How to get the best gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey?
Leading Turkish clinics such as Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital (4.8/5), Lotus Bariatrics Clinic (5.0/5), and Hisar Hospital Intercontinental (4.6/5, JCI-accredited) providing medical assistance for international patients meet strict international healthcare standards. Over 30 hospitals in Turkey hold Joint Commission International accreditation standards, ensuring they comply with global patient safety protocols. However, to get the best experience, you should:
- Explore the clinic's reputation: find out whether they have proper certification and licensing.
- Check patient feedback. Real customer opinions from those who have already experienced the procedure provide valuable insights into medical centers.
- Compare the prices. Avoid choosing clinics that offer extremely low prices for the surgery. This might indicate that a medical center lacks sufficient experience to perform the operation. However, reduced prices can be available through time-limited specials provided by reputable facilities.
A patient from Great Britain who received treatment at Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital shared: "Wonderful clinic. Excellent specialists, attentive to details. Doctor is very friendly and professional. Everything went quickly and without complications."
Clinical Success Rates and Long-Term Outcomes
Gastric sleeve surgery demonstrates strong clinical outcomes based on extensive research. A clinical study on long-term gastric sleeve outcomes found that 61.5% of patients maintained successful weight loss (≥50% excess weight loss) at the decade mark. The procedure typically results in 60–80% excess weight loss within the first 18 months.
However, patients should understand that 33.75% may require revisional surgery over 10 years, often due to weight regain or complications like GERD, which develops in approximately 40% of patients post-surgery. Success rates are highest among patients under 50 years old with fewer pre-existing comorbidities.
A patient from the United States treated at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental reported: "Hospital was comparable to the best private hospitals in Spain. The doctor's experience/professionalism was unbeatable. Post-op care/follow-up appreciated."
How much does an all-inclusive gastric sleeve in Turkey cost?
The primary advantage of getting a gastric sleeve in Turkey is that by paying for the operation, you will also receive a list of additional services without extra charges. This means that accommodation, transfer, and interpreting services are already included in the price.
Usually, an all-inclusive gastrectomy cost in Turkey falls between $2,800–$6,000 according to Bookimed verified pricing data. For this price, you will receive the bariatric procedure and a comprehensive set of the above-mentioned amenities.
Detailed Cost Comparison
- Turkey: $2,800–$6,000 (all-inclusive packages)
- United Kingdom: $13,000–$19,700
- United States: $9,000–$27,000
- Germany: $5,800–$17,400)
- Australia: $15,700–$19,600)
This represents 60–75% savings compared to Western countries. Turkey's competitive pricing is due to lower operational costs while maintaining international safety standards through JCI-accredited facilities.
Submit a request to book any gastric sleeve deals provided by Bookimed partners.
What items does the gastric sleeve surgery package in Turkey include?
Turkish clinics cooperate with local hotels, providing their customers accommodation for free or at significant discounts.
Airport pickup and interpreting services in your language are also usually complimentary. To summarize, a package gastrectomy price contains:
- The gastric sleeve procedure itself
- Surgeon's fee
- Anesthesiologist's fee
- Anesthesia
- Follow-up care
- Required number of nights in a hotel
- Airport-clinic-airport transfer
- Interpreter's escort
A patient from Poland treated at Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital praised: "Excellent coordinators and attentive care; large, well-equipped ward."
The Gastric Sleeve Procedure: How It Works
Gastric sleeve surgery (laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) involves removing approximately 75–80% of the stomach using specialized surgical staplers, creating a narrow sleeve-shaped pouch with a capacity of 100–150ml. The procedure is performed through 4–5 small incisions, typically taking 1–2 hours to complete.
The surgery works through multiple mechanisms:
- Physical restriction: The smaller stomach holds less food, creating earlier satiety
- Hormonal changes: Removing the fundus eliminates 80–85% of ghrelin (hunger hormone) production
- Faster emptying: Food moves more quickly through the digestive system
This combination results in both mechanical restriction and hormonal changes that promote sustained weight loss without affecting nutrient absorption like other bariatric procedures.
Recovery Timeline and What to Expect
Hospital Stay: 1–2 days (Enhanced Recovery protocols may allow same-day discharge)
- Week 1: Liquid diet only, light walking encouraged, pain managed with medication
- Weeks 2–3: Return to desk work possible, transition to pureed foods
- Weeks 4–6: Soft foods introduced, most daily activities resumed
- 6–8 weeks: Full recovery for most patients, return to strenuous activities
Long-term milestones:
- 3 months: 30–40% excess weight loss typical
- 6 months: 50–60% excess weight loss
- 12–18 months: Maximum weight loss achieved (60–80% excess weight loss)
Patients typically return to work within 2–3 weeks for desk jobs, 3–4 weeks for physical jobs.
How to pick the best clinic for gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey?
While expecting to receive the best surgical experience, you should primarily choose a clinic that complies with all medical standards. Follow these tips to find a medical center for your case:
- Explore Turkish clinics specialized in weight loss surgery
- Pick facilities with proper licensing and certification to ensure high-quality medical services
- Check patient reviews to assess satisfaction levels, outcomes achieved, and identify highly-skilled bariatric surgeons
You can also contact review authors to get more information about a clinic and the surgical process.
Instead of going through these steps independently, you can request assistance from Bookimed. Our coordinator will find the best gastric sleeve clinic according to your preferences among our 420+ partner centers in Turkey, including top-rated facilities like Lotus Bariatrics Clinic (5.0/5), Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital (4.8/5), and Memorial Şişli Hospital (4.7/5, JCI-accredited).
What are the advantages of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty in Turkey?
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure for weight loss performed with a special suturing device. This surgery typically lasts about 1–1.5 hours.
Turkish clinics provide this conservative intervention with significant benefits for patients:
- All-inclusive packages. Bariatric surgery clinics in Turkey provide comprehensive costs covering surgery, 2–3 day hospital stay, airport transfers, and hotel accommodation. Turkey hosted 2 million medical tourists in 2024, generating over $10 billion in revenue, with treatments costing 50–70% less than US and European alternatives.
- Fellowship-trained surgeons. Leading bariatric surgeons such as Dr. Burcin Batman (1,000+ procedures at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental) and Dr. Kaplan Baha Temizgonul (Lotus Bariatrics Clinic) perform 300–500 procedures annually compared to 50–150 for typical Western surgeons, with many holding IFSO and ASMBS memberships.
A patient from Spain who chose Lotus Bariatrics Clinic noted: "Efficient process, quick scheduling, personalized assistance, clear planning, great hospital staff."
Safety Profile and Potential Complications
Gastric sleeve surgery has a favorable safety profile with a comprehensive review of sleeve gastrectomy complications showing a 2.12% overall complication rate. The mortality rate is extremely low at 0.18–0.27%.
Potential complications include:
- Staple line leakage: 1–3% of primary surgeries (1.2% in specialized centers)
- GERD development: 40–47% of patients may experience acid reflux
- Nutritional deficiencies: Up to 45% experience iron deficiency, nearly all require vitamin D supplementation
- Wound infection: Less than 1% in minimally invasive procedures
Most complications are manageable with proper medical care, and the risk-benefit ratio strongly favors surgery for qualified candidates. Choosing JCI-accredited facilities and experienced surgeons significantly reduces these risks.
Emergency symptoms requiring immediate medical attention:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting
- High fever
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart rate
Contraindications include severe cardiac or pulmonary disease, active substance abuse, and inability to commit to lifelong follow-up.
Who is the best gastric sleeve surgeon in Turkey?
On this page, you can find a list of top-rated bariatric surgeons including Dr. Burcin Batman (Hisar Hospital Intercontinental, 1,000+ procedures), Dr. Kaplan Baha Temizgonul (Lotus Bariatrics Clinic), and Dr. Assoc Prof Dr Guner Cakmak (Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital) - all verified through Bookimed's quality assessment. You can select any of these doctors, order an online consultation, and schedule your weight loss procedure.
A patient from Ukraine shared about their experience: "Happy with the operation, quick recovery, kind and experienced doctor."