Gastric Band (Adjustable) in Turkey

An adjustable gastric band in Turkey is a keyhole operation in which a soft silicone band is placed around the upper stomach to create a small pouch, so you feel full on smaller portions. It is the least invasive and the only fully reversible and adjustable bariatric option, with prices typically from around £3,200 at accredited Turkish hospitals. It suits people who want a non-permanent first step and are willing to commit to regular band adjustments and long-term dietary change. Unal Cakar is an independent facilitator who coordinates your care with vetted accredited clinics; you only ever pay the hospital directly.

The adjustable gastric band (sometimes called a lap band or LAGB) is a hollow silicone ring fitted around the top of the stomach. It divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and a larger lower section, so a modest amount of food fills the pouch quickly and signals fullness to the brain. Unlike a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, no part of the stomach is cut away or stapled, which is why the band is considered reversible.

The band is connected by thin tubing to a small access port placed just under the skin of the abdomen. By adding or removing sterile saline through this port, your surgeon can tighten or loosen the band over time to fine-tune restriction. It is worth knowing that, internationally, gastric banding is now performed less often than sleeve gastrectomy because it tends to produce slower, smaller weight loss and can need more follow-up; a responsible clinic will discuss whether a band, sleeve or bypass genuinely fits your goals.

The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic by laparoscopy (keyhole surgery), usually through four or five small incisions, and typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. The surgeon positions the band around the upper stomach, secures it, and tunnels the connecting tube to the access port, which is anchored to the muscle wall beneath the skin. Because the incisions are small, most people experience less pain and faster recovery than with open surgery.

The band is usually left empty or only lightly filled at first. Several weeks after surgery, once healing is complete, the first adjustment (a fill) is performed by injecting saline into the port, often guided by how you eat and how your weight is responding. These adjustments are repeated over months to find your personal sweet spot. Because most fills happen after you return home, your clinic should arrange clear instructions and a plan for adjustments to be done locally, which Unal helps coordinate before you travel.

• Laparoscopic (keyhole) placement of a soft, adjustable silicone band
• The only fully reversible and adjustable bariatric procedure
• Suits BMI 40+, or 35+ with weight-related conditions, who want a non-permanent option
• Requires lifelong band adjustments, dietitian support and lasting habit change
• Coordinated by Unal with vetted accredited hospitals; you pay the clinic directly

1. 01

   Free assessment and medical review

   You share your height, weight, BMI, medical history and any previous weight-loss attempts. Unal arranges a remote consultation so the surgeon can confirm whether a band is appropriate or whether a sleeve or bypass would serve you better.

2. 02

   Pre-operative tests and planning

   Standard work-up includes blood tests, often an ECG, and sometimes endoscopy or imaging. A dietitian explains the staged eating plan and the lifelong commitment a band requires.

3. 03

   Arrival and surgery in Turkey

   You typically stay 3 to 5 days. The keyhole operation takes under an hour, and most patients are walking the same day to reduce clot risk.

4. 04

   Early recovery and discharge

   You begin clear fluids and progress slowly under supervision. The team checks your wounds and port before discharge and gives written aftercare guidance.

5. 05

   Return home on a staged diet

   You move through liquids, purees and soft foods over several weeks before normal-texture meals, following the plan provided.

6. 06

   Band adjustments and long-term follow-up

   Your first fill is done a few weeks later, then repeated as needed. Unal helps you organise local adjustments and stays a point of contact throughout.

A gastric band may suit adults with a BMI of 40 or above, or 35 and above with weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea, who specifically want a reversible, adjustable option and are prepared to attend regular adjustments and change their eating habits long term. It can appeal to people who feel uneasy about the permanence of a sleeve or bypass. It is generally not recommended for those who cannot commit to follow-up, who rely heavily on fizzy drinks, sweets or high-calorie liquids (which pass straight through a band), who have certain oesophageal or stomach conditions, or who want the fastest, largest possible weight loss, in which case a sleeve or bypass is usually more effective. Final suitability is always decided by the surgeon after assessment.

• Least invasive bariatric option, with no cutting, stapling or removal of the stomach
• Fully reversible and adjustable, so restriction can be tightened, loosened or the band removed
• Keyhole surgery means small scars, less pain and a relatively quick early recovery
• Short hospital stay and no permanent change to your digestive anatomy
• Lower risk of nutritional deficiencies than malabsorptive procedures like gastric bypass
• Adjustments can be tailored over time to suit pregnancy plans or changing needs

Most people feel reasonably well within a few days and return to desk-based work in about one to two weeks, with full recovery over roughly two to four weeks. You should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for several weeks while the band settles and the port site heals. Some shoulder-tip discomfort from the gas used during keyhole surgery is normal and eases quickly.

Diet progresses in stages: clear fluids first, then thicker liquids and purees, then soft foods, and finally normal-texture meals over four to six weeks. Eating slowly, chewing thoroughly and stopping when full become essential habits, because eating too fast or too much can cause discomfort, regurgitation or, over time, problems with the band. Your first adjustment usually comes a few weeks after surgery, and ongoing dietitian support makes a real difference to results.

Weight loss with a band is gradual rather than dramatic. On average, people lose roughly 40 to 50 percent of their excess weight over one to two years, which is typically less than with a sleeve or bypass and depends heavily on how closely you follow the eating plan and attend adjustments. The band works best as a tool alongside genuine lifestyle change, not as a standalone fix, and consistent follow-up is the single biggest predictor of success. No bariatric procedure can guarantee a specific weight or outcome, and some people regain weight or ultimately convert to another operation; your surgeon will set realistic expectations for your individual situation.

Turkey is a leading destination for bariatric surgery, offering accredited hospitals and high-volume, internationally trained surgeons at a fraction of UK or US prices, where a gastric band can cost several times more. Accredited Turkish clinics commonly include the surgeon's fee, hospital stay, standard tests and initial aftercare in a transparent package. As an independent facilitator and patient advocate, Unal Cakar is sponsored by vetted partner hospitals rather than charging you a markup: you pay the clinic directly, and he coordinates your consultation, logistics, dietitian support and follow-up so the experience is safe, clear and well organised.