Darko Lazić and his stomach-reduction surgery: what he said himself

What did Darko Lazić say about his operation?

In August 2020 the Serbian daily Blic reported that the pop-folk singer Darko Lazić had lost about 70 kilograms since having his stomach reduced by surgery eight months earlier. The paper quoted him explaining why he chose the operation: “…moving around was also a problem because of the weight. My blood test results weren’t very good either, which could have led to much bigger problems. I talked to doctors and they told me the best solution was to reduce my stomach. The whole procedure went without problems; I have a few small incisions on my abdomen.”

Two years later Blic returned to the topic in an overview of well-known people who had weight-loss surgery and quoted another sentence of his: “The best and most effective solution was precisely the operation.” He added that for the first five or six days after leaving hospital his stomach muscles felt as if they were sore.

That is all we rely on here. Lazić did not name the exact type of operation, his starting weight or his diet plan in these statements, so this article does not guess at them. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes bariatric surgery in general, not his treatment.

Why his words matter

Lazić presented the operation first of all as a health decision. He did not talk about looks; he talked about moving with difficulty, about blood results that worried his doctors and about advice he received from them. That is exactly how doctors describe severe obesity: as a chronic disease that affects the whole body, not as a question of willpower.

Many people who consider weight-loss surgery keep it secret because they fear being told they took the easy way. A well-known singer saying plainly that the operation was the most effective solution for him makes the topic easier to raise with a doctor. Surgery does not replace a change in eating habits; it gives the body a tool that makes the change possible and lasting when diets have repeatedly failed.

How bariatric surgery works today

Modern weight-loss operations are done laparoscopically, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm instead of one large incision — which is why patients, like Lazić, talk about “a few small incisions”. The two most common procedures are:

• Sleeve gastrectomy — most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube. Portions become much smaller and hunger decreases.
• Gastric bypass — a small stomach pouch is created and connected directly to the small intestine. Less food fits in and fewer calories are absorbed.

City Medical Centre also performs the mini gastric bypass and SADI-S, which is used for a BMI over 50. Which operation fits depends on weight, related illnesses and eating habits — the choice is made at a consultation, not from a celebrity story.

Who is it for and how to prepare

Bariatric surgery is usually considered when:

• the body mass index (BMI) is above 40;
• the BMI is above 35 and there are serious weight-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure;
• in some cases with a lower BMI, if non-surgical approaches have not worked.

Before surgery patients have blood and urine tests, biochemistry, an HbA1c test and a coagulation panel, and see a GP, an endocrinologist, a psychiatrist and a cardiologist (women also a gynaecologist). It is recommended to cut fast carbohydrates and fats two to four weeks before the operation and to stop smoking a month before.

What recovery looks like

Patients get up and walk on the first day and stay in hospital for one to five days. Some discomfort in the abdomen during the first days is common — Lazić described the feeling as sore stomach muscles. Food is reintroduced in stages over one to two months: liquid, then soft, then solid. Office work is usually possible after two to four weeks, physical work after about six weeks, and swimming after 30 days. Long journeys are best planned no earlier than a month after surgery. Weight loss is fastest in the first months, and the final result is judged after one and a half to two years. After a bypass, vitamins and minerals are needed for life.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through four small punctures.
2. Day 1You get up and walk; drinking starts in small sips.
3. Days 1–5Hospital stay, depending on the operation and how you feel.
4. Weeks 2–4Return to office work; the diet moves from liquid to soft food.
5. Months 1–2Gradual return to solid food; swimming after about 30 days.
6. Months 1–12The fastest weight loss and regular follow-up with the team.
7. 1.5–2 yearsThe final result is assessed.

Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S for international patients, all laparoscopically. The consultation with the surgeon is free and can be held online: the doctor looks at your weight history and health, recommends the suitable operation and names the cost, which is then fixed in the contract. A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. The team follows up with patients during the first year, and a personal coordinator stays in touch from the first message to recovery. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Darko Lazić or his treatment. His story is simply a well-known example of a man who talked openly about the operation.

Frequently asked questions

When did Darko Lazić have his stomach-reduction surgery?

Blic reported in August 2020 that he had had the operation about eight months earlier. He did not give an exact date in the quoted statements.

Why did Darko Lazić decide on the operation?

According to his own words in Blic, the weight made moving difficult and his blood test results were not good. He said he talked to doctors, who told him that reducing the stomach was the best solution.

How much weight did Darko Lazić lose?

In August 2020 Blic wrote that he had lost about 70 kilograms since the operation. We do not add figures from other, unverified sources.

How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?

A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. The final price is named after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.

Is weight-loss surgery done with a large incision?

No. All bariatric operations at City Medical Centre are laparoscopic, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm. Patients get up on the first day and usually stay in hospital for one to five days.