Did Ricardo Morán have a gastric sleeve? Yes, he told the story himself

What did Ricardo Morán say about his gastric sleeve?

In an episode of his YouTube podcast Sentido Común about how people judge other people’s bodies, Morán said for the first time that he has struggled with obesity for years. El Comercio quoted him: “In January 2014 I had a gastric sleeve operation, which consists of making your stomach smaller. In three months I lost 20 kilos.” He explained that he started gaining weight in 1997, reached 112 kilos, and then went through about ten years of dieting and rebound before choosing surgery. He added: “I keep fighting against it… it is a lifelong fight.”

That is all we rely on here. He did not name a clinic, a surgeon or other medical details in those statements, 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.

What his story shows

Morán’s account has two halves, and both matter. The first is the decade of diets that ended in rebound, a pattern many people with obesity know well. The second is what came after surgery: he said his weight went up again when his children were born and during the pandemic, and that he is still working on it. In the same conversation he spoke against fat shaming, the habit of mocking people for gaining weight.

For anyone considering the operation, that honesty is useful. Bariatric surgery changes how much you can eat and how quickly you feel full. It does not replace long-term attention to food, activity and health, which is why follow-up is part of the treatment, not an extra.

Sleeve or bypass: how the operations differ

Both main operations are laparoscopic, done through four small punctures of 5–15 mm. In a sleeve gastrectomy most of the stomach is removed and a narrow tube remains. In a gastric bypass a small stomach pouch is created and part of the intestine is rerouted, which also changes how nutrients are absorbed.

Mini gastric bypass and SADI-S are further options for specific situations. The choice is made by the surgeon after tests, not by copying what someone else chose.

Who the operation is for and how to prepare

Surgery is usually discussed with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes; sometimes lower thresholds apply when non-surgical approaches have failed, as in Morán’s years of dieting. Before the operation the clinic asks for:

• blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and a coagulation panel;
• consultations with a GP, an endocrinologist, a psychiatrist and a cardiologist (and a gynaecologist for women);
• 2–4 weeks of cutting fast carbohydrates and fats, and no smoking for a month beforehand.

Recovery and the years that follow

Patients get up on the first day and usually stay in hospital for 1–5 days. The diet moves from liquid to soft to solid food over 1–2 months. Office work is possible after 2–4 weeks, physical work after about six weeks, swimming after 30 days. Weight loss is fastest in the first months; the final result is assessed at 1.5–2 years. After that, as Morán says himself, the work continues: regular check-ups, sensible eating and activity help keep the result.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through four small punctures.
2. Day 1You get up and walk; liquids in small sips.
3. Days 1–5Discharge from hospital with a staged diet plan.
4. Weeks 2–4Return to office work; soft food is introduced.
5. Months 1–2Move to solid food; swimming allowed after 30 days.
6. Months 3–12Most active weight loss; regular check-ups with the team.
7. Years 1.5–2The final result is assessed; healthy habits keep it.

Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S for international patients, all laparoscopically. The surgeon’s first consultation is free and can take place online; the cost is fixed in the contract. Prices are $3,600 for a sleeve and $4,000 for a bypass, and the team follows patients up during the first year. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Ricardo Morán or his treatment. His story is simply a well-known example of someone who talked openly about this operation.

Frequently asked questions

When did Ricardo Morán have his gastric sleeve?

He said he had it in January 2014, after reaching 112 kilos and years of dieting with rebound. He told the story on his podcast Sentido Común.

How much weight did he say he lost?

He said he lost 20 kilos in the first three months. He also said his weight went up again later and that managing it is a lifelong effort.

Can weight come back after a gastric sleeve?

Yes, partly, if eating habits change back. A sleeve is less durable when the diet is not followed, so nutritional follow-up and activity matter for the long term.

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 with the surgeon is free, and the final price is fixed in the contract.

How long is the hospital stay?

Usually 1–5 days. Patients walk on the first day, and travel is best planned no earlier than a month after surgery.