Did Petteri Löppönen have weight-loss surgery? Yes, and he spoke about it openly

What did Petteri Löppönen say about his obesity surgery?

The Yle producer and news presenter talked openly in spring 2023 about having weight-loss surgery. In June 2023 Ilta-Sanomat quoted his Instagram update, three months after the operation: “Obesity surgery was, for me too – as for many others – the best decision I have ever made. I warmly recommend it if the possibility of surgery is on your mind.”

He told the newspaper that he had weighed 118 kg; by June 2023 the scales showed 82.8 kg. Explaining why he chose surgery, he said: “I belonged to that large group of weight yo-yoers. I have fought with my weight for decades. It took willpower to keep trying to bring the weight down without succeeding. It was an endless swamp.” A few weeks after the operation he described the change: “Exercise has returned to my life, energy and activity have increased and my sleep has improved.”

That is all we rely on here. Löppönen did not say which type of operation he had, so this article does not guess. Where the text below explains methods and recovery, it describes bariatric surgery in general, not his treatment.

What his words tell people with the same problem

Löppönen described something many people recognise: decades of dieting, weight lost and regained, and growing health problems with age. His point is not that surgery is easy but that for him the endless cycle had to end. According to Ilta-Sanomat, the operation also meant practical changes for him, such as giving up alcohol and anti-inflammatory painkillers.

That is a realistic picture. Bariatric surgery is a medical treatment for obesity and related conditions, and it comes with new rules for eating, supplements and follow-up. His enthusiasm is his personal experience; whether surgery is right for someone else can only be decided with a surgeon after tests.

How weight-loss surgery is done today

Bariatric operations change the stomach itself or the route food takes through the digestive system. At City Medical Centre all of them are performed laparoscopically, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm. The main procedures compare as follows:

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. The mini bypass carries a risk of bile reflux. Löppönen did not name his procedure; which operation suits a particular patient is decided only by the surgeon after an examination.

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

Recovery after bariatric surgery

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. Swimming is fine after around 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, vitamins are taken for life, 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. 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 Petteri Löppönen or his treatment. His words are quoted here because he spoke about his decision publicly.

Frequently asked questions

Did Petteri Löppönen have weight-loss surgery?

Yes. He spoke openly in spring 2023 about having obesity surgery, and in June 2023 Ilta-Sanomat quoted his Instagram post calling it the best decision he had ever made.

How much weight did he lose?

He told Ilta-Sanomat that he had originally weighed 118 kg; in June 2023, three months after the operation, he weighed 82.8 kg.

Which type of operation did he have?

He did not say publicly, so we do not speculate. The main options today are sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S.

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.

Do I have to change my habits after surgery?

Yes. Eating returns in stages over one to two months, vitamins and minerals are needed for life, and regular follow-up during the first year is part of the treatment.