Why I Became a Bariatric Surgeon

My name is Trepet Serhii Olehovych, and I am a bariatric surgeon. For many years, I have been working with patients for whom excess weight is not just a matter of appearance, but a question of health, quality of life, and even longevity.

My path in surgery began in a fairly classic way. Residency, first on-call shifts, urgent cases, night surgeries. It was a real school — quick decisions, responsibility, constant pressure.

But over time, I began to notice a pattern that made me rethink my approach to medicine.

Patients kept coming back to me with complications: gallstone disease, hernias, joint problems, cardiovascular diseases. We operated, helped, stabilized their condition… but after some time, they returned.

And almost always there was one common cause — obesity.

A moment that changed my direction

I remember one patient very well. He was a little over 40 years old. He was sincerely trying to change his life: diets, exercise, medications. But the weight kept coming back, and with it came diabetes, high blood pressure, and constant fatigue.

That was when I first seriously asked myself: why are we treating the consequences instead of the cause?

That question led me to bariatric surgery.

Training and rethinking

I began to study this field in depth. It was no longer just surgery — it was a whole philosophy of treatment.

I took specialized courses, completed training placements, and learned from colleagues abroad. It was a completely different level of patient care: comprehensive, systematic, and based on an understanding of metabolic processes.

When I underwent certification, it was important to me not just to receive a document, but to understand the international standards used in modern bariatrics.  

This gave me a clear understanding: bariatrics is not a “fashionable trend,” but evidence-based medicine with clear criteria and results.

The main insight

The most important thing I realized:

Obesity is not weakness.

It is a chronic disease associated with hormonal changes, metabolism, and even brain function. That is why standard advice like “eat less and move more” often simply does not work.

People live for years with a sense of guilt. They think the problem is in themselves.

But that is not true.

Why I stayed in bariatrics

Because here, for the first time, I saw real results.

Not cosmetic. Not temporary.

But systemic.

I saw how after surgery:

• blood sugar levels normalize
• the need for insulin disappears
• blood pressure stabilizes
• the load on the joints decreases
• people begin to move without pain

But the most powerful change is in the mind.

When a person starts believing in themselves again for the first time in many years.

Responsibility that is rarely talked about

There is another side to this profession.

Not everyone needs surgery.

Sometimes my job is to say “no.”

That is harder than it sounds. Because the patient comes with hope. But my task is not just to operate — it is to make the right decisions.

I evaluate:

• body mass index
• comorbid conditions
• history of weight-loss attempts
• psychological state

Because bariatric surgery is not a magic button. It is a tool that works only when it is used correctly.

What this profession means to me

For me, bariatrics is not about operations.

It is about people.

About their fears, doubts, years of struggle, and the moment they decide to change their lives.

I always say: we work together.

Surgery is only the first step. Then comes a new way of life. And I stay with the patient on that journey.

Why I made this choice

I became a bariatric surgeon because here I see meaning.

I see results.

I see how people’s lives change — not in words, but in reality.

And every time a patient comes for a follow-up and I do not recognize them, I understand that this path was the right one.