Bariatric surgery
"Patients who undergo surgery experience a very high degree of satisfaction for the health benefits and for the great improvement in their quality of life".
DR. VÍCTOR VALENTÍ CODIRECTOR. AREA OF OBESITY
Surgery for Obesity
Clínica Universidad de Navarra is a center of excellence in bariatric and metabolic surgery, a designation awarded by the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), the world's most prestigious organization in this field.
The Clínica has also been accredited by the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) as a leading center of excellence in obesity treatment in Europe.
We have an Obesity Unit specializing in the management and treatment of this condition, staffed by a multidisciplinary team.
Our surgeons and anesthesiologists have more than 20 years of experience in the various surgical and anesthesia techniques used in bariatric surgery.
International Center of Excellence in Obesity Surgery
Accredited by the International Federation for Bariatric Surgery (IFSO)
Experience
More than 20 years of experience in the treatment of obesity surgery.
Expert professionals
Trained at leading national and international centers.
Prompt assessment
A comprehensive assessment can be completed within 48 hours so we can offer you the best treatment tailored to your needs.
Safety
Bariatric surgery is safe, with a low complication rate.
Fast recovery
Laparoscopic and robotic approaches allow for a fast recovery. Patients are discharged after 48 hours.
Personalized program
Guidance and follow-up from the entire team before and after surgery.
When is bariatric surgery indicated?
Morbid obesity is a disease that significantly affects and limits quality of life.
In some cases, changes in diet and physical activity are not enough to achieve adequate, sustained weight loss. In these situations, bariatric surgery, together with multidisciplinary support from the Obesity Unit, can be an effective tool to help bring about lasting changes in habits.
This process will help you improve your quality of life, reduce health conditions associated with excess weight, and adopt healthier eating and lifestyle habits.
Most common indications for obesity surgery
- Obesity (BMI > 35) with associated conditions (high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, diabetes, excessive stress on the joints, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome).
- Morbid obesity (BMI > 40).
- Obesity in patients with gastroesophageal reflux.
Do you have an obesity problem?
Surgical treatment of your obesity may be necessary
How is bariatric surgery performed?
Choosing the type of obesity surgery
The most appropriate surgical technique is selected on an individual basis, taking into account each patient's clinical characteristics, obesity-related conditions, eating habits, and other factors that may influence treatment outcomes.
The specialist team will make the final recommendation following a comprehensive assessment of each case, considering the effectiveness, benefits, and potential limitations of the different surgical options.
The procedure is performed using minimally invasive techniques, either laparoscopically or with robotic surgery. Both approaches use small incisions in the abdomen through which a camera and the surgical instruments needed to perform the procedure are inserted.
These techniques help reduce postoperative pain, promote faster recovery, shorten hospital stays, and lower the risk of complications.
Laparoscopic gastric bypass
Gastric bypass involves creating a small gastric pouch from the upper portion of the stomach and connecting it directly to a more distal section of the small intestine. This allows food to travel a shorter route through the digestive tract.
This technique combines a restrictive effect, reducing the amount of food that can be eaten at each meal, with metabolic and hormonal changes.
As a result, patients typically experience significant, sustained weight loss after surgery, with an average reduction of approximately 25–35% of total body weight and substantial improvement in associated comorbidities.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
The procedure involves removing approximately 80% of the stomach, leaving a smaller, tube-shaped stomach. This reduces the amount of food that can be eaten at each meal, promoting weight loss.
Despite its smaller size, the stomach retains its physiological function and maintains the natural passage of food into the intestine. In addition to its restrictive effect, the surgery induces hormonal changes that help reduce appetite, increase the feeling of fullness, and improve metabolic control, further enhancing weight loss and its health benefits.
SADI-S (Single-Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy)
This bariatric and metabolic surgery technique combines sleeve gastrectomy with an intestinal bypass. It involves creating a single connection between the duodenum and the final section of the small intestine. This procedure reduces stomach capacity, limits nutrient absorption, and produces significant hormonal changes that promote weight loss and improve associated conditions.
SADI-S is primarily indicated for patients with severe or morbid obesity, especially those with a high body mass index (BMI)—greater than 50 kg/m²—metabolic syndrome, or type 2 diabetes mellitus. In these cases, it has demonstrated high effectiveness in achieving sustained weight loss and a high rate of remission of metabolic comorbidities.
It can also be used as revisional surgery after other bariatric procedures, such as sleeve gastrectomy, when weight loss has been insufficient or some of the lost weight has been regained.
Its main advantages include greater effectiveness in weight loss and better metabolic control compared with other techniques. Another advantage is that it preserves the pylorus, the valve that regulates the passage of food out of the stomach, preventing problems with dumping syndrome, or rapid gastric emptying.
However, patients will need close nutritional follow-up and lifelong vitamin supplementation to prevent potential nutritional deficiencies.
Revisional surgery
Although bariatric surgery delivers highly effective, lasting results, a small percentage of patients may regain some of the weight lost or experience insufficient weight loss over time. When this occurs, a comprehensive assessment is essential to identify possible causes and determine the best treatment strategy.
Weight regain may be related to multiple factors, including anatomical changes resulting from the initial surgery, unhealthy eating habits, reduced physical activity, or the progression of certain diseases. Therefore, before considering another procedure, patients are assessed by the multidisciplinary obesity team, which evaluates each case individually.
Given its greater technical complexity, this type of surgery should be performed at specialized centers with experience in revisional bariatric surgery and a multidisciplinary approach that ensures appropriate assessment and follow-up.
Preparation and recovery after bariatric surgery
Preparing for bariatric surgery
Before surgery, you should follow the recommendations provided by your healthcare team to achieve the best possible outcome:
- Our nutrition team will develop an individualized nutrition plan to reduce liver size and visceral fat, making surgery easier and lowering the risk of complications.
- If you smoke, you will need to quit before surgery, as smoking increases the risk of respiratory complications, infections, and wound healing problems.
- Your regular medications will be reviewed and optimized, and specific infection prevention measures and other preoperative recommendations will be implemented to ensure the highest level of safety during the procedure.
Postoperative care
The postoperative period is a key stage in ensuring proper recovery. During the first few weeks after surgery, patients should carefully follow the recommendations provided by the multidisciplinary team.
During the first month, recovery will continue by following individualized guidelines for diet, hydration, medication, and physical activity. It will also be important to perform the recommended breathing exercises and walk regularly to support recovery.
Your diet will be gradually adapted to the new anatomy and function of your digestive tract, following the different phases of the postoperative diet established by the nutrition team.
Our nursing team will support you throughout the process, both during your hospital stay and at follow-up appointments, answering your questions and providing the tools you need to approach this new stage safely and confidently.
The Obesity Area
of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra
Our Obesity Area is formed by a team of professionals from different specialties. In less than 48 hours we perform the complete evaluation of a patient by all specialists according to our obesity protocol.
The Clinic is a center of excellence accredited in the treatment and surgery of obesity by the European Society for the Study of Obesity and by the International Federation for Bariatric Surgery.
What diseases do we treat?
- Metabolic syndrome
- Overweight
- Obesity
- Morbidly obese
- Childhood obesity
What treatments do we perform?
- Medical plan and personalized nutritional follow-up
- Intragastric balloon
- Bariatric surgery
- Endoscopic techniques
- Metabolic surgery
- Revision surgery
Why at the Clinica?
- More than 20 years of experience in the treatment of obesity surgery.
- Trained in these techniques in international reference centers in the USA and Europe.
- In 48 hours our specialists will evaluate your case and propose the best treatment.
Our team of professionals
Specialists in the Obesity Area with experience in obesity surgery
