Fredrik Boltes had a gastric bypass and filmed the whole journey

What did Fredrik Boltes say about his gastric bypass?

In September 2023 SVT Nyheter published extracts from Fredrik Boltes' video diary under the headline “Så går en gastric bypass till” (“How a gastric bypass works”). According to SVT, Boltes had lived with obesity for many years, had dieted hard several times and once lost 41 kilos on a vegetable juice diet, but the weight always came back. He wanted to be able to climb stairs and play with his son, and he decided to have a gastric bypass.

Nine months after the operation he described how his body felt: “I feel strong, supple, flexible, light, happy and full of energy.” SVT added that almost three years after the operation he weighed 97 kilos.

That is all we rely on here. Beyond what SVT reported, Boltes' statements do not give further medical details, so this article does not guess at them. Where the sections below explain methods and recovery, they describe bariatric surgery in general, not his treatment.

Why his story resonates

Boltes' account is familiar to many people with obesity: repeated diets that work for a while, followed by the weight returning. SVT explained this with the image of an inner “thermostat” that pushes the body back to its previous weight after a diet ends. Surgery changes the conditions under which that happens, which is why it is considered when other attempts have not lasted.

What makes his story useful is its honesty about the whole process. The series showed a last diet before the operation, the adjustment afterwards, and the fact that eating too fast after a gastric bypass can cause strong pain. It also stressed that therapy, medication and check-ups continue for years, and that weight loss alone does not solve every problem. That is a realistic picture of what the operation means.

How weight-loss surgery is done today

Modern bariatric operations are performed laparoscopically, through a few small punctures in the abdomen. In a gastric bypass, a small stomach pouch is created and connected directly to the small intestine, so food bypasses most of the stomach. The main operations offered at City Medical Centre compare as follows:

A bypass gives larger and more durable weight loss than a sleeve, but it requires vitamins and minerals for life. Which operation fits is decided with the surgeon, based on weight, related conditions and eating habits, not on a celebrity story.

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, and sometimes lower when non-surgical approaches have not worked. Preparation includes:

• 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 before surgery;
• stopping smoking at least a month before the operation.

The consultation with the psychiatrist is not a formality. As Boltes' story shows, changing how you eat is as much a mental process as a physical one.

Recovery after a gastric bypass

Patients get up and walk on the first day and usually go home after one to five days. Office work typically resumes after two to four weeks and physical work after about six. Eating returns in stages over one to two months, from liquids to soft food and then ordinary textures; eating slowly and in small portions becomes a lasting habit. Swimming is possible after about 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.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through a few small punctures under general anaesthesia.
2. Day 1You get out of bed and walk; small sips of liquid are allowed.
3. Days 1–5Discharge, depending on the procedure and how you recover.
4. Weeks 2–4Office work resumes; the diet moves from liquids to soft food.
5. Months 1–2Ordinary food returns in small portions; swimming and travel are allowed.
6. Months 18–24Weight stabilises and the final result is assessed.

Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy ($3,600), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ($4,000), mini gastric bypass and SADI-S, all laparoscopically through four small punctures of 5–15 mm. The first consultation with the surgeon is free and can be held online; the doctor recommends a procedure and the price is fixed in the contract. A personal coordinator guides the patient from the first enquiry through recovery, and the team follows up during the first year. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Fredrik Boltes or his treatment. His story is quoted because he chose to document it publicly.

Frequently asked questions

When did Fredrik Boltes have his gastric bypass?

SVT reported in September 2023 that almost three years had passed since his operation, which places it around late 2020. He documented the process in the SVT series Min Tjockumentär.

How much weight did Fredrik Boltes lose?

According to SVT he weighed 162 kilos before the operation and 97 kilos almost three years later.

What is the difference between a gastric bypass and a sleeve?

A sleeve removes most of the stomach and leaves a narrow tube. A bypass creates a small pouch connected directly to the small intestine. A bypass usually gives larger weight loss but requires vitamins and minerals for life.

How much does a gastric bypass cost at City Medical Centre?

A Roux-en-Y gastric bypass costs $4,000 and a sleeve gastrectomy $3,600. The surgeon consultation is free, and the final price is fixed in the contract.

Is weight loss surgery a quick fix?

No. It changes how much and how you can eat, but lasting results depend on new eating habits, follow-up and, for bypass patients, lifelong supplements. Support from a psychologist is often part of the process.