Did Teo Trandafir have stomach-reduction surgery? Yes, and she talked about it herself

What did Teo Trandafir say about her stomach-reduction surgery?

Teo Trandafir, one of Romania's best-known TV presenters, has talked about her gastric sleeve more than once, and each time in her own words. In January 2014, a little over a month after the operation, she described the first weeks to the magazine Click!, as reported by Adevărul: “After the operation you eat carefully; in fact, in the first month you drink. In the first week you drink water, tea, compote, soups, clear liquids, then you can move on to thin purées, then the purées can be thicker, and in the end you can eat normally. The wonderful thing is that you know when to stop. After two mouthfuls you have stopped. You are not hungry.”

More than a decade later, in an interview with Viva! quoted by Ziare.com in April 2025, she explained how she keeps the result: “I eat little, about as much as a five-year-old eats. In my opinion it is not a sacrifice at all, just a matter of discipline, of listening carefully to the advice the doctor gives you. He is the one who guides you and tells you what to do for the rest of your life. The secret is discipline.” She added: “It has been 11 years since I had the operation… I had tests before and after the procedure a hundred times.”

That is everything we rely on here. Teo Trandafir did not describe the surgical details in these statements beyond calling it a gastric sleeve, so this article does not guess at them. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes bariatric surgery in general, not her treatment.

Why her words are useful to anyone considering surgery

Her two statements, eleven years apart, cover the two things people most often underestimate. The first is the staged diet right after surgery: liquids, then purées, then normal food. The second is the long view: regular tests, advice from the doctor that lasts for life, and daily discipline around portions.

She does not present the operation as a shortcut. In her words, the change is that you “know when to stop”, and the rest is discipline. That matches how bariatric surgeons describe the procedure: a tool that changes how much you can eat and how quickly you feel full, which works best together with new eating habits and follow-up.

How bariatric surgery works today

Modern bariatric operations are laparoscopic: the surgeon works through about four small punctures of 5–15 mm instead of a large incision. The most common options are:

• Sleeve gastrectomy — most of the stomach is removed and a narrow “sleeve” remains, so smaller portions bring a feeling of fullness.
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass — a small stomach pouch is created and connected directly to the small intestine.
• Mini gastric bypass (one-anastomosis) and SADI-S — used for specific situations, including very high BMI.

The sleeve works less durably if the diet is not followed, which is exactly the point Teo Trandafir makes about discipline. The right procedure is chosen at a consultation, based on weight, health and medical history.

Who is a candidate and how to prepare

Surgery is usually considered with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious weight-related conditions; sometimes lower when non-surgical approaches have not worked. Preparation typically includes:

• blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and a coagulation panel;
• consultations with a GP, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist and, for women, a gynaecologist;
• cutting fast carbohydrates and fats 2–4 weeks before surgery;
• stopping smoking at least a month before.

These checks are not a formality. Teo Trandafir remembered having tests “a hundred times” before and after her operation, and careful monitoring is part of doing the procedure safely.

Recovery and the first months

Patients usually get up and walk on the first day and stay in hospital for 1 to 5 days. Office work is typically possible after 2–4 weeks, physical work after about a month and a half. The diet moves in stages over 1–2 months, from liquids to soft food and then to ordinary meals, very much like the sequence Teo Trandafir described. Swimming is allowed after about 30 days, and travel is best planned no earlier than a month after surgery. Weight settles over 1.5–2 years, and vitamins are taken for life. Pregnancy is recommended no earlier than 12–18 months after the operation.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through a few small punctures under general anaesthesia.
2. Day 1You get out of bed and walk; only clear liquids are allowed.
3. Days 1–5Discharge from hospital, depending on the procedure and how you recover.
4. Weeks 2–4Office work resumes; the diet moves from liquids to purées and soft food.
5. Months 1–2Ordinary food returns in small portions; swimming and travel are allowed.
6. First yearRegular check-ups with the team, tests and vitamins as prescribed.
7. Months 18–24Weight settles and the 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. The first consultation with the surgeon is free and can be held online. Current prices start at $3,600 for a sleeve gastrectomy and $4,000 for a gastric bypass; the final cost is named after the consultation and fixed in the contract. The team follows patients during the first year after surgery. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Teo Trandafir or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of someone who talked openly about the operation and the discipline that follows it.

Frequently asked questions

When did Teo Trandafir have her operation?

In January 2014 she said the gastric sleeve had been done a little over a month earlier. In April 2025 she said 11 years had passed since the operation.

What did Teo Trandafir say about eating after the surgery?

She said that in the first month you mostly drink, then move to purées and later to normal food, and that the wonderful part is knowing when to stop. Years later she said she eats very small portions and that the secret is discipline.

Which is better, a sleeve or a bypass?

Neither is better for everyone. A sleeve usually suits a BMI of about 35 to 45, a bypass is often chosen for a BMI over 45 to 50 or with type 2 diabetes. The surgeon recommends the option after examining you.

How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?

Prices start at $3,600 for a sleeve gastrectomy and $4,000 for a gastric bypass. The final cost is named after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.

How long is the hospital stay?

Usually 1 to 5 days. Patients get up on the first day, return to office work after 2 to 4 weeks and follow a staged diet for 1 to 2 months.