Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy)
A permanent metabolic operation that reduces stomach volume and hunger together.
Save up to 70% vs the UK & Germany
- Stay in Istanbul
- 6-7 days
- Time in theatre
- 60-90 min
- In hospital
- 3 nights
- Anaesthesia
- General anaesthetic
- Back to work
- 14 days
- Full result
- 18 months
Overview
A gastric sleeve is a laparoscopic operation in which most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube. It reduces the portion you can eat and lowers the hormone that drives hunger, but it does not change how food is absorbed. In Istanbul it takes 60–90 minutes under general anaesthetic and you stay three nights in hospital. Whether you are suitable is decided by your surgeon once endoscopy, blood tests and any required consultations are complete.
Benefits
- Reduces both stomach volume and appetite without altering absorption
- Performed laparoscopically; most patients return to desk work in about 14 days
- Patients lose on average 60–75% of excess weight over 12–18 months
- Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnoea often improve
- Leak test during surgery and 12 months of dietitian follow-up afterwards
Who is this treatment for?
Usually suitable
- A BMI of 40 or above, with no lasting result from diet and exercise
- A BMI of 35–40 alongside type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea
- Willingness to keep to a lifelong eating plan, supplements and regular blood tests
Needs assessment first
- Anyone planning a pregnancy within the next 12–18 months
- Severe reflux or Barrett's oesophagus, where a gastric bypass may suit you better
- Untreated eating disorders, alcohol dependence, or unstable heart or lung disease
Final suitability is decided by your consultant after examination and imaging in Istanbul.
Your treatment, step by step
- 01
Free online consultation
Send your height, weight, BMI and medical history. Within 24 hours you receive a first assessment, a plan and a proposed schedule.
- 02
Assessment day in Istanbul
Endoscopy, blood tests, a chest X-ray and any cardiology or anaesthetic consultations are completed on your first day. No date is fixed before those results are in.
- 03
Laparoscopic surgery
Under general anaesthetic, most of the stomach is removed in 60–90 minutes and a leak test is carried out. You are helped up and walking the same day.
- 04
Discharge and check-up
After three nights in hospital you recover at your hotel and attend a check-up and dietitian appointment. You fly home at the end of the 6–7 days, once your surgeon confirms it is safe.
Aftercare & long-term tips
You take clear fluids for two weeks, purée for two more, and move to solid food at around six weeks, with a daily protein target set by your dietitian. Fizzy and sugary drinks are given up for good, and both sugar and alcohol tolerance change after surgery, so a small amount of alcohol can affect you far faster than before. Dietitian appointments are weekly in the early weeks and monthly after that, for twelve months in total.
First 24 hours
Stick to soft, lukewarm foods and drinks; avoid very hot or hard items while any numbness or sensitivity settles.
First few days
Ease back into normal eating as sensitivity fades — usually within a few days.
Long term
Eat normally and protect your result with the simple habits below.
Do
- Brush twice a day and floss daily
- Attend your regular check-ups and cleanings
- Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
- Keep the area clean and rinse as advised
Avoid
- Biting very hard objects — ice, pen lids, shells
- Opening bottle or soda caps with your teeth
- Too many hard nuts or sticky, chewy sweets
- Smoking and staining drinks in the first days
What's included
- Free consultation & treatment plan
- Treatment by specialist dentists
- 5-star hotel accommodation
- Private VIP airport transfers
- Personal translator & 24/7 support
- Aftercare & treatment guarantee
Risks and an honest expectation
A gastric sleeve carries real risks: leak from the staple line, bleeding, stricture at the stomach inlet, clots in the leg or lung vessels, long-term vitamin and mineral deficiency and, rarely, the need for a second operation. To reduce them, a leak test is performed during surgery, you receive clot prevention and compression stockings, and you are walking the same day. Surgery takes place in a fully equipped hospital with intensive care, and you leave with a 24/7 support line.
They flew in. They flew home changed.
Frequently asked questions
Other treatments in this department
Ready for a new start?
Send a few photos. Within 24 hours you get a free treatment plan and a transparent, all-inclusive price.
- We reply in about an hour
- Save up to 70% versus the UK, Germany and Spain
Let us call you
60-second request — no commitment.
We reply within 24 hours. Your data stays private.