Bariatric surgeryFinland5 min read
Did Antti Railio have weight-loss surgery? Yes, a mini bypass, as he said himself
In May 2025 Finnish singer Antti Railio said openly that he had undergone a mini gastric bypass after years of yo-yo dieting, and that he had backed out of the decision twice before. Here is what he said, where it was published, and what this kind of operation involves for anyone considering it today.
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Medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- In May 2025, as Como.fi reported, singer Antti Railio said he had undergone a mini gastric bypass.
- He had backed out twice before, and in September 2026 told Apu magazine he had lost about 60 kilograms.
- Bariatric surgery is laparoscopic, done through a few small punctures, and you get out of bed on day 1.
- Office work usually resumes after 2–4 weeks, and the final weight result is assessed at 18–24 months.
- At City Medical Centre a gastric bypass costs $4,000, and the first consultation is free.
Key facts about the procedure
- Back to work2–4 weeks
- Stay in clinic1–5 days
- Final result18–24 months
- Price
$4,800from $3,600
On Monday I had a mini bypass operation in which most of the stomach was removed and the small intestine was bypassed.
What did Antti Railio say about his weight-loss surgery?
In May 2025 the singer, who won The Voice of Finland, announced that he had undergone obesity surgery. As reported by Como.fi, he described it himself: “On Monday I had a mini bypass operation in which most of the stomach was removed and the small intestine was bypassed.”
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WhatsAppHe also explained why it was not a quick decision: “Surgery in pursuit of a healthier life was not an easy choice, and I had already backed out of it twice before. After talking with the surgeon in March I became certain that obesity surgery is the right choice.” He added that he also had support for the psychological side of the process.
More than a year later he told Apu magazine that he had lost about 60 kilograms since the operation: “My goal is to feel as well as possible. I no longer need to lose more weight. Now I've been trying to build muscle, and I don't watch the scales.”
That is all we rely on here. Railio named the type of operation, but we do not add any medical details he did not give. Where the text below explains methods and recovery, it describes bariatric surgery in general, not his treatment.
Why his openness matters
Railio spoke about years of yo-yo dieting and said that severe obesity is more than a physical burden: many things connected with it are rarely said out loud. His account is useful for anyone weighing the same step because it shows that doubt is normal. He backed out twice, and the decision became firm only after a detailed talk with a surgeon.
More on this topic: Bariatric surgery with support all the way to your result, Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy), Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y), Bariatric Operations in Phoenix, Obesity Surgery in Singapore.
That is exactly how bariatric surgery should be approached: as a medical treatment chosen together with a doctor, with support for eating habits and mental well-being, not as a shortcut. The operation changes how much a person can eat and how the body regulates hunger, but lasting results still depend on new routines afterwards.
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How weight-loss surgery is done today
Bariatric operations change the stomach itself or the route food takes through the digestive system. At City Medical Centre all of them are performed laparoscopically, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm. The main procedures compare as follows:
How it works
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- A small pouch is connected directly to the small intestine
- Mini gastric bypass
- One connection between the pouch and the intestine
- SADI-S
- Sleeve combined with a single intestinal bypass
Usually considered for
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- BMI 35–45
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- BMI over 45–50, type 2 diabetes
- Mini gastric bypass
- Chosen individually
- SADI-S
- BMI over 50
Average excess weight loss
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- 60–70%
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- 75–85%
- Mini gastric bypass
- Up to 75–80%
- SADI-S
- 80–90%
The sleeve involves no intestinal bypass but can be less durable if the diet is not followed. Bypass-type operations give larger weight loss and require vitamins and minerals for life. The mini bypass carries a risk of bile reflux. Railio said he had a mini bypass; which procedure suits a particular patient is decided only by the surgeon after an examination.
Who is a candidate and how to prepare
Surgery is generally considered with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, and sometimes lower when non-surgical approaches have not worked. Before the operation:
- blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and clotting tests;
- consultations with a GP, endocrinologist, cardiologist, psychiatrist and, for women, a gynaecologist;
- two to four weeks of cutting down fast carbohydrates and fats;
- no smoking for at least a month before surgery.
Recovery after bariatric surgery
Patients get up on the first day and usually leave hospital after one to five days. Office work typically resumes after two to four weeks, physical work after about six. Eating returns in stages over one to two months: liquids, then soft food, then ordinary textures.
Swimming is fine after around 30 days, and travel is best planned no sooner than a month after surgery. The final result is assessed after one and a half to two years, vitamins are taken for life, and women are advised to wait 12–18 months before a pregnancy.
How recovery after bariatric surgery usually goes
- Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through a few small punctures.
- Day 1You get out of bed and walk.
- Days 1–5Discharge, depending on the procedure and your recovery.
- Weeks 2–4Office work resumes; diet moves from liquids to soft food.
- Months 1–2Ordinary food returns; swimming and travel are allowed.
- Months 18–24Weight settles and the final result is assessed.
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre offers sleeve gastrectomy ($3,600), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ($4,000), mini gastric bypass and SADI-S. The first consultation with the surgeon is free and can be done online; after the assessment the doctor recommends a procedure and the price is fixed in the contract. A personal coordinator accompanies the patient from the first enquiry to recovery, and the team follows up throughout the first year. See the bariatric surgery page for details.
City Medical Centre has no connection with Antti Railio or his treatment. His words are quoted here because he spoke about his decision publicly.
Frequently asked questions
What operation did Antti Railio have?
He said in May 2025 that he had a mini bypass operation in which most of the stomach was removed and the small intestine was bypassed.
How much weight has Antti Railio lost?
In September 2026 Apu magazine reported that he had lost about 60 kilograms after the operation. He said he no longer needs to lose more weight and is focusing on building muscle.
Why did he hesitate before the surgery?
He said it was not an easy choice and that he had backed out twice before. A conversation with the surgeon in March 2025 made him certain it was the right decision.
How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?
A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. The price of other procedures is given after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.
Is a mini gastric bypass right for everyone?
No. The choice depends on BMI, related conditions, eating habits and test results. The mini bypass also carries a risk of bile reflux, which the surgeon discusses at the consultation.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
Medical background and further reading
General information about the procedure from health authorities and medical societies. It is not advice for any individual patient.
- PubMed / NCBI — Benefits and Risks of Bariatric Surgery in Adults: A Review (JAMA, 2020)
- PubMed / NCBI — Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy vs Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: systematic review and meta-analysis (2016)
- World Health Organization — Obesity and overweight
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery — Bariatric Surgery Procedures
How we prepare and review medical content · Medical disclaimer
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