guarantee
Surgical Treatment of Obesity in Soweto
for good —
14,000 CMC patients now live in a new body. The result is secured by an official contract — a legal commitment, not a spoken one.
patients
experience
from excess weight
rating
Surgical Treatment of Obesity in Soweto
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 concealed charges or surprises. The whole journey, one package.
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
You may need a surgical consultation because of related conditions, not only 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
Diets and medicines have failed to give a lasting result for 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
Diets and medicines have failed to give a lasting result for years.
When is bariatric surgery justified?
Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met
The role of body mass index (BMI)
Doctors assess obesity chiefly through BMI: take body weight (kg) and divide it by height squared (m²). Surgical treatment is usually justified at a BMI over 40, or over 35 with serious related conditions. Surgery may also be considered at lower values in some cases — where non-surgical approaches have failed.
Key factors
- 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
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
- Previous efforts at weight loss through standard methods did not work
The role of body mass index (BMI)
Doctors assess obesity chiefly through BMI: take body weight (kg) and divide it by height squared (m²). Surgical treatment is usually justified at a BMI over 40, or over 35 with serious related conditions. Surgery may also be considered at lower values in some cases — where non-surgical approaches 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
Please consult a clinic doctor 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
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: this method is for a BMI of 35 to 45. Patients drop 60–70% of excess weight on average.
Specifics: compared with bypass operations, the result is less stable. When the diet is not followed — notably with high-calorie drinks and liquid food — weight may return.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
A small pouch of 50–70 ml is created from the upper stomach and connected directly to the small intestine. Food intake is limited, and fewer calories are absorbed because food travels a shorter path through the gut.
Effectiveness: the operation counts as the “gold standard” for BMI above 45–50 with type 2 diabetes; 75–85% of excess weight is lost.
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: comparable to the classic Roux-en-Y bypass — patients lose up to 75–80% of excess weight.
Specifics: less time in surgery and a faster recovery. Technically the procedure is reversible, though the single anastomosis brings a risk of bile reflux.
Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI-S)
SADI-S is an up-to-date combined technique joining the strengths of sleeve gastrectomy and intestinal bypass. There are two stages: the stomach is first made into a narrow tube, and then the small intestine is rerouted to exclude most of it from active digestion.
Effectiveness: one of the most effective bariatric operations — 80–90% of excess weight is lost, and the result lasts long.
Specifics: the reduced stomach lowers appetite once the ghrelin-producing zone is removed, and routing food past a section of intestine limits how many calories are absorbed. Suitable 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
The first step is a surgeon's consultation covering medical history, method selection and recovery plan
Lab tests
Full blood count and urine test, biochemistry, HbA1c, plus a coagulation panel (clotting test).
Instrumental diagnostics
ECG plus chest X-ray, abdomen and kidney ultrasound, leg vein Doppler.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
A GP, endocrinologist, psychiatrist and cardiologist, plus gynecologist (women).
Diet
2–4 weeks before surgery, cut fast carbs and fats; the day before, switch to light meals.
Lifestyle
One month out, quit cigarettes, reduce physical exertion and avoid stress.
The day before
Evening: last light meal. Fluids: stop 3–4 hours before the operation.
Lab tests
Full blood count and urine test, biochemistry, HbA1c, plus a coagulation panel (clotting test).
Instrumental diagnostics
ECG plus chest X-ray, abdomen and kidney ultrasound, leg vein Doppler.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy (required) and colonoscopy (if indicated).
Specialists
A GP, endocrinologist, psychiatrist and cardiologist, plus gynecologist (women).
Diet
2–4 weeks before surgery, cut fast carbs and fats; the day before, switch to light meals.
Lifestyle
One month out, quit cigarettes, reduce physical exertion and avoid stress.
The day before
Evening: last light meal. Fluids: stop 3–4 hours before the operation.
Our specialists
Experienced bariatric specialists who are committed to patients' health
Ruslan S. Menzulin
Bariatric surgeon · surgical oncologist
Underwent training at Mercy clinic under Vadim Gushchin; spoke at the World Congress of bariatric surgery (2025). Co-authored international research published in The Lancet.
Andrey G. Ugay
Lead bariatric surgeon · surgeon
Holds the country's record for the number of SASJ operations performed. Member of the expert council of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons; a regular speaker at national and international congresses.
City Medical Centre bariatric surgery centre
— your path
to confidence and harmony
At City Medical Centre obesity is treated with a comprehensive approach. Once examined, each patient receives a personal lab and instrumental diagnostic program aimed at finding every disorder in the body.
A method matched to your goal
Our doctors choose the surgical method individually for each patient. Before deciding, they review your health, weight history and related conditions to offer the most suitable surgical treatment.
Support that stays in touch
After surgery, the team at City Medical Centre stays with you. For the entire first year, specialists keep track of your weight loss, oversee your tests and answer all questions about 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
No need to run between clinics. Our centre has everything for your work-up, from our own lab to ultrasound and gastroscopy. Preparation is quick, with no queues, all in one building.
Recovery after bariatric surgery
Recovery largely depends on the individual, but minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques keep rehabilitation as short as possible.
Duration
Patients stay under observation at the clinic 1 to 5 days, depending on how extensive the surgery is 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 go back to work 7–14 days after surgery, depending on how physical the job is.
Restrictions
No bathhouse, sauna or intense physical exercise during the first weeks.
Diet
For 1–2 months, a staged diet moves you from liquids to solids to let the stomach adjust.
Pace
Following the specialists' advice, patients lose on average 10% of excess weight per month.
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! City Medical Centre specialists oversee recovery, offering psychological and medical support at every stage of weight loss.
Duration
Patients stay under observation at the clinic 1 to 5 days, depending on how extensive the surgery is 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 go back to work 7–14 days after surgery, depending on how physical the job is.
Restrictions
No bathhouse, sauna or intense physical exercise during the first weeks.
Diet
For 1–2 months, a staged diet moves you from liquids to solids to let the stomach adjust.
Pace
Following the specialists' advice, patients lose on average 10% of excess weight per month.
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! City Medical Centre specialists oversee recovery, offering psychological and medical support at every 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 the two, but their goals are fundamentally different. Bariatric surgery is a medical treatment for obesity and related diseases. It changes how the digestive tract works, addressing the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery 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?
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.
What types of bariatric surgery are there?
City Medical Centre performs four core types of bariatric surgery: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. Selection is individual and takes into account 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, vitamins are a must after bariatric surgery. Changes in digestive anatomy mean the body absorbs some nutrients less effectively, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements are part of the patient's life for good.
Can the weight come back?
Although weight regain after bariatric surgery is possible, it is very unlikely if you follow the doctor's advice. Proper eating, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists are key.
Prices
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How obesity surgery works for Soweto residents
Surgery is usually justified with a BMI above 40, or above 35 when serious related conditions are present, and sometimes at lower values if other approaches have failed. People in Soweto who have carried 30 kg or more above normal for years, whose weight returns after every diet, or who live with type 2 diabetes, hypertension or joint pain are typical candidates.
The work-up is done in one building with its own lab, ultrasound and gastroscopy, so preparation is quick and without queues. After laparoscopic surgery, the patient stays under observation for 1 to 5 days depending on the extent of the operation. Within the first hours you may sit up, stand and drink. Most Soweto patients are up and moving on day one.
A permanent team — not a duty shift — handles your case, and the whole package is transparent. Included are the operation, 24/7 care in the ward, meals, nursing and a personal coordinator from day one, plus support throughout the first year. Soweto patients also get a contractual result guarantee. Book a free consultation to discuss your situation.
Stories of well-known people
Well-known people who spoke openly about this operation, in their own words.
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