Milan and Rome are Italy's primary hubs for high-volume metabolic surgery, offering the most robust English-speaking support. Centers of Excellence accredited by the Italian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SICOB) provide comprehensive pathways, including multidisciplinary teams of nutritionists, surgeons, and dedicated international patient coordinators.
- Milan (Lombardy): Features hospitals like San Donato performing approx 9,400 bariatric procedures annually.
- Rome (Lazio): Ospedale San Carlo di Nancy provides robotic-assisted surgery near Vatican City.
- Bologna (Emilia-Romagna): Maria Cecilia Hospital offers Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited safeguards and transfers.
- Surgeon expertise: Dr. Antonio Braun at Maria Cecilia Hospital has performed over 12,000 procedures.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While Milan leads in volume, Bologna’s Maria Cecilia Hospital offers a unique logistical advantage for international patients. Their GVM Campus specifically hosts international medical congresses, ensuring staff are more accustomed to English-speaking environments than general regional hospitals. High-volume surgeons like Dr. Antonio Braun bring 25 years of experience to these pathways, which helps maintain high safety standards during complex metabolic reconstructions.
Patient Consensus: Patients often find that while medical care is world-class, English-speaking nutritional support can be limited. Many recommend confirming fluency with your specific dietician before traveling to ensure your post-operative meal plans are fully understood.