Gastric sleeveSouth Africa5 min read
Vuyokazi Nciweni and the gastric sleeve: “I've tried everything”
In 2025 the South African reality TV star Vuyokazi Nciweni, known from Izingane Zesthembu, shared an hour-long vlog in which she explained that she had travelled abroad for gastric sleeve surgery. She talked frankly about years of trying to lose weight, about feeling tired and heavy, and about her children. Here is what she said, where it was reported, and what a gastric sleeve involves for anyone thinking about the same step.
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Medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- In April 2025 IOL quoted Vuyokazi Nciweni saying she came for a gastric sleeve surgery because she was struggling to lose weight.
- She said she had tried everything but lacked self-discipline with food, and that she is doing it for her kids, to live longer for them.
- A gastric sleeve is a laparoscopic operation through a few small punctures.
- Patients stand up and walk on the first day, usually go home after one to five days and return to office work after two to four weeks.
- At City Medical Centre a sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600, and the first 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
Profile
Vuyokazi Nciweni
- Country
- South Africa
- Who
- Reality TV star and media personality
- Year of operation
- 2025
- Quote source
- IOL, 2 April 2025
What did Vuyokazi Nciweni say about her gastric sleeve?
Her explanation was quoted by IOL in April 2025: “So, guys, I actually came for a gastric sleeve surgery/weight loss surgery. It's something that I thought would be good for me because I am actually struggling with losing weight. I've tried everything; eating proper foods and all of that, but I think I lacked self-discipline when it comes to the kind of foods that I eat.” She added: “Also, I'm doing this for my kids because I want to live longer for them.”
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WhatsAppAccording to the same report, she also said her body felt very heavy, her legs swelled and she was always tired. TimesLIVE later quoted her again: “Getting this gastric sleeve will help me a lot with my lifestyle.”
This is the full basis of the article. She named the operation and her reasons; she did not describe surgical details, so we do not speculate about them. What follows about technique and recovery describes sleeve gastrectomy in general, not her treatment.
What her reasons have in common with many patients
Nciweni's words describe a pattern surgeons hear every day: sensible eating tried and abandoned, weight that will not shift, and everyday symptoms such as fatigue and swollen legs. Her honesty about self-discipline is not a confession of weakness.
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, Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery in Pietermaritzburg.
Severe obesity is a medical condition with strong biological drivers, and that is exactly why surgery exists as a treatment.
Her motivation — to be there longer for her children — is also typical. People rarely choose bariatric surgery for appearance alone; they choose it for energy, mobility and long-term health. The operation supports that goal, but it only works together with lasting changes in how and what a person eats.
Gastric sleeve abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
How a gastric sleeve is done today
A sleeve gastrectomy is performed laparoscopically through a few small punctures. The surgeon removes most of the stomach and leaves a narrow tube, so smaller portions bring a feeling of fullness. There is no rerouting of the intestine. Here is how the sleeve compares with the other common operations:
Principle
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Stomach reduced to a narrow tube
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Small pouch joined to the small intestine
- Mini gastric bypass
- Single connection to the intestine
- SADI-S
- Sleeve plus a single intestinal bypass
Usually considered for
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- BMI 35–45
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- BMI over 45–50, type 2 diabetes
- Mini gastric bypass
- Decided individually
- SADI-S
- BMI over 50
Average excess weight loss
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- 60–70%
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- 75–85%
- Mini gastric bypass
- Up to 75–80%
- SADI-S
- 80–90%
The sleeve is often chosen for moderate obesity. Its main weakness is durability: if the new eating habits are not kept, results can fade. That is why dietary follow-up matters as much as the operation itself.
Who is a candidate and how to prepare
A sleeve or any other bariatric operation is usually considered with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with related conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Preparation includes:
- blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and a coagulation panel;
- check-ups with a GP, endocrinologist, cardiologist, psychiatrist and gynaecologist;
- two to four weeks with fewer fast carbohydrates and fats before surgery;
- stopping smoking at least a month in advance.
Mothers of young children should also know that pregnancy is advised no earlier than 12–18 months after surgery.
Recovery after a gastric sleeve
Patients stand up and walk on the first day and usually go home after one to five days. Office work is typically possible after two to four weeks; physical work after about six weeks. Food returns in stages over one to two months: liquids first, then soft food, then normal textures.
Swimming is allowed after roughly 30 days, and flights home are best planned no sooner than a month after surgery. The final result is assessed after one and a half to two years.
How recovery after a gastric sleeve usually goes
- Day of surgeryLaparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy through a few small punctures.
- Day 1You get up and walk.
- Days 1–5Discharge from hospital.
- Weeks 2–4Return to office work; liquid then soft diet.
- Months 1–2Normal food textures; swimming and travel become possible.
- Months 18–24Weight stabilises and the final result is assessed.
Gastric sleeve at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy for $3,600 and gastric bypass for $4,000, as well as mini gastric bypass and SADI-S. All operations are laparoscopic, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm. The first consultation with the surgeon is free and can be held online for patients abroad; the price named after the assessment is fixed in the contract.
A personal coordinator guides the patient from the first message to recovery, and the team follows up during the first year. Details are on the bariatric surgery page.
City Medical Centre has no connection with Vuyokazi Nciweni or her treatment. Her story is included because she explained her decision openly.
Frequently asked questions
What surgery did Vuyokazi Nciweni have?
She said in 2025 that she had a gastric sleeve, a weight-loss operation, because she had tried everything to lose weight and was struggling.
Why did she choose the gastric sleeve?
She said she had tried eating properly, felt she lacked self-discipline with food, felt heavy and tired, and wanted to live longer for her children.
How much weight can a gastric sleeve help lose?
On average 60–70% of excess weight. Results depend on keeping to the diet afterwards; without that, the effect can be less durable.
How much does a gastric sleeve cost at City Medical Centre?
A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. The first consultation is free, and the price is fixed in the contract.
When can I fly home after a gastric sleeve?
Travel is best planned no earlier than a month after surgery. The exact timing is agreed with the surgeon.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- IOL (The Star), 2 April 2025
- TimesLIVE, 8 September 2025
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
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