Bariatric surgeryRomania5 min read
Did Feli Donose have weight-loss surgery? Yes, a gastric sleeve in 2016
Feli Donose, the Romanian singer and songwriter who rose to fame on The Voice of Romania in 2012, spoke on a podcast about the gastric sleeve she had in 2016 on her doctors’ recommendation. She explained what pushed her to it, and why she did not want other women to see it as a quick fix. Below is what she said, where it was reported, 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
Feli Donose
- Country
- Romania
- Who
- Singer-songwriter
- Year of operation
- 2016
- Quote source
- Libertatea, 14 November 2023
I had a gastric sleeve, but I didn’t want women to take it as an instant lifebuoy. It was quite a hard and emotional process. I didn’t want to lose weight for my image, I wanted to lose weight for myself.
What did Feli Donose say about her gastric sleeve?
She spoke about it on the podcast Magic Life, and the Romanian daily Libertatea carried her words on 14 November 2023. According to the paper, she had tried many diets without results, and in 2016 doctors recommended the operation. In her own words: “I had a gastric sleeve, but I didn’t want women to take it as an instant lifebuoy. It was quite a hard and emotional process. I didn’t want to lose weight for my image, I wanted to lose weight for myself.”
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WhatsAppShe described the moment that decided it: she woke up at night with an attack of gastric acid, choked, and told herself she did not want to die because she wasn’t looking after her health. She then had a body scan and said it was not normal to reach that point at 30. She also said the period after surgery was hard emotionally, that she went to therapy, and that eating is still linked to stress for her.
That is all this article relies on. She did not describe the details of the operation or name where it was done, and we do not guess at them. Where the text below explains the procedure and recovery, it describes sleeve gastrectomy in general, not her treatment.
Why her honesty is useful
Feli Donose did not present the sleeve as a shortcut. She said the opposite: that it was hard, emotional, and not something to grab as a lifebuoy. That matches how bariatric surgeons see it. The operation makes the stomach smaller and changes hunger, but long-term results depend on eating habits, follow-up and, often, work on the emotional side of food, which she talked about openly.
More on this topic: Bariatric surgery with support all the way to your result, Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy), Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y), Obesity Surgery in Singapore, Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery in Benoni.
Her reason was also health, not looks. She described a frightening night and a scan that showed her how much fat her body carried at 30. Nothing in this article judges anyone’s body; the point is how the decision was made.
Bariatric surgery abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
How bariatric surgery is done today
The two most common operations are the sleeve gastrectomy and the gastric bypass. Both are usually performed laparoscopically, through small incisions.
What changes
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube
- Gastric bypass
- A small stomach pouch is connected directly to the small intestine
How it works
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Smaller volume and less hunger
- Gastric bypass
- Smaller volume and fewer calories absorbed
Often chosen when
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Obesity without severe reflux
- Gastric bypass
- Type 2 diabetes, reflux or a higher starting weight
Price at City Medical Centre
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- $3,600 instead of $4,800
- Gastric bypass
- $4,000 instead of $5,200
Which operation fits is decided after an examination, based on weight, related conditions and eating habits.
Who is a candidate, and how to prepare
Bariatric surgery is considered for people with obesity whose earlier attempts with diet and exercise have not worked, especially when weight is already affecting health, as she described in her own case.
- Expect a full check-up: blood tests, an assessment of the stomach and of conditions such as diabetes, blood pressure or reflux.
- Think about eating habits honestly, including emotional eating; support from a specialist helps the result last.
- Prepare for the diet plan that comes after surgery, from liquids to purées to normal food.
What recovery looks like
In the first hours after surgery, patients can sit up, stand and drink fluids. Observation at the clinic lasts one to five days depending on the extent of the operation and related conditions. Office work is usually possible after 2–4 weeks and physical work after about 1.5 months. Over the first 1–2 months a staged diet moves from liquids to solid food so the stomach can adapt.
On average about 10% of excess weight is lost each month, and the final result is reached in 1.5–2 years, with stable eating habits keeping the weight from coming back.
How recovery after a gastric sleeve usually goes
- First hoursYou may sit up, stand and drink fluids.
- Days 1–5Observation at the clinic, depending on the extent of surgery.
- Weeks 2–4Return to office work; physical work after about 1.5 months.
- Months 1–2Staged diet from liquids to solids while the stomach adapts.
- Every monthOn average about 10% of excess weight is lost.
- 1.5–2 yearsFinal result; stable eating habits keep the weight off.
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass for international patients, including those travelling from Bucharest. A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 instead of $4,800, and a gastric bypass $4,000 instead of $5,200. The first consultation is free and can start online, and the surgeon confirms which operation fits before a date is set. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Feli Donose or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of a woman who spoke honestly about why she chose the operation and what came after.
Frequently asked questions
When did Feli Donose have bariatric surgery?
In 2016, on her doctors’ recommendation, according to Libertatea’s report of her podcast interview.
What operation did Feli Donose have?
She said she had a gastric sleeve, an operation that makes the stomach smaller.
Why did she decide on surgery?
She said diets had not worked, that she woke up one night choking on gastric acid, and that she wanted to lose weight for her health, not for her image.
How fast do people lose weight after a gastric sleeve?
On average about 10% of excess weight per month, with the final result reached in 1.5–2 years.
How much does a gastric sleeve cost at City Medical Centre?
A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 instead of $4,800; a gastric bypass costs $4,000 instead of $5,200.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- Libertatea, 14 November 2023
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 — Reporting Outcomes and Outcome Measures in Open Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review (Aesthet Surg J, 2020)
- PubMed / NCBI — Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Functional Rhinoplasty Outcomes with the NOSE Score (2017)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Rhinoplasty
- World Health Organization — Safe surgery
How we prepare and review medical content · Medical disclaimer
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