Did Kinga Zawodnik have bariatric surgery? Yes, and she explained it herself

What did Kinga Zawodnik say about her surgery?

Zawodnik announced it on social media at the beginning of August 2023. Pudelek quoted her words: “Yes, I decided on bariatric surgery. I have had a sleeve gastrectomy. I insisted that for me an operation was the last resort… As you know, my weight has gone up and down: it rose, fell, rose again… It is my conscious decision, one I grew into over two years. It came with tears, fear, uncertainty, anxiety and even depression.”

In October 2023 she kept a promise to her followers and shared her starting point, as reported in the same article: “My dear ones. Yes… I started at 149.2 kg. I have lost 27.2 kg and now weigh 122 kg. I don’t know what the information about how much I weighed before gives anyone, but I promised I would give that number.” She also said that one thing about her had not changed: her smile, even on bad days.

That is everything we rely on here. Zawodnik named the operation — a sleeve gastrectomy — but did not name the hospital or the surgeon in these statements, and this article does not either. Where the text below explains methods and recovery, it describes bariatric surgery in general, not her treatment.

A decision that took two years

The most useful part of her statement is the timeline. She did not decide overnight: she had tried for years to control her weight, treated surgery as a last resort, and took two years to accept it. That is how a bariatric operation should be approached — as a medical treatment chosen after other options, not as a quick fix.

She was also honest about the emotions around it. Fear and uncertainty before weight-loss surgery are common, and they are worth discussing openly with the surgeon and, where needed, with a psychologist or psychiatrist, which is part of the standard preparation. Her story shows that it is possible to talk about this calmly and without shame.

How bariatric surgery works today

In a sleeve gastrectomy most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube; less food fits in, and hunger signals change. Other operations change the route food takes through the digestive system. At City Medical Centre all of them are performed laparoscopically, through small punctures:

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.

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 gynaecologist;
• two to four weeks of cutting down fast carbohydrates and fats;
• no smoking for at least a month before surgery.

Recovery and the first months

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. Weight loss is fastest in the first months and then slows; the final result is assessed after one and a half to two years, and women are advised to wait 12–18 months before a pregnancy.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through a few small punctures.
2. Day 1You get out of bed and walk.
3. Days 1–5Discharge, depending on the procedure and your recovery.
4. Weeks 2–4Office work resumes; diet moves from liquids to soft food.
5. Months 1–2Ordinary food returns; swimming and travel are allowed.
6. 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, all through four small laparoscopic punctures of 5–15 mm. 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 Kinga Zawodnik or her treatment. Her words are quoted here because she spoke about her decision publicly.

Frequently asked questions

What operation did Kinga Zawodnik have?

She said in August 2023 that she had decided on bariatric surgery and had a sleeve gastrectomy.

How much did Kinga Zawodnik weigh before the operation?

In October 2023 she said she started at 149.2 kg, had lost 27.2 kg and weighed 122 kg at that point.

Is a sleeve gastrectomy reversible?

No. Most of the stomach is removed permanently, which is why the decision is made carefully with the surgeon after other options have been considered.

How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?

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

How is the right operation chosen?

The surgeon looks at BMI, related conditions such as diabetes, eating habits and test results, then recommends the procedure at a consultation.