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Obesity centre Düsseldorf

Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® Gastric sleeve Düsseldorf

Gastric sleeve surgery with a clear schedule: consultation, MMK preparation and aftercare in Düsseldorf, the procedure at the Nationalklinik in Wertheim. For people with severe obesity.

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How your therapy is structured

Two building blocks.
One plan.

The Weight Doctors® MEMBERSHIP is the foundation of every therapy: medical oversight, progress monitoring and aftercare. The treatment you choose together with your specialist builds on it.

Building block 1

Weight Doctors® MEMBERSHIP

The foundation for every Weight Doctors® therapy – with the tools that support your treatment and record your progress for your medical consultations.

  • Weight Doctors® AppKeep an eye on weight, activity and sleep, for iOS and Android
  • Digital body scalesBluetooth scales – the readings flow straight into the app
  • 3D BodyscanMeasure body composition objectively, up to twice a year
  • Priority access to specialistsby phone, video or on site, without a long wait
  • 360 coaches and Weight Doctors® MiraNutrition and behaviour in everyday life, aftercare with your coaches
  • E-prescription servicePrescriptions issued digitally – after medical approval
More on the Membership
Building block 2

Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® gastric sleeve Düsseldorf

Gastric sleeve surgery with a clear schedule: consultation, MMK preparation and aftercare in Düsseldorf, the procedure at the Nationalklinik in Wertheim. For people with severe obesity.

Procedure
Minimally invasive surgery (keyhole technique)
Duration
approx. 75 minutes
Price
from €2,500
Costs

The Membership does not replace a medical decision: whether treatment makes sense, and which one, is decided by your specialist after a medical assessment.

Personally here for youDr. med. Oliver Scheffel · Bariatric surgery

Your guide

Your gastric sleeve surgery with Düsseldorf at a glance

How the gastric sleeve works, what the 6-month schedule looks like and what happens on the day of surgery in Wertheim.

How sleeve gastrectomy can affect hunger and satiety

Gastric sleeve surgery is aimed at people with severe obesity. At Weight Doctors® Düsseldorf, the focus is not only on the procedure itself, but on a structured overall strategy: careful suitability assessment, preparation through the multimodal programme (MMK), keyhole surgery and aftercare for your new everyday life.

In vertical sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), the surgeon shapes the stomach laparoscopically into a tube-shaped remaining stomach: through small access points, the surgeon introduces a camera and instruments, prepares the stomach along a defined line and permanently removes the larger part. What remains is about 150–200 ml, roughly as much as a small banana.

The effect does not rest only on less fitting in, however. Among other things, ghrelin is produced in the removed part of the stomach – a hormone that can intensify hunger signals. After the operation, ghrelin production often falls, and many people report less intense hunger. At the same time, more satiety hormones such as GLP-⁠1 and peptide YY can be released – meals feel sufficient sooner, and the metabolism can respond more favourably to weight loss.

Even so, the operation remains an invasive procedure with long-term consequences: the stomach cannot be restored to its original state. Before you decide, we therefore check whether benefits, risks, alternatives and your personal circumstances fit together. Technique, results and the comparison with extended sleeve and bypass are explained on the main page Gastric sleeve surgery.

Diagram: with the gastric sleeve, a narrow tube remains along the lesser curvature, and the larger part of the stomach is removed.
Gastric sleeve – remainsis removedStapled closure
  • 75–80 %is the stomach reduced in size, as a rule
  • approx. 75 minthe operation lasts under general anaesthesia
  • 1 nightyou stay in the clinic as standard

What sets treatment in Düsseldorf apart

  • MMK coordinatedMany people do not fail before an operation because of willpower, but because of organisation. In Düsseldorf, preparation, final assessment, surgery planning and aftercare interlock seamlessly.
  • Without advance applicationYou do not submit an application, and you have no contact with the German health insurer – Weight Doctors® handles the communication for you.
  • Checked staple lineModern surgical staplers close the stomach; a dye leak test checks the staple line during the operation itself.
  • Small incisionsSurgery is performed laparoscopically through small incisions: pain is often lower than with open procedures, and the scars are usually inconspicuous.
  • App includedThe Weight Doctors® App accompanies the time after the operation: nutrition steps, fluid amounts, weight, reminders and check-up appointments.
  • Open consultationWe discuss benefits, risks and alternatives openly – so that your decision comes not from pressure, but from understanding.

Who a gastric sleeve may be suitable for

Gastric sleeve surgery comes into question above all when severe excess weight has already reached a medical dimension. Bariatric surgery should not be planned by the book, one size fits all:

  • As a guide, a BMI above 40 applies – or from 35 if related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea are present.
  • If diets, exercise programmes or medication alone have not brought a stable effect.
  • The medical assessment is always individualbased on related conditions, history and previous attempts at treatment.
  • Not always suitableFor “sweet eaters” with many sugary drinks or liquid calories – these pass easily through the small remaining stomach – as well as in cases of pronounced reflux, chronic heartburn or certain findings in the oesophagus and stomach, a gastric bypass may be more suitable. If reflux only appears after the operation, it can be treated – more under Reflux after gastric sleeve.

“Gastric sleeve surgery is not an isolated procedure, but a metabolic readjustment. We do not only change the size of the stomach, but create the medical basis on which satiety, eating behaviour and weight reduction can come back into a sustainable order.”

Dr. med. Oliver Scheffel
  1. BMI from 35with related conditions
  2. BMI from 40Guide for the gastric sleeve
  3. BMI from 50Immediate surgery without MMK possible
BMI scale according to the WHOCalculate your BMI

Your path to gastric sleeve surgery

At the start there is no surgery date, but a precise analysis. On the day of surgery at the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik, a well-rehearsed process then takes centre stage: admission, preparation, anaesthesia, minimally invasive surgery and subsequent monitoring. It remains a genuine operation that needs calm, control and an adapted diet.

Reception at the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik in Wertheim
  1. Precise analysisAt the start there is no surgery date, but an analysis: weight history, eating behaviour, metabolism, pre-existing conditions, previous attempts to lose weight and personal burden.
  2. 6-month schedule (MMK)Six months of preparation according to the multimodal programme, in five components from nutrition counselling to blood count. We organise all appointments for you.
  3. Day of surgery in WertheimAfter admission and review of findings and fitness for anaesthesia, the operation follows, lasting about 75 minutes, under general anaesthesia using keyhole technique.
  4. One night as an inpatientCirculation, fluid intake, pain and early progress are monitored. Many people are ready to socialise again after about 10–14 days; we agree work and sport with you individually.
  5. Aftercare in Düsseldorf4–6 weeks of a fluid-based diet so that the staple line heals; then a gradual build-up through soft food to small, protein-rich meals.

The 6-month schedule: the multimodal programme (MMK)

Before an obesity operation, the multimodal programme is usually required. The preparation programme is recommended by the German Obesity Society and records your medical, nutritional, psychological and physical starting point. A vague idea of surgery thus becomes a clear, traceable treatment plan.

At Weight Doctors®, we organise all appointments for you – you do not have to piece the components together yourself. The process is tailored to the later operation and at the same time provides the documents that matter for cost coverage by the German statutory health insurer. The five components:

Specialist with the endoscope during a gastroscopy
  • Nutritional advice5 sessions with certified professionals: documenting eating habits, recognising triggers and building an eating pattern that works with significantly smaller portions after the operation. Nutrition coaching and the Weight Doctors® App help alongside.
  • Activity logNot peak performance, but an activity level that suits you. Exercise strengthens fitness before the anaesthetic and can later support weight development, muscle mass and metabolism.
  • Psychological assessmentIt clarifies whether you are psychologically stable enough, whether eating disorders need to be ruled out or treated, and which habits need particular attention after the operation. After all, the operation changes the anatomy, but does not automatically erase all habits.
  • GastroscopyThe gastroscopy shows whether the mucosa, oesophagus and stomach are suitable for the gastric sleeve. Inflammation or signs of reflux can point to a different procedure.
  • Full blood countIt shows existing deficiencies as well as liver, inflammation and metabolic values – the baseline values for lifelong supply of vitamins and minerals.
  • Immediate surgery with a primary indicationWith a BMI of 50 or above, or of 35 or above with type 2 diabetes that has exhausted treatment options, the 6-month MMK can be omitted.

Surgical precision and digital aftercare

Gastric sleeve surgery needs experience, clean surgical planning and a team that does not regard bariatric procedures as routine operations. Checking the staple line for leaks during the operation itself is an important part of the safety check in theatre. Your team includes specialists in surgery and internal medicine – some of them are also there for you in Düsseldorf.

After the operation, everyday life determines the course. The first months in particular are a new phase, physically and organisationally – the Weight Doctors® App helps you keep track of things.

Two Weight Doctors® nurses in the clinic corridor
  • GermanyNetherlandsDr. ScheffelSpecialist in general and bariatric surgery
  • GermanyNetherlandsDr. JennerSpecialist in visceral surgery / specialised visceral surgery
  • GermanyNetherlandsDr. MörmelSpecialist in internal medicine
  • GermanyAustriaProf. MillerSpecialist in general and visceral surgery

All specialists

What results are possible?

Less hunger, earlier satiety and a more favourable metabolism can help improve related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea.

A realistic weight-loss goal is often 40–50 kg – depending on starting weight, metabolism, exercise, nutrition, aftercare and your long-term cooperation. Results vary from person to person.

Gastric sleeve surgery can be an effective procedure for suitable patients – but it does not replace diagnostics, honesty or aftercare.

Results vary from person to person. The images show Weight Doctors® patients who have consented to their publication.

All success stories

What does gastric sleeve surgery cost – and what does the German health insurer pay?

For self-pay patients, gastric sleeve surgery with Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® is available from €2,500, including preliminary care and aftercare.

Where there is a medical indication in line with the guidelines, there is a chance of cost coverage by the German statutory health insurer. The successfully completed MMK serves as proof: it shows that conservative measures have been documented and that the operation has been medically reviewed. The MMK is a prerequisite for cost coverage, but is itself not a service of the health insurer. With a primary indication, immediate surgery without the 6-month MMK is possible.

There is no advance application: before the operation, we check all the requirements for you. You do not have to speak to your German health insurer, and billing takes place directly after the operation. This is how the costs are divided:

What statutory health insurance pays*

  • Surgery by a specialist
  • Anaesthesia
  • Materials and medication in the clinic
  • Double room at the Nationalklinik
  • Informed consent discussion
  • Aftercare in the clinic
  • No follow-up cost insurance needed

* For patients with German statutory health insurance: if the medical indication is established in line with the DGAV guidelines, reimbursement may be possible.

What you pay privately

  • Private medical pre- and post-treatment examinations

MMK+ programme

multimodal programme including Weight Doctors® MEMBERSHIP all-in

  • App with Weight Doctors® Mira, body scales and 3D Bodyscan
  • Specialists around the clock
  • Personal coach
  • Telemedicine and e-prescription
  • Communication with the German health insurer
  • Free choice of clinic for preliminary examination and aftercare
Two paths to stomach reduction on German health insurance

Usual pathwith an advance application to the German health insurer

Weight Doctors®Without advance application

ConsultationInitial consultation and indication
MMKSix months of nutrition, exercise and psychology
ApplicationApplication for cost coverage with all documents to the German health insurer
Expert reportReview by the Medical Service
DecisionWaiting for the decision – appeal if rejected
SurgeryProcedure after approval
ConsultationWe check your medical indication: BMI, related conditions, previous attempts to lose weight.
MMKSix months of nutrition, exercise and psychology – we organise all the appointments. With a primary indication, it is not required.
Final checkBefore surgery, we check all the requirements for you. You do not have to speak to your German health insurer.No advance application
SurgeryYour procedure – billing with your German health insurer follows directly after surgery.

* For patients with German statutory health insurance: if the medical indication is established in line with the DGAV guidelines, reimbursement may be possible.

More on cost coverageAll prices

Paying in instalments: how it works

If you would like to spread the costs over a longer period, payment in instalments via our partner medipay is possible. You decide the instalment amount and term yourself; medipay reviews your application promptly. You submit the application together with us during your consultation, by phone or entirely paperless online – more under Pay in instalments.

The requirement is sufficient creditworthiness. In detail:

  • Main residence in Germany
  • no negative Schufa entries
  • employed or retired, with disposable income
  • Students, trainees and homemakers can enter a second person from the same household as the borrower – a parent, child, spouse or partner

From just €278 per month** Financing through medipay, subject to a credit check.

Apply for instalmentsMore on instalments

The obesity centre Düsseldorf: preparation and aftercare on site

The obesity centre Düsseldorf combines medical consultation, organised preparation and the planning of the operation in one coordinated concept. The treatment pathway does not end with the question “surgery, yes or no?”, but answers the decisive follow-up question: how does the operation become a fresh start that lasts in the long term?

Consultation, MMK preparation and all aftercare take place at the obesity centre Düsseldorf – the point of contact for patients from Düsseldorf, Neuss, Ratingen, Meerbusch, Duisburg, Essen, Wuppertal and the wider Rhineland. Operations take place at the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik in Wertheim.

A specialised team on site checks alternatives, recognises limits and supports you from the first assessment into your new everyday life: eating slowly, drinking enough, prioritising protein, avoiding sugary drinks, building up exercise and attending check-up appointments. Prefer no surgery? We also offer endoscopic stomach reduction in Düsseldorf – without an incision, as an outpatient.

In the no-obligation initial consultation, we clarify whether sleeve gastrectomy suits your starting situation, which alternatives come into question and what your MMK schedule looks like in concrete terms. The whole procedure is part of Weight Doctors BARIATRICS®.

A Weight Doctors® member of staff welcomes a patient to her consultation
Instagram · Gastric sleeve Düsseldorf

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Your specialists

In specialist hands.

39 doctors in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and South Africa – at the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik in Wertheim and at your location.

  • GermanyNetherlandsDr. ScheffelSpecialist in general and bariatric surgery
  • GermanyAustriaProf. MillerSpecialist in general and visceral surgery
  • GermanyPD Dr. WichmannSpecialist in visceral surgery & expert in endobariatrics
  • GermanyM. MargolinsSpecialist in general surgery
  • GermanyM. ShalabiSpecialist in general and visceral surgery
  • GermanyNetherlandsDr. JennerSpecialist in visceral surgery / specialised visceral surgery
  • GermanyDr. SchüderSpecialist in general, visceral and vascular surgery / specialist in specialised visceral surgery
  • GermanyA. SaberSpecialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
  • NetherlandsProf. GreveSpecialist in visceral and bariatric surgery
  • South AfricaDr. HanningtonSpecialist in surgery
  • South AfricaDr. MabeSpecialist in surgery
  • South AfricaDr. WolmaransSpecialist in surgery

All specialists

Frequently asked questions

Questions about Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® gastric sleeve Düsseldorf

Your question isn’t listed? Your specialist will take time for it during the consultation.

Where do consultation, surgery and aftercare take place?

Consultation, MMK preparation and all aftercare take place at the obesity centre Düsseldorf. Operations take place at the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik in Wertheim.

From what BMI is a gastric sleeve possible?

As a guide, a BMI above 40 applies – or from 35 if related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea are present. With a primary indication, that is, a BMI of 50 or above, or of 35 or above with type 2 diabetes that has exhausted treatment options, immediate surgery without the 6-month MMK is possible.

When is a gastric sleeve not the right choice?

People who consume many sugary drinks or liquid calories (“sweet eaters”) often benefit less, because liquids pass easily through the small remaining stomach. In cases of pronounced reflux, chronic heartburn or certain findings in the oesophagus and stomach, a gastric bypass may also be more suitable.

How does the gastric sleeve differ from other pathways?

Compared with a gastric balloon, gastric sleeve surgery is permanent and intervenes more strongly in the anatomy. Unlike GLP-⁠1 therapy, it works not through a medication but surgically. Compared with endoscopic procedures such as Weight Doctors SLEEVE®, weight loss can be greater, but aftercare is more consistent and lifelong. We clarify which pathway suits you in the consultation.

How long does gastric sleeve surgery take under general anaesthesia?

About 75 minutes. The exact duration can vary slightly depending on the anatomical situation, previous findings and the course of the operation.

How long does one stay as an inpatient after sleeve gastrectomy?

As a rule, 1 night. During this time, early recovery, pain, circulation and fluid intake are monitored. After discharge, aftercare begins with building up your diet, check-up appointments and digital support.

When will I be fit again for everyday life and work?

Many people are ready to socialise again after about 10–14 days, provided the course is uneventful and the job is not too physically demanding. We agree resilience, fitness for work and sport with you individually.

How much can I lose with a gastric sleeve?

A realistic weight-loss goal is often 40–50 kg. This is not a guarantee: results vary from person to person and depend on starting weight, metabolism, exercise, nutrition, aftercare and your long-term cooperation.

What does the MMK before gastric sleeve surgery in Düsseldorf include?

Nutrition counselling, an exercise log, a psychological assessment, gastroscopy and a full blood count. This is how medical suitability is checked, the operation is prepared and the documentation for possible cost coverage by the German health insurer is built up.

Who organises the MMK appointments?

We do. At Weight Doctors® Düsseldorf, the appointments are not planned loosely side by side, but as a structured 6-month schedule – from the first consultation to surgery planning.

How is the MMK submitted to the German health insurer – do I have to make an application myself?

No. There is no advance application. The fully completed MMK serves as proof; before the operation, we check all the requirements for you. You do not have to speak to your German health insurer, and billing follows directly after the operation. More under Stomach reduction and health insurance.

What does gastric sleeve surgery cost for self-pay patients?

Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® starts at €2,500 – including the complete preliminary care and aftercare within the structured treatment pathway. We discuss the exact cost structure transparently in the consultation.

What monthly instalment is possible with financing?

For self-pay patients, financing through medipay is possible, with Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® from €278 per month (subject to a credit check). The exact instalment depends on the amount, the term and the credit check – more under Paying in instalments.

What do I need to bear in mind after gastric sleeve surgery?

Eat slowly and in small bites: eating too quickly, carbonated drinks or unsuitable foods can cause discomfort, especially in the first weeks. Dietary supplements are part of life afterwards – typically multivitamin preparations, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron and calcium, dosed according to your laboratory values; regular blood tests reveal a deficiency early. In the long term, your eating behaviour counts: drinking enough, prioritising protein, avoiding sugary drinks, building up exercise and attending check-up appointments.

Why Weight Doctors®

Good reasons for Weight Doctors®.

Specialised in one thing: lasting weight loss – from medication to surgery, with specialists at your location and our own Nationalklinik.

  • 23Locations in 6 countries
  • 39specialists
  • 5×ProvenExpert Top Recommendation in a row
  • 9treatments from gentle to surgical
ProvenExpert Top Recommendation 2022ProvenExpert Top Recommendation 2023ProvenExpert Top Recommendation 2024ProvenExpert Top Recommendation 2025ProvenExpert Top Recommendation 2026

All 13 reasons

As seen on TV & in the media

  • BILD
  • DIE WELT
  • ARD
  • Galileo
  • ProSieben
  • WAZ
  • SWR
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine
  • Brigitte
  • Apotheken Umschau
  • Handelsblatt
  • Hamburger Abendblatt
  • Main-Echo
  • Berliner Morgenpost
  • Gala
  • Bild der Frau
  • FOCUS
  • sonnenklar.TV
  • Süddeutsche Zeitung
  • Bild der Frau Schlank & fit
  • Fränkische Nachrichten
  • Klassik Radio
  • Mannheimer Morgen
  • Radio Gong 96.3
  • Stuttgarter Zeitung
Other treatments

All paths.
From gentle to surgical.

Every method has its place. Here you can see at a glance how major the procedure is, how long it takes and what starting price you can expect.

Wide range of services
no procedure
Surgery
No procedure

Weight Doctors® GLP-⁠1 pharmacotherapy

Medication-based, no procedure

Medically supervised pharmacotherapy with regular progress monitoring – with no procedure at all.

Duration3–12 months
Pricefrom €599
No procedure

Weight Doctors® 360°

Nutrition coaching

Nutrition coaching and support in everyday life – in person, by video and in the app.

Durationper session
Pricefrom €65
Long-lastingNewAt the Weight Doctors® Nationalklinik

Weight Doctors® hydroGMA

Endoscopic, no incisions

Losing weight without medication: lowering the hunger hormone endoscopically – no surgery, no incisions. On its own or combined with an endo sleeve.

Durationapprox. 30 min
Priceon request
No surgery

Weight Doctors® GASTRIC BALLOON

Temporary, also swallowable

A temporary companion for 6 or 12 months – also swallowable, with no endoscopy at all.

Duration6 or 12 months
Pricefrom €3,490or from €50 a month*
No surgeryHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors SLEEVE®

Endoscopic, permanent

Permanent stomach reduction without conventional surgery – endoscopic, outpatient, without scars.

Duration30–60 min
Pricefrom €5,500or from €199 a month*
You are hereWith surgeryHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors BARIATRICS®

Surgical, minimally invasive

Gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery for higher BMIs, incl. private medical preliminary examination and aftercare.

Duration1–3 nights
Pricefrom €2,500or from €278 a month*
With surgeryHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors® REVISION

Corrective procedure after weight-loss surgery

Corrective procedure when earlier weight-loss surgery has not brought the desired success.

Durationindividual
Pricefrom €900
LipoedemaHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors® Lipoedema surgery

Liposuction for lipoedema

Specialised liposuction that specifically removes diseased fatty tissue in lipoedema and can relieve pain.

Duration1.5–3 hours
Pricefrom €950
After weight lossHealth insurance cover also possible*

Weight Doctors® RESHAPE

After weight loss

Post-bariatric body contouring after successful weight loss.

Durationindividual
Pricefrom €1,950

* For patients with German statutory health insurance: if the medical indication is established in line with the DGAV guidelines, reimbursement may be possible.

All treatments

Consultation

On to your Weight Doctors® Experience.

The first step is a conversation: choose your treatment, location and appointment online here – consultation on site, by video or by phone.

  • 100% no obligation
  • One-to-one with your specialist
  • Appointments online, around the clock
  • 23 locations in 6 countries
Find a location near you

Health insurance cover also possible*

Prefer to call? 0800 84 84 777Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm · Sat 9 am–3 pm

* For patients with German statutory health insurance: if the medical indication is established in line with the DGAV guidelines, reimbursement may be possible.

Weight Doctors® at 23 locations in 6 countries23 locations

Which location is closest to you?

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