New in IrelandOnly at Auralia
MagDI™: The Next Generation Of Weight Loss Surgery
A new way to create the intestinal connection in weight loss surgery: two small magnets do the work, so the bowel is never cut, stapled or stitched at the join.
Performed in Dublin by Dr John Loy, Ireland's first MagDI™ certified surgeon.
Excellent 4.8 out of 5 
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A free consultation with Dr LoyWith no long waiting list
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Auralia Private Hospital, DublinIreland's first internationally accredited private hospital
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Irish aftercareDietitian support, the Auralia weight loss app and a 24/7 surgical emergency line
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One all-inclusive priceWith finance from €359 per month
Almost3,000
bariatric procedures by Dr Loy
25years
caring for patients in Ireland
40,000+
patients
CHKS
accredited hospital
Excellent
452 reviews on Trustpilot
MagDI™ At A Glance
The key facts in one place. Dr Loy will talk you through every detail at your free consultation.
Weight loss
About a third
of total body weight in the first year, with a sleeve*
Procedure
1 to 1.5 hours
Keyhole, under general anaesthetic
Hospital stay
1 night
1 to 2 nights if combined with a sleeve
Back to desk work
1 to 2 weeks
For most patients
Magnets pass
2 to 3 weeks
Naturally, then confirmed by X-ray
Authorised in
US, Canada, Europe
US FDA, Health Canada and CE mark
*In the first European and Canadian series, patients having MagDI™ with a gastric sleeve lost around 34 to 39% of their total body weight at one year. Results vary between individuals.
What Is MagDI™?
MagDI™ is a new technique for the part of weight loss surgery that matters most: the connection between two sections of intestine.
A New Junction In The Small Intestine
In bypass-type procedures, the surgeon creates a new junction in the small intestine so that food and digestive juices meet further along the gut.
Changes the hormones that control hunger and blood sugar
Reduces how much of what you eat is absorbed
It is why bypass procedures deliver strong, lasting weight loss and often put type 2 diabetes into remission.
Until now, that junction has been made by cutting the bowel and joining it with staples or stitches.
The staple line is where most serious complications of conventional bypass surgery, such as leaks and bleeding, begin.
MagDI™ Makes The Junction Differently
Drag the slider or pick a stage to see what happens.
The result is a duodeno-ileal connection made without cutting, stapling or stitching the bowel at the join.
It is the same metabolic principle that makes bypass surgery work, achieved with a new technology.
MagDI™ Can Be Performed
- On its own
- Combined with a gastric sleeve in one operation
- As a second-stage procedure for patients who have already had weight loss surgery and need more help
Dr Loy will recommend the right pathway for you at your consultation.
How MagDI™ Works
Five steps, from the morning of surgery to a new route for food.
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Morning of surgery
First magnetStep 1
The First Magnet
On the morning of surgery you swallow the first magnet with a glass of water, or Dr Loy places it with a thin scope while you are asleep. It travels into the small intestine.
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During surgeryThe magnets meet
Step 2
The Second Magnet
During a keyhole procedure under general anaesthetic, Dr Loy guides the first magnet to the right point in the ileum and places the second magnet in the duodenum. The two magnets attract each other and lock together through the bowel wall.
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Next 2 to 3 weeksNew opening forms here
Step 3
Your Body Makes The Connection
Over the next two to three weeks the gentle pressure between the magnets causes the tissue between them to remodel. A new, pure connection forms and heals with no staple line and no stitches.
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Within 2 to 3 weeksMagnets pass naturally
Step 4
The Magnets Leave
Once the opening has formed, the magnets pass through your digestive system still joined together, usually within two to three weeks of surgery. Most patients do not notice. A simple X-ray confirms they have gone. Nothing is left behind.
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From then onShorter route
Step 5
A New Route For Food
Part of what you eat now takes a shorter route through the intestine and meets digestive juices later.
Hunger hormones fall Increased GLP-1 release (your body’s own fullness hormone) Less energy is absorbed
Dr Loy will talk you through every step.
The Benefits Of MagDI™
No Cutting, Stapling Or Stitching Of The Bowel At The Connection
The junction that carries the highest risk in conventional bypass surgery is made by magnets and your own healing instead of a staple line.
A Less Invasive Way To Bypass
On its own, MagDI™ is the least invasive intestinal bypass procedure available:
Keyhole surgery
No bowel division
Typically one night in hospital
When combined with a gastric sleeve, it replaces the most delicate step of a conventional bypass with a gentler one.
Around a thirdof total body weight lost in the first year
Strong, Lasting Weight Loss
MagDI™ works through the same proven mechanism as bypass surgery: rerouting food to change hunger hormones and absorption. Early published results for MagDI™ with a sleeve show around a third of total body weight lost in the first year.
Improvements In Type 2 Diabetes
Duodeno-ileal procedures are among the most effective for blood sugar control. In the first study of MagDI™ alone in patients with type 2 diabetes, average HbA1c fell from 8.2% to 6.6% within a year.
Within2–3 weeks
Nothing Left Behind
Unlike a band or a balloon, there is no implant to maintain. Once the connection has formed, the magnets pass naturally, usually within two to three weeks.
Your Anatomy Is Preserved
The bowel is not divided, so your intestine keeps its normal route as well as the new one. This keeps future treatment options open, and the connection can be surgically closed if that were ever needed.
A Second Chance After Previous Surgery
If a gastric sleeve or other procedure has stopped working for you, MagDI™ can add a metabolic effect without a full conversion operation.
Every patient is different. Dr Loy will discuss the benefits, risks and alternatives with you and advise whether MagDI™ is right for your individual circumstances.
MagDI™ Compared With Gastric Bypass And Gastric Sleeve
| MagDI™New | Roux-en-Y gastric bypass | Gastric sleeve | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Magnets create a pure duodeno-ileal connection; bowel not divided | Stomach pouch plus rerouted intestine with two stapled connections | Around 80% of the stomach removed with a staple line |
| Cutting or stapling the bowel | None at the connection | Yes, two anastomoses | Stomach only |
| Metabolic (hormonal) effect | Strong | Strong | Moderate |
| Type 2 diabetes improvement | Strong | Strong | Good |
| Hospital stay | Usually 1 night (1 to 2 with sleeve) | 1 to 2 nights | 1 night |
| Anything left behind | Magnets pass naturally within 2 to 3 weeks | Permanent staples | Permanent staple line |
| Can it be undone | Connection can be surgically closed | Rarely, only for medical complications | No |
| Track record | New: in clinical use since 2021, CE marked 2026 | Decades | Decades |
| Best suited to | Patients wanting a bypass effect with the least bowel surgery; revision after a sleeve | Higher BMI, severe reflux, diabetes | First procedure, simpler anatomy |
Not sure which is right for you?
You do not need to decide before you talk to us. That is what the consultation is for.
Who Is MagDI™ For?
MagDI™ may be considered for adults for whom a bariatric or metabolic procedure is clinically appropriate. Dr Loy currently offers it in three ways:
As a first procedure
With A Gastric Sleeve
The sleeve reduces portion size; MagDI™ adds the metabolic effect of a bypass without a stapled intestinal connection.
For selected patients
On Its Own
For selected patients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes, MagDI™ alone provides a bypass effect with the least possible intervention.
After previous surgery
As A Revision
For patients who have regained weight or not lost enough after a gastric sleeve, gastric band or other weight loss surgery, MagDI™ adds a metabolic step without a full conversion.
This is a guide only. Dr Loy will recommend the right pathway for you at your consultation.
When MagDI™ is not suitable
MagDI™ is not suitable if you have an MRI scan planned in the weeks after surgery, or where your anatomy or medical history makes magnet placement unsafe. Dr Loy will assess this at your consultation.
Dr John Loy
Consultant Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeon, Head of Bariatric Surgery at Auralia
Your surgeon
Your Certified MagDI™ Surgeon
Dr Loy has performed almost 3,000 bariatric procedures and is one of Ireland's most experienced weight loss surgeons. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Head of Education at the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS) and a member of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).
First in Ireland
He completed GT Metabolic's MagDI™ training and proctorship programme and is the first surgeon certified to perform MagDI™ in Ireland.
October 2025
He hosted the Auralia International Bariatric Masterclass in Dublin, where the procedure's inventor, Professor Michel Gagner, demonstrated MagDI™ live to Irish and international surgeons.
You will meet Dr Loy at your first consultation, he will perform your surgery, and he will see you at your follow-up appointments.
Why Patients Trust Auralia
25Years 40,000+Patients
Auralia has cared for patients in Ireland since 2001. Bringing MagDI™ to Dublin continues a record of introducing new, well-evidenced techniques to Irish patients without the need to travel abroad.
Excellent
4.8 out of 5 · 452 reviews on Trustpilot
4.7 out of 5
584 Google reviews across our 3 locations
WhatClinic
Awarded for outstanding patient service
An Accredited Irish Private Hospital
Your surgery takes place at Auralia Private Hospital in Dublin, the first Irish private hospital to achieve full CHKS accreditation, with experienced surgical, anaesthetic and nursing teams.
Specialist Bariatric Care
Your journey is supported by an experienced bariatric team who understand that successful weight management involves much more than the procedure itself.
Aftercare That Stays In Ireland
Your dietitian, your surgeon and your follow-up are all here. You have:
Straight Advice
Weight management is never one-size-fits-all. Sometimes the right recommendation is a different procedure, and sometimes it is no surgery at all. We will tell you.
What Our Weight Loss Surgery Patients Say
Reviews on Trustpilot
What The Evidence Shows
MagDI™ was developed by Professor Michel Gagner, one of the world's leading bariatric surgeons, and has been in clinical use since 2021.
- 2021In clinical use
- 2024US FDA authorisation
- 2025Health Canada approval
- 2026European CE mark
- NowAvailable in Ireland at Auralia
Published Results So Far
100%
In every published study, the magnets have been placed successfully and the connection has formed in 100% of patients.
0 leaks reported
No anastomotic leak has been reported at the magnetic connection in any published series.
Over 97%
The magnets passed naturally in over 97% of patients.
34 to 39%
Patients having MagDI™ with a gastric sleeve lost around 34 to 39% of their total body weight at one year in the first European and Canadian series.
8.2% → 6.6% HbA1c
In patients with type 2 diabetes treated with MagDI™ alone, average HbA1c fell from 8.2% to 6.6% at one year.
Recovery: What To Expect
Six stages, from the day of surgery onwards. Choose a stage to see what happens.
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Stage 1 of 6
Day of surgery
Keyhole procedure under general anaesthetic, usually 1 to 1.5 hours. Overnight stay.
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Stage 2 of 6
Day 1 to 2
Home. Clear fluids, gentle walking. Most patients need only simple pain relief.
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Stage 3 of 6
Week 1 to 2
Liquid then pureed diet with dietitian guidance. Back to desk work within about a week.
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Stage 4 of 6
Week 2 to 3
The new connection forms and the magnets pass naturally, still joined together. Soft foods introduced.
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Stage 5 of 6
Around six weeks
A follow-up X-ray confirms the magnets have gone. Normal textured food resumes.
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Stage 6 of 6
Month 3 onwards
Regular follow-up, blood tests and lifelong daily vitamin and mineral supplements, as with all bypass-type surgery.
If you have a gastric sleeve at the same time, expect a hospital stay of one to two nights and the standard sleeve recovery programme alongside the above.
Your MagDI™ Journey With Auralia
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Step 1
Enquire
Call or send the form. A Patient Coordinator replies within one working day and books your free consultation. There is no obligation and no waiting list.
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Step 2
Free Consultation With Dr Loy
You discuss your health, weight history and goals. Dr Loy explains your options, including MagDI™, sleeve, bypass and non-surgical treatments, and recommends a pathway.
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Step 3
Your Personalised Plan And Quote
You receive a written plan and a single all-inclusive price, with finance options if you want them. Ask as many questions as you need.
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Step 4
Preparation
Pre-operative assessment, dietitian appointment and clear instructions for the morning of surgery, including how the first magnet is taken.
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Step 5
Your Procedure
At Auralia Private Hospital, Dublin, with Dr Loy and our specialist team.
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Step 6
Recovery And Aftercare
Structured follow-up, dietitian support, the Auralia app and our 24/7 emergency line. Your surgeon is in Dublin, not abroad.
MagDI™ Cost And Finance In Ireland
From
€359
per month over 36 months
If MagDI™ is combined with a gastric sleeve or performed as a revision, your quote will reflect that, and we will explain exactly what is included.
Your MagDI™ package is all-inclusive:
- Surgeon's fee
- Hospital and anaesthetist
- The MagDI™ magnets
- Follow-up appointments
- Dietitian support
- The Auralia app
- First-year surgical complication insurance
You will know the full price before you decide anything.
Is MagDI™ a gastric bypass?
It belongs to the same family. Like a bypass, MagDI™ creates a new connection in the small intestine so food and digestive juices meet further along the gut, which changes hunger hormones and absorption. The difference is how the connection is made: with magnets and your own healing rather than by cutting the bowel and joining it with staples. Unlike a Roux-en-Y bypass, the bowel is not divided, and MagDI™ does not create a small stomach pouch. If portion control is also needed, it is combined with a gastric sleeve.
Is the whole operation done without cutting?
The intestinal connection is made without any cutting, stapling or stitching of the bowel. The procedure itself is keyhole surgery, so you will have a few small incisions on your abdomen. If you also have a gastric sleeve, that part of the operation uses standard surgical staples on the stomach. Dr Loy will explain exactly what your procedure involves.
Do the magnets stay inside me?
No. Once the connection has formed, the magnets pass through your digestive system still joined together, usually within two to three weeks of surgery and sometimes longer. Most people do not notice. We confirm with an X-ray.
Can I have an MRI scan?
Not while the magnets are in place. If you have an MRI planned or a condition likely to need one in the weeks after surgery, tell us at your consultation. Once the magnets have passed, MRI is fine.
How much weight could I lose?
Results vary with the pathway chosen, your starting weight and how you engage with the programme. In the first published series, patients having MagDI™ with a gastric sleeve lost around a third of their total body weight in the first year, in line with conventional bypass. Dr Loy will give you a realistic picture for your circumstances.
Will it help my type 2 diabetes?
Duodeno-ileal procedures have some of the strongest effects on blood sugar of any weight loss surgery. In the first study of MagDI™ on its own in patients with type 2 diabetes, average HbA1c fell from 8.2% to 6.6% within a year. Your diabetes team will be involved in your follow-up.
Is MagDI™ safe? It is new.
MagDI™ has been in clinical use since 2021 and is authorised by the US FDA, Health Canada and CE marked in Europe. In the published studies, the magnets have connected successfully in every patient and no leak has occurred at the magnetic connection, which is the complication surgeons most want to avoid in bypass surgery. As with any surgery there are risks, including bleeding, infection, hernia and, rarely, the need for a further procedure. Because it is new, long-term data beyond two years is still being collected. Dr Loy will go through the risks with you in full.
Is MagDI™ reversible?
The bowel is not divided, so your normal anatomy is preserved alongside the new connection. If it were ever medically necessary, the connection can be closed surgically. That is itself an operation, and a gastric sleeve, if you have one, cannot be reversed. Dr Loy will discuss this with you.
I already had a gastric sleeve and I am regaining weight. Can MagDI™ help?
Possibly. MagDI™ is designed to be added after a sleeve to provide the metabolic effect of a bypass without a full conversion. Results after a previous sleeve are more modest than for a first procedure, so Dr Loy will look at your history carefully before recommending it.
How long will I be in hospital and off work?
Usually one night for MagDI™ alone, one to two nights if combined with a sleeve. Most patients return to desk work within one to two weeks.
How is the first magnet placed? Do I really swallow it?
For many patients, yes: you swallow the first magnet with water on the morning of surgery and it travels into the small intestine on its own. If that is not suitable, Dr Loy places it with a thin endoscope while you are asleep. Either way you will not feel it.
What does MagDI™ cost at Auralia?
Your all-inclusive package starts from €359 per month over 36 months. The exact price depends on whether MagDI™ is performed alone, with a sleeve or as a revision. You receive a written quote after your free consultation.
Why can I only have MagDI™ at Auralia?
MagDI™ requires specific training and proctored cases before a surgeon is certified by GT Metabolic. Dr Loy is currently the only surgeon in Ireland to have completed that programme, and Auralia Private Hospital is the only Irish hospital offering it.
How do I know which procedure is right for me?
You do not need to know before you come in. Your free consultation covers MagDI™, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, the Allurion balloon and non-surgical options, and Dr Loy recommends the one that fits your health and goals.
Weight-Loss Surgery, Reimagined.
- A less invasive approach.
- A pure connection.
- Greater flexibility for your future.
MagDI™ represents a new approach to metabolic bypass surgery — combining established principles of weight-loss surgery with an innovative way of creating the intestinal connection.
Now available in Ireland at Auralia.
The GT Metabolic™ Magnet System is a CE-marked medical device used to create the intestinal connection in the MagDI™ procedure. All surgery carries risk. Results vary between individuals. This page is for information and does not replace a consultation with a registered medical practitioner. Dr John Loy, IMC registration number 419687.
