Weight Loss Surgery in Turkey: Types| Pros & Cons and Cost

Your Complete Guide to Weight Loss Surgery in Turkey

Medically reviewed & verified by: Prof. Dr. Halil Alis

Written by: ClinicAdvisor

If you’re reading this, it means you have been trying so many ways to lose weight but none of them seemed to work.

But don’t worry! Because many people like yourself have finally decided to seek some surgical help to get rid of their excess weight. And we congratulate you for your persistence and strong desire to lose weight.

Since you are in this page that means that you are interested in getting your weight loss surgery in Turkey but looking for some more details.

For that reason, we have prepared this simple guide for you to cover all the aspects you need to know.

In this guide we will walk you through:

The types of bariatric surgery in Turkey
The pros and cons.
The right candidates.
Cost of the surgery.
Pre- and Post-Op instructions.
A glimpse of your diet after the surgery.

What is Weight Loss Surgery?

Weigh loss surgery also known as “bariatric surgery” is an umbrella term for a set of procedures that help people suffering from obesity lose weight.

These procedures work by reducing the size of the stomach and limiting the amount of food that it can take. It also reduces the ability of the body to absorb calories.

Bariatric surgeries are effective weight loss methods as long as the patient commits to changing their eating habits and exercise regularly.

Types of Weight Loss Surgery in Turkey

There are several methods of weight loss surgeries in Turkey. Some of these procedures require surgical intervention while some are non-surgical and less invasive.

1. Surgical weight loss procedures

Gastric Sleeve:

Also known as "Sleeve gastrectomy". It is one of the effective ways of losing weight, where almost 75-80% of the stomach is removed in order to reduce its size.

This process aims to reduce food intake and makes people feel full faster. During the operation, the part responsible for releasing the hunger hormone "ghrelin", which promotes appetite, is removed.

When a portion of the stomach is removed it becomes like a sleeve, hence the name "gastric sleeve".

Gastric Bypass

A gastric bypass aims to reduce the size of the stomach and change the way the stomach and small intestine absorb food. Which eventually facilitates the process of losing weight. It’s recommended for people with a BMI over 45.

Gastric Band:

Gastric band is another common type of weight loss procedures which is recommended for those with a BMI of 35 or above. It involves placing an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach, dividing the stomach into two parts limiting the food intake.

2. Non-Surgical weight loss procedures

Gastric Balloon:

Gastric balloon is one of the procedures that is performed to help people lose excess weight. It’s best for people with a BMI of 25 or more who struggle with diet.

Stomach Botox:

Stomach Botox is another method of weight loss surgery in Turkey. It is the least painful than other bariatric surgeries and does not require hospitalization.

Weight loss Surgery in Turkey: Pros and Cons

Any surgical or non-surgical intervention has advantages and disadvantages. When talking about bariatric surgery normally advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Some of the general pros and cons of weight loss surgeries (regardless of the type of the surgery) are listed as follows:

Pros:

Drastic weight loss within 12 months (70-80% of excess weight).
Limiting the ability of the stomach and how much food it can hold.
Reduces overweight related problems like heart diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure.
Improves sleep apnea.
Reduces joint pain.
Better mental and physical health.

Cons:

Some types are irreversible.
Leakage in case of gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and gastric band.
Some procedures could be associated with Dumping Syndrome.
Nausea, cramps and vomiting could occur with some types of bariatric surgery.
Vitamin and nutrient deficiency.

Side Note:
Dumping Syndrome is a condition where the stomach empties its content into the small intestine faster than normal.

Criteria for Weight Loss Surgery in Turkey

Individuals should meet some certain criteria to be qualified for any type of Bariatric Surgery in Turkey. Generally speaking, patients should:

Have a BMI of 40 or above.
Have a BMI of 35-40 for people with obesity-related health problems such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure.
Have a BMI of 25 or above for non-surgical weight loss procedures.
Those who have problems committing to diets and losing weight the traditional ways.
Have the ability to change their daily habits such as eating and exercising.

Recovery After Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery recovery time will vary based on the type of surgery you undergo. For surgical procedure such as gastric sleeve and gastric bypass it normally takes 2-4 weeks. A for a gastric band surgery it takes a week to recover.

On the other hand, non-surgical procedures like gastric balloon would normally take around one week. While stomach Botox is the least invasive among all procedures and takes 2 days to recover and for all side effects to subside.

Weight Loss Surgery Complications

Weight loss surgeries could be associated with some risks some of which are serious and some are not. Some of the possible complications are:

Developing gallstones.
Constipation.
Leakage.
Acid Reflux.
Blood clots.
Infection of the wound (incisions).
Malnutrition due to deficiency of some vitamins and nutrients.

Preparing For Weight Loss Surgery in Turkey

Preparing for your weight loss surgery in Turkey is a very crucial part of the operation. It contributes to the success of the operation and prevents any possible complications.

Pre-Op Instructions:

Here is a list of things to avoid before your bariatric surgery of any type:

Stop smoking 4-6 weeks before the scheduled date.
Avoid any beverages that contain caffeine and alcoholic drinks a month before the operation.
Refrain from using blood thinners and NSAIDS a week before the operation.
Start walking daily 2 weeks before the operation for 30 minutes.
2-3 days before the operation you will start a liquid diet.
A day before the operation you must not eat or drink anything after midnight.
Take a shower the night before the operation as it could be hard to do so after the surgery.

On the Day of the Surgery:

Make sure not to wear any jewelries, put on makeup, or use perfume, deodorant and moisturizers.
Since you will be staying in the hospital for 2-3 days bring comfortable clothes.

Post-Op Instructions:

You will be on liquid diet for the first week then gradually move to eating pureed food.
After the surgery the nurse will help you walk around to prevent blood clots.
You should avoid strenuous physical activity for 4-6 weeks after the operation.
Avoid lifting anything heavy for the first couple months.
Cut alcoholic consumption for 4-6 weeks.
Drink plenty of water at least 1.5 or 2 liters per day to stay hydrated. Drink slowly in small frequent sips.

Weight Loss Surgery Diet

Your surgeon and nutritionist will prepare for you your diet plan after the surgery.

The first week: you will be on clear liquid diet.
The second week: full liquid diet.
The 3^rd-4^th week: moving gradually to pureed food.
The 5^th-6^th week: soft food.
After the 6^th week: you can start eating solid food.

Which Weight Loss Surgery is Best For Me?

Answering this question is very subjective. It depends on every individual case, their own Body Mass Index (BMI), body type and overall health.

The first thing to do is to get an appointment with your surgeon to diagnose your case and your overall medical condition. Based on that your surgeon will suggest the weight loss surgery that is best suited for your condition.

How Much is Weight Loss Surgery in Turkey?

The cost of weight loss surgery in Turkey differs according to the type of procedure carried out. Here is a comparison and breakdown of the cost:

Type of Surgery	Price In Turkey
Gastric Sleeve	Between $4000 - $7000
Gastric Bypass	Between $3500 - $4000
Gastric Band	Between $3000 - $6000
Gastric Balloon	Between $1500 - $4000
Stomach Botox	Between $1000 - $1500

Is Weight Loss Surgery in Turkey Safe?

Weight loss surgeries are one of the most demanded surgical procedures in Turkey, either from local or foreign patients. Turkish surgeons who are specialized in Bariatric surgeries have deep experience in dealing with different cases of obesity.

They perform under high sanitary standards using modern techniques and with high levels of professionalism.

Most of them are active members of national and international general surgery organizations and bariatric surgery associations.

In addition to that the success rate of having a bariatric surgery in Turkey is very high and the results are very promising.

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