorter surgery and faster recovery. The procedure is technically reversible, but there is a risk of bile reflux due to the single anastomosis.
Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI-S)
SADI-S combines the advantages of sleeve gastrectomy and intestinal bypass in one modern technique. It is done in two stages: stage one makes the stomach a narrow tube; stage two reroutes the small intestine so that most of it is excluded from active digestion.
Effectiveness: among bariatric operations, one of the most powerful — 80–90% of excess weight goes, and it lasts long.
Specifics: a reduced stomach without its ghrelin-producing zone means less appetite, and diverting food past part of the intestine restricts calorie absorption. It is suited to super obesity (BMI over 50), severe type 2 diabetes, or 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
First comes a consultation with the surgeon — your medical history, the method and a recovery plan
Lab tests
Blood count and urinalysis in full, biochemical panel, HbA1c, coagulation panel (clotting test).
Instrumental diagnostics
Chest X-ray, ECG, kidney and abdomen ultrasound, Doppler for leg veins.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
GP and endocrinologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, and gynecologist for women.
Diet
In the 2–4 weeks leading up to surgery, reduce fast carbs and fats; light meals the day before.
Lifestyle
A month prior, give up smoking, ease off exercise and steer clear of stress.
The day before
Last light food in the evening, last liquids 3–4 hours prior to surgery.
Lab tests
Blood count and urinalysis in full, biochemical panel, HbA1c, coagulation panel (clotting test).
Instrumental diagnostics
Chest X-ray, ECG, kidney and abdomen ultrasound, Doppler for leg veins.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
GP and endocrinologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, and gynecologist for women.
Diet
In the 2–4 weeks leading up to surgery, reduce fast carbs and fats; light meals the day before.
Lifestyle
A month prior, give up smoking, ease off exercise and steer clear of stress.
The day before
Last light food in the evening, last liquids 3–4 hours prior to surgery.
Our specialists
Experienced bariatric surgeons who care about their patients' health
Ruslan S. Menzulin
Bariatric surgeon · surgical oncologist
Took training at Mercy clinic under Vadim Gushchin and addressed the World Congress of bariatric surgery (2025). Co-author of an international study that The Lancet published.
Andrey G. Ugay
Lead bariatric surgeon · surgeon
Leads the country in SASJ operations performed. Expert council member at the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons, speaking regularly at national and international congresses.
City Medical Centre bariatric surgery centre
— your path
to confidence and harmony
City Medical Centre takes a full-picture approach to obesity. Once the first examination is done, each patient gets a tailored diagnostic program (lab and instrumental) that reveals every disorder in the body.
A method matched to your goal
Our doctors tailor the choice of surgical method to each patient. Ahead of the decision they study your health, weight history and related conditions to offer the best-suited surgical treatment.
Support that stays in touch
City Medical Centre's team remains with you after surgery. Over the first year specialists watch your weight loss, monitor test results and respond to all questions regarding diet and recovery.
Fast recovery
Laparoscopic bariatric operations at City Medical Centre make recovery far shorter. Most patients are moving on day one and resume their normal life within a week.
Full diagnostics on site
You won't need to visit several clinics. Our centre covers the whole work-up, from our in-house lab to ultrasound and gastroscopy. Quick preparation with no queues, all in one building.
Recovery after bariatric surgery
Recovery varies from person to person, but minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques make rehabilitation as short as it can be.
Duration
The patient remains under observation at the clinic for 1 to 5 days, depending on the scope of surgery and related conditions.
Activity
Already in the first hours post-surgery you are allowed to sit up, stand and drink.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
7–14 days after surgery you can return to work, depending on how physical the job is.
Restrictions
For the first few weeks, skip the bathhouse, sauna and intense exercise.
Diet
Doctors prescribe a staged diet for 1–2 months, from liquids through to solids, for the stomach to adapt.
Pace
Average monthly loss is 10% of excess weight for patients following the specialists' advice.
Stabilization
It takes 1.5–2 years to reach the final result. By then, the patient has formed steady eating habits that keep weight from coming back.
Important! Specialists from City Medical Centre supervise recovery and provide psychological and medical support at each weight-loss stage.
Duration
The patient remains under observation at the clinic for 1 to 5 days, depending on the scope of surgery and related conditions.
Activity
Already in the first hours post-surgery you are allowed to sit up, stand and drink.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
7–14 days after surgery you can return to work, depending on how physical the job is.
Restrictions
For the first few weeks, skip the bathhouse, sauna and intense exercise.
Diet
Doctors prescribe a staged diet for 1–2 months, from liquids through to solids, for the stomach to adapt.
Pace
Average monthly loss is 10% of excess weight for patients following the specialists' advice.
Stabilization
It takes 1.5–2 years to reach the final result. By then, the patient has formed steady eating habits that keep weight from coming back.
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?
People often confuse these two, though their aims are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery is medical treatment of obesity and associated diseases. It changes the way the digestive tract works, acting on the causes of excess weight and on metabolism. Plastic surgery alters outer body contours and does not treat obesity or affect metabolism.
How soon can I return to work and normal life?
Will there be visible scars?
Our approach is modern laparoscopic technique: 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. We use cosmetic sutures, so the marks turn almost invisible after healing.
What diet do I need to follow?
Stage by stage, you move from liquid food to soft and then solid. Priority goes to protein, and high-calorie, fatty food is limited.
What types of bariatric surgery are there?
City Medical Centre carries out four main types of bariatric surgery: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. The choice of method is individual, based on BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals.
Can I plan a pregnancy after surgery?
Pregnancy after bariatric surgery is possible, but doctors advise waiting at least 12–18 months. During this time the body stabilizes, weight reaches target values and nutritional status normalizes.
Do I need to take vitamins after surgery?
Yes, after bariatric surgery vitamins cannot be skipped. As the digestive anatomy changes, some nutrients are absorbed less well, making regular vitamin and mineral supplements a permanent feature of the patient's life.
Can the weight come back?
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.
Prices
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Service
Discounted price
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Other services at our clinic
Bariatric surgery in Pretoria: methods, stages and package
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass creates a small 50–70 ml pouch at the top of the stomach and connects it straight to the small intestine. It is considered the gold standard for a BMI over 45–50 with type 2 diabetes, bringing excess weight loss of 75–85%. Anyone researching bypass in Pretoria should know that it requires lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements.
A personal coordinator is assigned from day one, so no one goes through the process alone. After the first examination, each patient gets an individual diagnostic programme to identify every disorder in the body. Then the surgeon selects the method and performs the laparoscopic operation, and a doctor stays nearby 24/7. That is the sequence for everyone from Pretoria.
Starting is simple. Leave your name and phone number or write in any messenger, and a coordinator will arrange a free consultation. In about 15 minutes the surgeon will say whether bariatric surgery is right for you and which method fits. For people from Pretoria, this conversation is the fastest way to replace temporary fixes with a lasting solution.
Stories of well-known people
Well-known people who spoke openly about this operation, in their own words.
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