Bariatric surgeryFinland5 min read
Did Petteri Löppönen have weight-loss surgery? Yes, and he spoke about it openly
In spring 2023 Yle producer and news presenter Petteri Löppönen said openly that he had had obesity surgery after decades of fighting his weight, and later called it the best decision of his life. Here is what he said, where it was published and what such an operation involves today.
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Medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- In June 2023 Ilta-Sanomat quoted Petteri Löppönen's Instagram update three months after his obesity surgery: it was the best decision he ever made.
- He said he had fought his weight for decades, went from 118 kg to 82.8 kg, and that exercise, energy and better sleep returned.
- At City Medical Centre bariatric operations are laparoscopic, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm.
- Patients get up on the first day, usually leave hospital after one to five days and return to office work after two to four weeks.
- At City Medical Centre a sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600, and the first consultation with the surgeon is free.
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
Petteri Löppönen
- Country
- Finland
- Who
- News presenter and TV producer
- Year of operation
- 2023
- Quote source
- Ilta-Sanomat, 19 June 2023
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.
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.”
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WhatsAppHe 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.
More on this topic: Bariatric surgery with support all the way to your result, Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB), Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy), Bariatric Operations in Phoenix, Obesity Surgery in Singapore.
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.
Bariatric surgery abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
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:
How it works
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- A small pouch is connected directly to the small intestine
- Mini gastric bypass
- One connection between the pouch and the intestine
- SADI-S
- Sleeve combined with a single intestinal bypass
Usually considered for
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- BMI 35–45
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- BMI over 45–50, type 2 diabetes
- Mini gastric bypass
- Chosen individually
- SADI-S
- BMI over 50
Average excess weight loss
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- 60–70%
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- 75–85%
- Mini gastric bypass
- Up to 75–80%
- SADI-S
- 80–90%
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.
How recovery after bariatric surgery usually goes
- Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through a few small punctures.
- Day 1You get out of bed and walk.
- Days 1–5Discharge, depending on the procedure and your recovery.
- Weeks 2–4Office work resumes; diet moves from liquids to soft food.
- Months 1–2Ordinary food returns; swimming and travel are allowed.
- 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.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- Ilta-Sanomat, 19 June 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 — Benefits and Risks of Bariatric Surgery in Adults: A Review (JAMA, 2020)
- PubMed / NCBI — Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy vs Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: systematic review and meta-analysis (2016)
- World Health Organization — Obesity and overweight
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery — Bariatric Surgery Procedures
How we prepare and review medical content · Medical disclaimer
Considering the same operation? Get a free consultation
Message a coordinator on Telegram: we reply right in the chat, and you can send photos and questions there too.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
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