Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity and the metabolic disease that comes with it. It is also the operation on this site where what happens in the years afterwards matters more than what happens in theatre — which is why we will not arrange it without a follow-up plan.
Procedures we coordinate
Each procedure has its own page covering how it works, who it suits, recovery, nutrition afterwards, risks and what the price should include.
Who qualifies for surgery
Eligibility is based on body mass index together with obesity-related disease, not on appearance or on how much you want the operation:
- BMI of 40 or above, regardless of other conditions
- BMI of 35–40 with at least one obesity-related disease — type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, fatty liver or severe joint disease
- In some guidelines, BMI of 30–35 where type 2 diabetes is poorly controlled despite treatment
- Documented attempts at supervised weight loss that did not hold
- No untreated eating disorder, active substance misuse or unstable psychiatric illness
- Able and willing to take vitamin supplements and attend follow-up for life
Why follow-up decides the outcome
Bariatric surgery permanently changes how you absorb nutrients. Without lifelong supplementation and blood monitoring, deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium and thiamine develop quietly and cause real harm — anaemia, bone loss and, rarely, irreversible neurological damage.
This is the specific risk of having bariatric surgery abroad: the operation is done well, the patient flies home, and nobody owns the next five years. We will only coordinate a case where follow-up is arranged — either with your own doctor at home, who should be informed before you travel, or through scheduled remote reviews with the operating team.
- Blood tests at 3, 6 and 12 months, then at least annually for life
- Lifelong multivitamin, iron, B12, vitamin D and calcium supplementation, adjusted to results
- Dietitian contact through the first year, when eating patterns are rebuilt
- Psychological support where eating is tied to stress or mood — common and not a weakness
- A named doctor at home who has your operative report and knows what was done
- Contraception for at least 12–18 months in women, since rapid weight loss affects pregnancy
Safety and when we say no
In experienced hands and accredited hospitals, bariatric surgery has a mortality comparable to gallbladder removal. That safety record depends on things you can check: a surgeon doing high annual volumes, a hospital with intensive care, an anaesthetic team used to high-BMI patients, and a clear protocol for detecting a leak early.
We will decline to coordinate a case where there is an untreated eating disorder, active alcohol or substance misuse, an unstable psychiatric condition, or where no follow-up can be arranged at home. Bariatric surgery in those situations is not a shortcut — it is a way of turning one problem into several.
What drives the price
The operation is one week. The follow-up is the rest of your life.
Before we arrange anything, we ask who will monitor your blood tests and vitamin levels once you are home, and we make sure your operative report reaches them. If you do not yet have that person, finding one is the first step — not booking a flight.
Frequently asked questions
Sleeve or bypass — which is better?
Neither is universally better; they suit different patients. Bypass generally produces more weight loss and is markedly better for type 2 diabetes and severe reflux. Sleeve is simpler, keeps the intestine intact and causes fewer long-term nutritional problems, but can worsen reflux. The right answer depends on your BMI, your diabetes status and whether you already have heartburn.
How much weight will I lose?
Typically 60–70% of excess weight after a bypass and 50–60% after a sleeve, with most of it in the first 12–18 months. These are averages across large groups, not a promise to you: outcomes vary widely with starting weight, diabetes, activity and — most of all — what you do in the years afterwards.
Can I have surgery if I take weight-loss injections?
Usually yes, but the anaesthetist needs to know. GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, which raises the risk of food remaining in the stomach at induction and being aspirated. Most guidelines advise pausing them before surgery — how long depends on the drug, so this must be discussed rather than assumed.
Will I need surgery for loose skin afterwards?
Many patients want it, and after losing 40 kilos or more some form of body contouring is common. It should wait until weight has been stable for at least a year — operating earlier means operating twice. Plan for it as a possible second stage rather than a surprise.
Related reading
Have your case reviewed before you decide anything
Send your photographs and medical history. A board-certified surgeon reviews them and comes back with an honest assessment of what is achievable, which technique suits you, and an itemised written quote — before any money changes hands.
Get a FREE Second OpinionThis page provides general information about this procedure; it is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Capital Oncology Group is a care-coordination service and not a medical provider. All procedures are performed by independent, accredited hospitals and licensed physicians, and the decision to operate must be made by a qualified surgeon after examining you individually.