Bariatric surgeryGermany5 min read
Did Chanté have a gastric sleeve? Yes — and she spoke about it herself
In December 2021 Chanté, known from the German edition of The Biggest Loser, had a stomach reduction — and a month later she described on Instagram what it gave her: "ein neues Lebensgefühl", a new feeling of life. Here is what she said, and what the operation involves.
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Medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
Key facts about the procedure
- Back to work2–4 weeks
- Stay in clinic1–5 days
- Final result18–24 months
- Price
$4,800from $3,600
Profile
Chanté
- Country
- Germany
- Who
- German TV personality, The Biggest Loser
- Year of operation
- 2021
- Quote source
- Promiflash, 25 January 2022
What did Chanté say about her gastric sleeve?
Chanté, known to German audiences from the weight-loss show The Biggest Loser, had a stomach reduction about a month before speaking about it publicly. As Promiflash reported on 25 January 2022, she reflected on the decision on Instagram — and described what the operation gave her in words that go far beyond the scales: “Es hat mir so viel mehr gegeben als nur eine Abnahme. Ein neues Lebensgefühl.”
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WhatsAppHer point was the relationship with food, not the number: “Mittlerweile komme ich langsam wieder an einen Punkt, an dem ich mich mit mir selbst auch wieder wohlfühle.” After the operation she no longer had to think about eating around the clock or use food to process emotions — the outcome she called the most important one: a healthy relationship with eating. On the show she had already lost around 16 kilos, but the weight kept fluctuating afterwards; since the surgery she reported another 15.5 kilos down, with nutrition falling into place almost automatically.
That is what this article relies on: her own statements in the report. The clinic where the operation was performed is not named, and we do not guess. Everything below describes gastric sleeve surgery in general, not her treatment.
Why her story matters
Reality shows celebrate the dramatic on-camera loss. Chanté's story is the chapter that comes next, and it is the more common one: after a fast TV diet, weight regain is the rule rather than the exception, because the show ends but appetite hormones do not know that.
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.
Bariatric surgery is not a beauty shortcut — it is the recognised treatment for exactly this pattern, when weight keeps returning despite structured diets and the health risks grow.
Her framing is also the right one to copy. She did not describe the operation as the finish line but as the thing that made a new relationship with food possible: no more constant thoughts about eating, no more eating to handle feelings. That is what modern bariatric programmes aim for — and why the surgery is always paired with nutrition follow-up and vitamin monitoring rather than performed and forgotten.
How a gastric sleeve works
In the most common bariatric operation, the gastric sleeve, the surgeon removes the larger, stretchable part of the stomach laparoscically and leaves a narrow tube. Two things change: the stomach holds far less, and the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin drops, which quietens appetite — the mechanism behind Chanté's observation that she no longer thought about food all day.
The gastric bypass, the second standard operation, additionally reroutes the digestive tract and works partly through hormone changes and reduced absorption.
Gastric sleeve
- How it works
- Most of the stomach is removed; capacity and hunger hormone drop
- Typically considered when
- Weight returned after diets; BMI in the surgical range
Gastric bypass
- How it works
- Small pouch plus rerouted digestion
- Typically considered when
- Severe obesity, reflux or type 2 diabetes in the picture
Gastric band
- How it works
- Adjustable band restricts the stomach
- Typically considered when
- Rarely used today; revision cases
Which operation fits is decided at the consultation on the basis of history, metabolism and eating patterns — not from a celebrity story.
Who is a candidate, and how to prepare
Bariatric surgery is considered in adults with severe obesity — typically a BMI of 40 and above, or 35 and above with weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension — after documented attempts at structured weight loss, as in Chanté's case after the show. Contraindications include active eating disorders that are untreated, severe cardiopulmonary risk that rules out anaesthesia, active alcohol or substance dependence, and pregnancy.
- Prepare the head as well as the body: the operation changes hunger, not habits — nutrition counselling runs alongside.
- Plan the long term: lifelong vitamin and blood-test follow-up is part of the deal.
- Expect the fastest phase early: most loss happens in the first six months, then the weight stabilises.
What recovery looks like
The operation is done laparoscically under general anaesthesia and usually means one to two nights in hospital. The first two weeks are liquid-only, with short walks from the first day; soft food returns in weeks three to four, by which time most people are back at non-physical work. Normal textures return over months two to six — the phase of fastest weight loss.
Exercise becomes routine around months six to twelve, and the weight stabilises between months twelve and eighteen. The schedule below shows the usual stages.
How recovery after a gastric sleeve usually goes
- Day of surgeryGeneral anaesthesia, laparoscopic operation; one to two nights in hospital.
- Weeks 1–2Liquid diet; short walks from the first day after surgery.
- Weeks 3–4Soft food introduced; most people return to non-physical work.
- Months 2–6Normal textures return; weight loss is at its fastest.
- Months 6–12Exercise routine established; vitamins and blood tests stay on schedule.
- Months 12–18Weight stabilises; annual follow-up continues for life.
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery for international patients, including patients from Berlin. The first consultation is free and can start online: the surgeon reviews your history and tests, agrees the operation and the price is fixed in the contract before a date is booked. Prices start at $3,600 for a gastric sleeve, with gastric bypass from $4,000. More details are on the bariatric surgery page and the page for patients from Berlin.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Chanté or her treatment. Her words are quoted here only because she chose to talk about her surgery openly.
Frequently asked questions
Did Chanté from The Biggest Loser have a gastric sleeve?
Yes. She had a stomach reduction around December 2021 and spoke about it a month later, calling it "ein neues Lebensgefühl" — a new feeling of life.
Why did Chanté have bariatric surgery after the show?
After losing around 16 kilos on The Biggest Loser her weight kept fluctuating. She said the operation freed her from thinking about food around the clock and gave her a healthy relationship with eating; she reported a further 15.5 kilos lost afterwards.
Is a gastric sleeve a replacement for dieting?
It is a treatment for severe obesity when weight keeps returning despite structured diets. The operation reduces capacity and hunger hormones, but long-term success still depends on nutrition follow-up and habits.
How much weight do people lose after a gastric sleeve?
Most of the loss happens in the first six months, then slows; stabilisation typically takes 12–18 months. Individual results depend on the starting point and the follow-up programme.
How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?
Prices start at $3,600 for a gastric sleeve, with gastric bypass from $4,000. The final price is fixed in the contract after the free consultation.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- Promiflash (her Instagram statements), 25 January 2022
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
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