Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy) in Turkey

A gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy) is a permanent weight-loss operation in which a surgeon removes roughly 75-80% of the stomach, leaving a slim tube that holds less food and lowers the main hunger hormone. In Turkey, accredited bariatric teams perform it laparoscopically (keyhole) from around £2,900, with a typical 5-7 day stay and 2-4 weeks of recovery. It suits adults with a BMI of 35+ (or 30+ with weight-related conditions) who have struggled to lose weight by other means. Unal Cakar is an independent facilitator who coordinates your care with vetted, internationally accredited hospitals — you pay the clinic directly, never him.

A sleeve gastrectomy, commonly called a gastric sleeve, is a type of bariatric (weight-loss) surgery. The surgeon permanently removes about three-quarters of the stomach and shapes the remaining portion into a narrow, banana-like tube or 'sleeve'. Because the new stomach is much smaller, you feel full after small meals, and removing the upper part of the stomach reduces production of ghrelin, the main hormone that drives appetite.

Unlike a gastric band, nothing is implanted, and unlike a gastric bypass, the intestines are not re-routed, so the natural path of food through the digestive system stays the same. It is one of the most commonly performed weight-loss operations worldwide and is intended as a long-term tool alongside — not instead of — lasting changes to diet, activity and eating habits.

The operation is performed under general anaesthetic and almost always laparoscopically (keyhole surgery). The surgeon makes four to six small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a camera and fine instruments. A sizing tube (bougie) is passed into the stomach to guide the new width, then a surgical stapler cuts and seals along the length of the stomach, removing the larger curved section. The staple line is checked for leaks before the instruments are withdrawn and the small incisions are closed.

The procedure itself usually takes around 60 to 90 minutes. Keyhole access means less tissue trauma, smaller scars and a quicker recovery than open surgery. In accredited Turkish hospitals the bariatric team typically includes the surgeon, an anaesthetist and a dietitian, with pre-operative tests (bloods, endoscopy or imaging) carried out before you are cleared for theatre.

• Laparoscopic (keyhole) technique — usually 4-6 small incisions, no large open wound
• Suitable for adults with a BMI of 35+ (or 30+ with conditions like type 2 diabetes or hypertension)
• Package typically includes hospital stay, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, tests and follow-up
• Permanent procedure — part of the stomach is removed and cannot be put back
• Average loss of 60-70% of excess weight over 12-18 months with diet and lifestyle change

1. 01

   Free assessment and medical review

   Unal collects your height, weight, BMI, medical history and any medication, and shares them with the bariatric team for a suitability opinion and a clear, itemised quote.

2. 02

   Pre-operative tests on arrival

   After landing you have blood tests, an ECG, and often an endoscopy or ultrasound. The surgeon and anaesthetist confirm you are fit for surgery.

3. 03

   The operation

   A keyhole sleeve gastrectomy under general anaesthetic, usually 60-90 minutes, followed by close monitoring in hospital.

4. 04

   Hospital stay and early recovery

   You stay in hospital for around three nights, starting on clear fluids, with a leak test and early walking before discharge. Total time in Turkey is usually 5-7 days.

5. 05

   Staged diet and discharge

   You leave with a structured liquid-to-soft-to-solid diet plan, supplements and instructions before flying home — most people are cleared to fly after about a week.

6. 06

   Structured aftercare

   Unal coordinates remote dietitian and surgeon follow-up at set intervals so questions about food, supplements and weight are answered after you return.

Gastric sleeve surgery is generally considered for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or above, or 30 and above when obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, severe sleep apnoea or joint disease are present, and who have not achieved lasting results with diet, exercise and medical support. Candidates need to be willing to follow a permanent change in eating and to take lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements. It is less suitable for people with severe untreated acid reflux (where a bypass may be advised), uncontrolled psychiatric or eating disorders, active substance misuse, certain heart or lung conditions, or anyone unable to commit to long-term follow-up. A proper assessment of your history and tests is what ultimately decides suitability, and a responsible team will decline or recommend an alternative procedure where the sleeve is not the safest choice.

• Significant, sustained weight loss — on average 60-70% of excess weight over 12-18 months when paired with lifestyle change
• Reduced appetite, because the part of the stomach producing the hunger hormone ghrelin is removed
• Often improves or resolves type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea and joint pain
• Keyhole technique means small scars, less pain and a faster recovery than open surgery
• No implanted device and no re-routing of the intestines, so food is absorbed normally
• All-inclusive coordinated package — surgery, hospital stay, tests and follow-up arranged in one trip

Most patients are up and walking within hours of surgery, which helps prevent blood clots, and stay in hospital for around three nights. You begin on clear fluids, then progress to free fluids before discharge. Total time in Turkey is usually 5-7 days, after which most people are cleared to fly home. Expect some abdominal tenderness, tiredness and occasional nausea in the first week, normally managed with simple pain relief and anti-sickness medication.

You will follow a staged diet: roughly two weeks of liquids, then two to four weeks of pureed and soft foods, before gradually returning to small portions of solid food at around 4-6 weeks. Light activity such as walking can resume quickly, but heavy lifting and strenuous exercise are usually avoided for about four weeks. Many people return to a desk job within 2-4 weeks. Lifelong supplements and periodic blood checks are part of staying well after the sleeve, and your aftercare plan covers what to take and when.

Weight loss is gradual and steady rather than instant. Most people lose the majority of their excess weight over the first 12-18 months, with averages of around 60-70% of excess weight, though individual results vary widely depending on starting weight, metabolism and how closely the new eating pattern is followed. Many obesity-related conditions improve in parallel, and some, such as type 2 diabetes, may go into remission. The sleeve is a powerful tool, not a guarantee: long-term success depends on permanent changes to diet and activity, and a degree of weight regain is possible if old habits return. No reputable team will promise a specific number on the scale.

Turkey is one of the world's busiest destinations for bariatric surgery, with high-volume, internationally accredited (including JCI) hospitals and experienced surgeons, at a fraction of UK or US prices — a sleeve from around £2,900 compared with roughly £9,000-£12,000 privately in the UK or $15,000-$20,000 in the US, often with little or no NHS access. Unal Cakar is an independent health-tourism facilitator and patient advocate, not a clinic: he vets and partners with accredited hospitals, helps you compare clear quotes, coordinates your tests, travel and translation, and stays involved through structured aftercare. Crucially, you pay the hospital directly for your treatment and never pay Unal — his service is sponsored by the vetted partner hospitals, so his guidance stays focused on your safety and value.