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Bariatric Surgery in Pristina: Methods and Results
for good —
14,000 CMC patients already live in a changed body. The outcome is recorded in an official agreement, with legal force behind it.
patients
experience
from excess weight
rating
Bariatric Surgery in Pristina: 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
Hidden fees? None. Surprises? None. One package, full route.
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
It is not only a high BMI that justifies a surgical consult — related diseases do too
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 medication tried for years, with no lasting effect.
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 medication tried for years, with no lasting effect.
When is bariatric surgery justified?
Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met
The role of body mass index (BMI)
The degree of obesity is mainly assessed with BMI: body weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²). As a rule, surgery is justified when BMI exceeds 40, or exceeds 35 alongside serious related conditions. In some cases lower values may also qualify for surgery 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 spend years on different diets and exercise, yet the body resists: metabolism slows, appetite rises and the lost weight comes back. Once it is clear that changing the diet and taking medication cannot fundamentally improve things, bariatric surgery becomes the only effective solution.
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)
The degree of obesity is mainly assessed with BMI: body weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²). As a rule, surgery is justified when BMI exceeds 40, or exceeds 35 alongside serious related conditions. In some cases lower values may also qualify for surgery if non-surgical approaches have failed.
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Many people spend years on different diets and exercise, yet the body resists: metabolism slows, appetite rises and the lost weight comes back. Once it is clear that changing the diet and taking medication cannot fundamentally improve things, bariatric surgery becomes the only effective solution.
Medical indications
for bariatric surgery
Please speak with a clinic physician if you have 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
Most of the stomach is removed in the operation, leaving a narrow tube. Portion size falls dramatically and ghrelin, the hunger hormone, declines, meaning the patient gets full much sooner and eats less.
Effectiveness: the method is used for a BMI of 35 to 45; average loss is 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
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: outcomes are more durable than with other bariatric procedures. Diabetes, hypertension and other related conditions often go into remission. With the digestive anatomy changed, lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements are a must.
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: similar to the classic Roux-en-Y bypass; up to 75–80% of excess weight is lost.
Specifics: a faster operation and shorter recovery. The procedure can be undone technically, but there is a bile reflux risk from 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: removing the ghrelin-producing zone makes the stomach smaller and lowers appetite, while rerouting food around part of the intestine restricts calorie absorption. Indicated 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
Step one is a consultation with the surgeon: your history, the right method and a recovery plan
Lab tests
Complete blood count and urinalysis, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation panel (clotting test).
Instrumental diagnostics
ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal and kidney ultrasound, and leg vein Doppler.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
Endocrinologist, GP, psychiatrist, cardiologist and, for women, gynecologist.
Diet
2–4 weeks before surgery, cut fast carbs and fats; the day before, switch to light meals.
Lifestyle
A month before, quit smoking, lower physical activity and shun stress.
The day before
Last light meal in the evening; last fluids 3–4 hours before surgery.
Lab tests
Complete blood count and urinalysis, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation panel (clotting test).
Instrumental diagnostics
ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal and kidney ultrasound, and leg vein Doppler.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
Endocrinologist, GP, psychiatrist, cardiologist and, for women, gynecologist.
Diet
2–4 weeks before surgery, cut fast carbs and fats; the day before, switch to light meals.
Lifestyle
A month before, quit smoking, lower physical activity and shun stress.
The day before
Last light meal in the evening; last fluids 3–4 hours before surgery.
Our specialists
Experienced bariatric surgeons devoted to 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
Has done more SASJ operations than anyone else in the country. Sits on the expert council of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons and regularly speaks at national and international congresses.
City Medical Centre bariatric surgery centre
— your path
to confidence and harmony
City Medical Centre approaches obesity in a comprehensive way. Each patient, after the first examination, is assigned a personal diagnostic program (lab and instrumental) to identify all disorders in the body.
A method matched to your goal
Each patient gets an individually chosen surgical method from our doctors. Before a decision, they look at your health, weight history and associated conditions to recommend the most fitting surgical treatment.
Support that stays in touch
City Medical Centre's team stays with you once surgery is over. During the first year, specialists monitor your weight loss and test results and answer any questions on diet and recovery.
Fast recovery
Bariatric operations at City Medical Centre are laparoscopic, which greatly shortens recovery. Most patients are up and moving on day one and return to 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
Much of recovery depends on the individual, but minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques keep the rehab stage as short as possible.
Duration
The patient remains under observation at the clinic for 1 to 5 days, depending on the scope of surgery and related conditions.
Activity
You are permitted to sit up, stand and drink fluids in the first hours after surgery.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
You can return to work 7–14 days after surgery, depending on how physical your job is.
Restrictions
No sauna, no bathhouse and no intense physical exercise for the first weeks.
Diet
A staged diet is set for 1–2 months — from liquid to solid food — so the stomach can adapt.
Pace
Patients who follow what specialists advise lose 10% of excess weight per month on average.
Stabilization
Full results are reached in 1.5–2 years. By then, stable eating habits are in place that prevent the weight from coming back.
Important! Your recovery is supervised by City Medical Centre specialists, who give psychological and medical support through each stage of weight loss.
Duration
The patient remains under observation at the clinic for 1 to 5 days, depending on the scope of surgery and related conditions.
Activity
You are permitted to sit up, stand and drink fluids in the first hours after surgery.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
You can return to work 7–14 days after surgery, depending on how physical your job is.
Restrictions
No sauna, no bathhouse and no intense physical exercise for the first weeks.
Diet
A staged diet is set for 1–2 months — from liquid to solid food — so the stomach can adapt.
Pace
Patients who follow what specialists advise lose 10% of excess weight per month on average.
Stabilization
Full results are reached in 1.5–2 years. By then, stable eating habits are in place that prevent the weight from coming back.
Important! Your recovery is supervised by City Medical Centre specialists, who give psychological and medical support through each stage of weight loss.
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?
The two are often mistaken for each other, but their goals are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery provides medical treatment for obesity and related diseases. Changing how the digestive tract works, it deals with the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery modifies 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?
Modern laparoscopic technique allows the operation through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Cosmetic sutures make the marks almost invisible when fully healed.
What diet do I need to follow?
In stages, your diet goes from liquid to soft to solid food. The main focus is protein and restricting high-calorie, fatty food.
What types of bariatric surgery are there?
Four main types of bariatric surgery are performed at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. Each is selected individually based on BMI, related conditions and patient goals.
Can I plan a pregnancy after surgery?
You can become pregnant after bariatric surgery, but doctors advise a wait of at least 12–18 months. Over this period the body stabilizes, weight hits target values and nutritional status normalizes.
Do I need to take vitamins after surgery?
Yes, vitamins are essential after bariatric surgery. As digestive anatomy changes, the body absorbs certain nutrients less well, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements become a lasting part 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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Bariatric surgery in Pristina: methods, stages and package
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 Pristina with a higher BMI or type 2 diabetes, a bypass may fit better; the surgeon compares options at the consultation.
Step one: consultation. Step two: laboratory and instrumental tests, gastroscopy and specialist reviews. Step three: surgery through small punctures by a permanent team, not a duty shift. Step four: 1–5 days in the ward with meals and nursing. Step five: a staged diet and a year of follow-up. People in Pristina follow this route from start to finish.
Your investment covers more than surgery. The package includes the full diagnostic programme, the chosen laparoscopic method, inpatient care with food and nursing staff, round-the-clock medical presence and specialists tracking your weight and tests throughout the first year. For people searching for weight loss surgery in Pristina, the first consultation with the surgeon is free and takes about 15 minutes.
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