guarantee
Weight Loss Surgery in Sarajevo
for good —
14,000 CMC patients already live in a new body. The result is fixed in an official contract, legally and not only verbally.
patients
experience
from excess weight
rating
Weight Loss Surgery in Sarajevo
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
No secret fees and no surprises — one package takes you all the way.
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
Seeing a surgeon is justified by related conditions as well, not by a high BMI alone
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)
The main way to assess the degree of obesity is BMI. It is body weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²). Generally, surgery is justified with BMI above 40, or above 35 combined with serious related conditions. Lower values may sometimes be considered for surgery too, when non-surgical measures have failed.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Unsuccessful past attempts at weight loss by traditional means
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Years of various diets and workouts often end the same way: the body fights back, metabolism slows, appetite grows and the weight returns. If it becomes clear that medication and dietary changes alone cannot fundamentally improve the situation, bariatric surgery is the only effective way forward.
Key factors
- The patient's body mass index (BMI)
- Overall health and any related chronic conditions
- Unsuccessful past attempts at weight loss by traditional means
The role of body mass index (BMI)
The main way to assess the degree of obesity is BMI. It is body weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²). Generally, surgery is justified with BMI above 40, or above 35 combined with serious related conditions. Lower values may sometimes be considered for surgery too, when non-surgical measures have failed.
Why don't diets and exercise work for everyone?
Years of various diets and workouts often end the same way: the body fights back, metabolism slows, appetite grows and the weight returns. If it becomes clear that medication and dietary changes alone cannot fundamentally improve the situation, bariatric surgery is the only effective way forward.
Medical indications
for bariatric surgery
Have chronic conditions? Please consult one of the clinic's doctors!
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
In surgery, most of the stomach is taken out and the rest is formed into a narrow tube. Portions become far smaller and ghrelin, the hormone behind hunger, drops, so the patient feels full quicker 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 effect is less durable than with bypass procedures. Ignoring the diet, especially high-calorie drinks and liquid meals, may bring the weight back.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
The surgeon builds a 50–70 ml pouch in the upper part of the stomach and attaches it directly to the small intestine. This caps food intake and lowers calorie absorption by shortening food's route through the gut.
Effectiveness: viewed as the “gold standard” for BMI over 45–50 plus type 2 diabetes. It removes 75–85% of excess weight.
Specifics: the result endures better than with alternative bariatric methods. Associated diabetes and hypertension frequently go into remission. Lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements are required because the digestive anatomy changes.
Mini gastric bypass (MGB)
This is an improved version of the classic bypass. Unlike the standard method, the surgeon creates only one connection (anastomosis) between the small stomach and the small intestine. The simpler technique is easier on the patient and needs less recovery time.
Effectiveness: in line with the classic Roux-en-Y bypass — loss of up to 75–80% of excess weight.
Specifics: the operation is shorter and recovery faster. Reversal is technically possible, but a single anastomosis means a risk of bile reflux.
Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI-S)
The modern combined technique SADI-S unites the benefits of sleeve gastrectomy and intestinal bypass. It proceeds in two stages: the surgeon first turns the stomach into a narrow tube, then reroutes the small intestine so that most of it is kept out of active digestion.
Effectiveness: a top-power bariatric operation — loss of excess weight reaches 80–90%, with a long-lasting result.
Specifics: appetite drops because the smaller stomach no longer has its ghrelin-producing zone, and bypassing part of the intestine cuts calorie absorption. It fits super obesity (BMI over 50), severe type 2 diabetes, or serves as a second stage following 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
We start with a surgical consultation: history taking, choosing the method and planning recovery
Lab tests
Tests: complete blood count, urinalysis, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation panel (clotting).
Instrumental diagnostics
X-ray of the chest, ECG, kidney and abdominal ultrasound, leg vein Doppler.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
GP, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, cardiologist; gynecologist for female patients.
Diet
For 2–4 weeks before surgery, cut out fast carbs and fats; the day before, eat light meals.
Lifestyle
One month out, quit cigarettes, reduce physical exertion and avoid stress.
The day before
A light meal in the evening is the last; fluids stop 3–4 hours prior.
Lab tests
Tests: complete blood count, urinalysis, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation panel (clotting).
Instrumental diagnostics
X-ray of the chest, ECG, kidney and abdominal ultrasound, leg vein Doppler.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
GP, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, cardiologist; gynecologist for female patients.
Diet
For 2–4 weeks before surgery, cut out fast carbs and fats; the day before, eat light meals.
Lifestyle
One month out, quit cigarettes, reduce physical exertion and avoid stress.
The day before
A light meal in the evening is the last; fluids stop 3–4 hours prior.
Our specialists
Experienced bariatric specialists who are committed to patients' health
Ruslan S. Menzulin
Bariatric surgeon · surgical oncologist
Trained with Vadim Gushchin at Mercy clinic, and presented at the 2025 World Congress of bariatric surgery. Co-author of an international paper published in The Lancet.
Andrey G. Ugay
Lead bariatric surgeon · surgeon
Performed the highest number of SASJ operations in the country. An expert council member of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons who often presents at national and international congresses.
City Medical Centre bariatric surgery centre
— your path
to confidence and harmony
City Medical Centre sees obesity comprehensively. From the first examination, each patient has a personal diagnostic program (lab and instrumental) built to identify every disorder present in the body.
A method matched to your goal
Our doctors match the surgical method to each individual patient. They review your health, weight history and accompanying conditions before deciding, to offer you the most appropriate surgical treatment.
Support that stays in touch
The City Medical Centre team stays with you after surgery. Throughout the first year, specialists track your weight loss, monitor your tests and answer all questions about diet and recovery.
Fast recovery
City Medical Centre performs bariatric operations laparoscopically, which shortens recovery considerably. Most patients are on their feet on day one and back to normal life within a week.
Full diagnostics on site
Running around different clinics is not necessary. Our centre has all you need for your work-up, from our lab to ultrasound and gastroscopy. Preparation is fast and queue-free, in one building.
Recovery after bariatric surgery
Recovery is very much individual, though minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques keep the rehabilitation phase as short as possible.
Duration
The length of clinic observation is 1 to 5 days, depending on the extent of the operation and related conditions.
Activity
Within hours of surgery, you can sit up, get on your feet and drink fluids.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
Returning to work takes 7–14 days after surgery, depending on how physical your work is.
Restrictions
For the first few weeks, skip the bathhouse, sauna and intense exercise.
Diet
A staged diet is set for 1–2 months — from liquid to solid food — so the stomach can adapt.
Pace
Keeping to the specialists' advice, patients lose 10% of their excess weight monthly on average.
Stabilization
The final result takes 1.5–2 years. By that stage, the patient has stable eating habits in place that block weight regain.
Important! Your recovery is overseen by City Medical Centre specialists, who offer psychological and medical support throughout each stage of weight loss.
Duration
The length of clinic observation is 1 to 5 days, depending on the extent of the operation and related conditions.
Activity
Within hours of surgery, you can sit up, get on your feet and drink fluids.
Wound care
Absorbable sutures are used; they dissolve on their own.
Work
Returning to work takes 7–14 days after surgery, depending on how physical your work is.
Restrictions
For the first few weeks, skip the bathhouse, sauna and intense exercise.
Diet
A staged diet is set for 1–2 months — from liquid to solid food — so the stomach can adapt.
Pace
Keeping to the specialists' advice, patients lose 10% of their excess weight monthly on average.
Stabilization
The final result takes 1.5–2 years. By that stage, the patient has stable eating habits in place that block weight regain.
Important! Your recovery is overseen by City Medical Centre specialists, who offer psychological and medical support throughout 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?
Many people confuse them, but the goals are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery is a medical way to treat obesity and related diseases. It changes how the digestive tract works, getting at the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery only reshapes 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?
The operation uses modern laparoscopic technique, through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. We place cosmetic sutures, and after healing the marks become almost invisible.
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?
Four main bariatric surgery types are available at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. The method is picked individually, considering BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals.
Can I plan a pregnancy after surgery?
Pregnancy is an option after bariatric surgery, but doctors advise waiting at least 12–18 months. By then the body has stabilized, weight has reached target values and nutritional status has normalized.
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?
Weight regain is possible after bariatric surgery but very unlikely provided you follow the doctor's advice. Eat properly, avoid high-calorie drinks and keep up regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists.
Prices
Get a free consultation for any service when you apply before the month is out
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Other services at our clinic
Bariatric surgery in Sarajevo: what you should know
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 Sarajevo should know that it requires lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements.
It begins with a surgeon's consultation: medical history, choice of method and a recovery plan. Patients from Sarajevo then complete a work-up — blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c, coagulation, chest X-ray, ECG, abdominal and kidney ultrasound, leg vein Doppler and a required gastroscopy — plus consultations with a GP, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist and, for women, a gynecologist.
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 Sarajevo can book a free surgeon consultation; the doctor reviews BMI, health and weight history and recommends a method.
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