Sultan Al-Hajri and his gastric sleeve: the story in his own words

What did Sultan Al-Hajri say about his operation?

In May 2018 the Saudi Nabati poet Sultan Al-Hajri published a video in which, for the first time, he named his weight before a sleeve gastrectomy. The pan-Arab news site Erem News reported the video on 27 May 2018. According to its account, he said that before the operation he weighed 132 kilograms and that he now weighs 86 kilograms.

He also explained what had changed. In the words reported by Erem News, much in his life had become different after losing the excess weight: his mood and state of mind, his sleep, and even how comfortable it was simply to sit. He said that whenever he looks at photos of himself from that time, he regrets the days he spent living with that weight.

He described the reason for the decision as well. He said he had the operation after developing several health problems, including pain in the vertebrae of his back, and that the only answer he kept getting from doctors was that he had to lose weight before he could be treated. The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba reported the same video a day later.

That is everything we rely on here. He did not share other medical details in these reports, so this article does not guess at them. The explanations below describe sleeve gastrectomy in general, not his treatment.

Why his openness matters

Weight-loss surgery is still something many people keep to themselves, and men in particular rarely talk about their weight in public. Sultan Al-Hajri put a real number on it — from 132 to 86 kilograms — and connected the decision to health: back pain, sleep and everyday comfort. He did not present it as a shortcut, but as the step that made treatment of his other problems possible.

For someone living with obesity, hearing a well-known person say this calmly can make it easier to book a conversation with a doctor instead of putting it off for another year. The operation is a medical decision, and it starts with an assessment of health, not with a celebrity story.

What a gastric sleeve is

A sleeve gastrectomy is a laparoscopic operation: the surgeon works through four small punctures of 5–15 mm and removes a large part of the stomach, leaving a narrow tube-shaped “sleeve”. With a smaller stomach, people feel full sooner and eat less. It suits many patients with a BMI of about 35–45, and on average leads to the loss of 60–70% of excess weight. The result is less durable if the diet is not followed afterwards.

It is one of several bariatric operations. The two main options compared:

Mini gastric bypass and SADI-S are further options, usually for higher BMI. Which operation fits is decided by the surgeon after tests.

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;
• 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 glucose test and a coagulation panel, and see several specialists: a general practitioner, an endocrinologist, a psychiatrist and a cardiologist, and a gynaecologist for women. It is recommended to cut fast carbohydrates and fats two to four weeks before surgery and to stop smoking a month before.

What recovery looks like

Patients are usually up and walking on the first day and stay in hospital for one to five days. The diet moves in stages over one to two months, from liquid to soft to normal food. Office work is usually possible after two to four weeks and physical work after about one and a half months; swimming after about 30 days. Long trips are best planned no earlier than a month after surgery. Vitamins are needed for life, and the final result is judged after one and a half to two years. The timeline below shows the usual stages.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through four small punctures under general anaesthesia.
2. Day 1Patients get up and walk; drinking starts in small sips.
3. Days 1–5Hospital stay, depending on the operation and how you feel.
4. Months 1–2Staged diet: liquid, then soft, then normal food; swimming after about 30 days.
5. Months 1–12The fastest weight loss and regular follow-up with the team.
6. 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 first 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. A personal coordinator guides you from the first enquiry through recovery, and the team follows up with patients during the first year. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.

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

Frequently asked questions

What operation did Sultan Al-Hajri have?

He said in a video published in May 2018 that he had undergone a sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve). The video was reported by Erem News and by the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba.

How much weight did Sultan Al-Hajri lose?

According to Erem News, he said he weighed 132 kilograms before the operation and 86 kilograms at the time of the video.

Why did he decide on surgery?

He said he had several health problems, including back pain, and that doctors told him he first had to lose weight before he could be treated.

How much does a gastric sleeve cost at City Medical Centre?

A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. The final price is confirmed after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.

When can I travel home after bariatric surgery?

The hospital stay is usually one to five days, and long trips are best planned no earlier than about a month after surgery. Your coordinator helps plan the dates at the consultation.