Bariatric surgeryFinland4 min read
Did Sanna Kiiski have bariatric surgery? Yes, and she said so herself
In January 2021 the Finnish journalist Sanna Kiiski spoke to Seiska about a decision she had considered for six months: having gastric sleeve surgery to deal with obesity she described as a risk to her health. Below is exactly what she said, where it was published, and what the operation involves for anyone considering it today.
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Medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
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
Sanna Kiiski
- Country
- Finland
- Who
- Journalist
- Year of operation
- 2021
- Quote source
- Seiska, 21 January 2021
The feeling is just amazing. This is only the beginning of my journey toward a new way of life.
What did Sanna Kiiski say about her surgery?
Seiska quoted Kiiski explaining her reasoning plainly: “Being overweight is a risk for me.” In a companion piece published two days later, the outlet reported that her stomach was reduced at a clinic in Tallinn, and quoted her describing how she felt immediately afterwards: “The feeling is just amazing. This is only the beginning of my journey toward a new way of life.”
Bariatric Surgery Birmingham, Bariatric Surgery Dublin — price and consultation.
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WhatsAppThat is everything this article relies on. Kiiski did not name the clinic's doctors or give further medical detail in these interviews, and we do not guess at them. Where the text below explains how bariatric surgery works and what recovery looks like, it describes the procedure in general, not her personal treatment.
Why her openness matters
Weight-loss surgery is still often discussed only in whispers, with many people quietly managing both the decision and the recovery alone. Kiiski chose to talk about it in detail, from the six months she spent considering it to how she felt waking up afterwards.
More on this topic: Bariatric surgery with support all the way to your result, Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy), Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y), Bariatric Operations in Phoenix, Obesity Surgery in Singapore.
For readers facing the same health risk from excess weight, that kind of first-hand account can make a complex medical decision easier to understand.
Nothing here is about judging anyone's body or choices. The value of her story is that she described her own reasoning and her own experience, in her own words.
Bariatric surgery abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
How bariatric surgery is done today
Bariatric surgery is performed laparoscopically, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm. The main procedures are:
Sleeve gastrectomy
- Who it typically suits
- BMI 35–45
- Expected excess weight loss
- 60–70% (less durable without diet changes)
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Who it typically suits
- BMI over 45–50, especially with type 2 diabetes; considered the gold standard
- Expected excess weight loss
- 75–85%
Mini gastric bypass (one-anastomosis)
- Who it typically suits
- Similar profile to standard bypass
- Expected excess weight loss
- Up to 75–80% (carries a risk of bile reflux)
SADI-S
- Who it typically suits
- BMI over 50
- Expected excess weight loss
- 80–90%
Which option fits is decided with the surgical team at consultation, based on BMI, health conditions and goals, not from a celebrity story.
Who is a candidate and how to prepare
Bariatric surgery is generally considered for a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, and sometimes lower if non-surgical approaches have failed.
- Full medical workup: blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and a coagulation panel, plus assessments from a GP, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist and, for women, a gynaecologist.
- Diet changes 2–4 weeks before surgery: cutting fast carbohydrates and fats as instructed.
- Quit smoking about a month before surgery to support healing.
What recovery looks like
Patients are usually up and moving the day after surgery, with a hospital stay of 1–5 days. Most return to office work after 7–14 days, physical work after about 1.5 months. Diet is staged over 1–2 months, moving from liquids to soft food and then solids; swimming can resume after 30 days.
The final result is usually assessed at 1.5–2 years, and pregnancy is generally advised 12–18 months after surgery. Lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation is needed, especially after bypass procedures.
How recovery after bariatric surgery usually goes
- Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through four small punctures; patients are up and moving the same or next day.
- Days 1–5Hospital stay, liquid diet begins.
- Days 7–14Return to office-type work; physical work after about 1.5 months.
- Weeks 1–8Staged diet moves from liquids to soft food, then solids.
- Day 30Swimming can resume.
- Months 18–24Final result assessed; lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation continues.
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S for international patients, starting with a free surgeon consultation. Current prices are $3,600 for sleeve gastrectomy and $4,000 for gastric bypass, fixed in the contract after the consultation. The clinical team follows up with the patient through the first year. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Sanna Kiiski or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of someone who chose to talk openly about the decision and the operation.
Frequently asked questions
When did Sanna Kiiski have her surgery?
She spoke to Seiska about it in January 2021, after considering the decision for about six months.
What did she say motivated her decision?
She said being overweight was a risk to her health, and described feeling amazing right after the operation.
Where was her operation?
Seiska reported that her stomach was reduced at a clinic in Tallinn; no further medical detail was given.
Is bariatric surgery only for extreme cases?
It is generally considered for a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, decided individually with the medical team.
How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?
Current prices are $3,600 for sleeve gastrectomy and $4,000 for gastric bypass, confirmed after a free consultation.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
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
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