Bariatric surgeryGermany5 min read
Reiner Calmund and his gastric bypass: what he said himself
Reiner Calmund, the former Bayer Leverkusen manager and one of the best-known faces of German football, had a gastric bypass in January 2020 at the age of 71. A few months later he spoke about it openly in a phone interview with t-online. Below is what he said, where it was published, and what this kind of weight-loss surgery involves for anyone thinking about it today.
By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- In June 2020 Reiner Calmund told t-online that he had a gastric bypass in January and had since lost around 50 kilograms.
- He said he was happy to finally act on his resolution and told others with the same problems: do it, you feel completely different.
- Modern bariatric surgery is laparoscopic, through four small punctures.
- Patients get up and walk on the first day, stay in hospital for one to five days and return to office work after two to four weeks.
- At City Medical Centre a gastric bypass costs $4,000, and the 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
Before and after
Profile
Reiner Calmund
- Country
- Germany
- Who
- Football executive and TV personality
- Year of operation
- 2020
- Quote source
- t-online, 12 June 2020
I'm happy that I could finally put my resolution into action... I can only tell everyone: do it! You feel completely different in your head.
What did Reiner Calmund say about his operation?
In June 2020 Calmund told the German news site t-online about the result of his operation. According to the report, he had undergone a gastric bypass in January and had since lost around 50 kilograms.
Bariatric Surgery Birmingham, Bariatric Surgery Dublin — price and consultation.
Price in your country — message us on WhatsApp
WhatsAppIn his own words: “I’m happy that I was finally able to put my resolution into action.” And to anyone with the same problems he said: “I can only tell everyone: do it! You feel completely different in your head.” The headline of the article quoted him with a third line: “I’m losing weight and enjoying it.”
That is what we rely on here, and nothing more. Calmund did not describe medical details such as his exact starting weight, his diet plan or his follow-up care in that interview, so this article does not guess at them. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes bariatric surgery in general, not his treatment.
Why his words matter
Weight-loss surgery is still surrounded by shame. Many people who consider it fear being told they took the “easy way out”. Calmund, a public figure known for his size and his sense of humour, chose to talk about the decision plainly and cheerfully. He framed it as a resolution he had finally carried out, not as a secret.
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.
His age is also worth noting. He had the operation at 71, which shows that the decision is not only a question for young patients. What matters is the state of health and the assessment by the medical team, not the year of birth.
Severe obesity is a chronic disease, not a lack of willpower. Surgery does not replace a change of lifestyle; it gives the body a tool that makes the change possible and lasting when diets alone have repeatedly failed.
Bariatric surgery abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
How bariatric surgery works today
Modern weight-loss operations are done laparoscopically, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm instead of a large incision. The two most common procedures are:
- Gastric bypass — a small stomach pouch is created and connected directly to the small intestine. Less food fits in, and fewer calories are absorbed.
- Sleeve gastrectomy — most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube. Portions become much smaller and hunger decreases.
What is changed
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Most of the stomach is removed
- Gastric bypass
- A small pouch is connected to the small intestine
Typical patient
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- BMI of about 35–45
- Gastric bypass
- BMI over 45–50, often with type 2 diabetes
Average loss of excess weight
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- 60–70%
- Gastric bypass
- 75–85%
Vitamins afterwards
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- As advised by the doctor
- Gastric bypass
- Lifelong vitamins and minerals
Price at City Medical Centre
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- $3,600
- Gastric bypass
- $4,000
City Medical Centre also performs the mini gastric bypass and SADI-S, which is used for a BMI over 50. Which operation fits depends on weight, related illnesses and eating habits — the choice is made at a consultation, not from a celebrity story.
Who is it for and how to prepare
Bariatric surgery is usually considered when:
- the body mass index (BMI) is above 40;
- the BMI is above 35 and there are serious weight-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes;
- in some cases with a lower BMI, if non-surgical approaches have not worked.
Before surgery patients have blood and urine tests, biochemistry, an HbA1c test and a coagulation panel, and see a GP, an endocrinologist, a psychiatrist and a cardiologist (women also a gynaecologist). It is recommended to cut fast carbohydrates and fats two to four weeks before the operation and to stop smoking a month before.
What recovery looks like
Patients get up and walk on the first day and stay in hospital for one to five days. Food is reintroduced in stages over one to two months: liquid, then soft, then solid. Office work is usually possible after two to four weeks, physical work after about six weeks, and swimming after 30 days. Long journeys are best planned no earlier than a month after surgery.
Weight loss is fastest in the first months — t-online reported around 50 kg for Calmund between January and June — and the final result is judged after one and a half to two years. After a bypass, vitamins and minerals are needed for life.
How recovery after bariatric surgery usually goes
- Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through four small punctures.
- Day 1You get up and walk; drinking starts in small sips.
- Days 1–5Hospital stay, depending on the operation and how you feel.
- Weeks 2–4Return to office work; the diet moves from liquid to soft food.
- Months 1–2Gradual return to solid food; swimming after about 30 days.
- Months 1–12The fastest weight loss and regular follow-up with the team.
- 1.5–2 yearsThe final result is assessed.
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S for international patients, all laparoscopically. The consultation with the surgeon is free and can be held online: the doctor looks at your weight history and health, recommends the suitable operation and names the cost, which is then fixed in the contract. A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000.
The team follows up with patients during the first year, and a personal coordinator stays in touch from the first message to recovery. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Reiner Calmund or his treatment. His story is simply a well-known example of a man who talked openly about the operation.
Frequently asked questions
When did Reiner Calmund have his gastric bypass?
According to t-online, he had the operation in January 2020 at the age of 71. He spoke about the result in a phone interview published in June 2020.
How much weight did Reiner Calmund lose?
In the June 2020 report t-online wrote that he had lost around 50 kilograms since the operation. We do not add figures from other, unverified sources.
Is a gastric bypass better than a sleeve gastrectomy?
Neither is better for everyone. A bypass usually leads to greater weight loss and is often chosen with a high BMI and type 2 diabetes, but it requires lifelong vitamins. A sleeve suits a BMI of about 35–45. The surgeon recommends the option after examining you.
How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?
A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. The final price is named after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.
Is there an age limit for weight-loss surgery?
There is no fixed upper age in itself; what counts is your overall health and the results of the pre-operative checks. The decision is made individually by the surgeon and the other specialists.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- t-online, 12 June 2020
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
Read also
Gastric bypassAl Roker and gastric bypass: twenty years of talking about it honestly
Al Roker had gastric bypass surgery in March 2002 and has talked about it for 20 years. His words, how the operation works and what recovery involves.
Bariatric surgeryFern Britton and her gastric band: “I did it for me”
Fern Britton said in 2008 that she had a gastric band fitted two years earlier. Her words, how weight-loss surgery has changed and what it involves now.
Bariatric surgeryLaurent Ournac and his sleeve gastrectomy: the story in his own words
French actor Laurent Ournac spoke openly about his sleeve gastrectomy and lifelong follow-up. What he said, how the operation works and what recovery involves.
Bariatric surgeryGastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass: Differences, Weight Loss, Risks and Cost
Gastric sleeve vs gastric bypass compared: how each works, weight loss by the clinic's figures, side effects, who each suits, recovery, travel and cost.