Quel est le prix d’une sleeve gastrique en Tunisie ?
The cost of a gastric sleeve in Tunisia ranges from £2,100 to £3,000, compared with £7,800 in the UK. This all-inclusive price covers general anaesthesia, tests and your hospital stay. The procedure takes 1.5 to 2 hours and includes 2 to 3 nights in hospital.
📊 Price table 2026
| Procedure | Price in Tunisia | Price in the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeve gastrectomy (standard) | £2,100 - £3,000 | £10,000 - £15,000 |
| Sleeve + 12-month nutritional follow-up | £2,300 - £3,200 | £10,000 - £15,000 |
| Sleeve revision (sleeve to bypass) | £2,900 - £4,200 | £12,000 - £18,000 |
| Sleeve with hiatal hernia repair | £2,500 - £3,400 | £10,000 - £15,000 |
Considering weight loss surgery? This article covers everything about the gastric sleeve in Tunisia, an effective operation that triggers early fullness.
For this type of procedure, Tunisia is currently a very popular destination thanks to its competitive prices. All you have to do is request a personalised quote from qualified Tunisian surgeons.
What is a gastric sleeve?
Severe obesity carries many health risks, to mention only high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. Add to that the psychosocial difficulties and the body-image issues.
It is of course possible to change your eating habits. But once body mass index (BMI) reaches a certain level, a more rigorous solution is preferable. Several options can successfully treat obesity and excess weight, such as:
- Liposuction,
- A gastric band or the creation of a gastric pouch,
- Gastric bypass,
- Stapling of the stomach walls,
- The gastric sleeve, or sleeve gastrectomy.
Whether the aim is to reduce food absorption or speed up fullness, these types of surgery all aim to produce weight loss in people with obesity. This article focuses on the gastric sleeve, also called sleeve gastrectomy or obesity surgery. It belongs to the field of bariatric surgery.
The procedure consists of removing two thirds of the stomach along its length. It encourages the patient to eat less. This resection removes the part of the stomach that concentrates the cells producing ghrelin. This hormone stimulates appetite.
The stomach becomes narrower and easier to fill. Food passes to the intestine more quickly. The sleeve remains a purely restrictive technique: it limits how much you eat without rerouting the digestive tract[1]. Deficiencies are still possible and require supplementation[2].
Why have a gastric sleeve in Tunisia?
A gastric sleeve can be performed in many countries. Tunisia has bariatric teams used to operating on international patients, at prices below those of the UK private sector. Tunisian surgeons have considerable expertise, and having surgery abroad means planning for how a complication would be managed once you are back home[3].
Beyond the quality of care, treatment is fully arranged throughout your stay. What is more, Tunisia’s sunny setting is pleasant, restful and very welcoming, which helps recovery after bariatric surgery.
Who is the ideal candidate for this operation?
A gastric sleeve in Tunisia mainly concerns people with significant excess weight or morbid obesity. It mostly concerns adults aged 18 to 60 with:
- A BMI of at least 35 kg/m2, for a person with severe obesity, aiming to improve a related condition (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, gastro-oesophageal reflux, joint problems…)[2],
- A BMI of at least 40 kg/m2, for a person with severe obesity.
The patient should consider this option if other weight-loss programmes such as exercise or dieting have already failed.
Some situations, however, rule out gastric surgery, such as alcohol dependence or an eating disorder. A hiatal hernia is repaired during the same operation; severe reflux instead points towards a bypass[4].
How is a gastric sleeve performed in Tunisia?
In the SLEEVEPASS randomised trial, the sleeve produced 43.5% excess weight loss at a median of ten years, with 15.7% of patients needing further surgery over the same period[5]. No overall success rate can be measured for this operation. Add to that the expertise, skills and experience of Tunisian surgeons.
Preoperative assessment
Obesity surgery starts with a preoperative assessment that lasts between 6 and 12 months[2]. The success of the operation depends on it. It is a series of consultations with your GP to get to know the patient better and confirm whether the operation is feasible.
Appointments then follow with a surgeon, a dietitian, a gastroenterologist, an anaesthetist and a psychologist.
How the operation unfolds
The sleeve gastrectomy is performed by keyhole surgery, through a few small abdominal incisions, not by an endoscope passed through the mouth. The amount of weight lost varies from one patient to another and is assessed over several years[5].
This restrictive technique involves removing two thirds of the stomach, closed with staples. Only the vertical part is kept, to avoid malabsorption of food.
In practice, the operation is carried out under general anaesthesia and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The hospital stay lasts 2 to 3 nights depending on the case. Note that this is an irreversible procedure.
Precautions to take after gastric sleeve surgery in Tunisia
Like all abdominal operations, a gastric sleeve carries complications, even if they are moderate and rare. These can include gastro-oesophageal reflux, an ulcer or nutritional deficiencies. Postoperative leakage is one of the more common risks.
Certain precautions are also needed, such as:
- Only resume physical activity around week 4,
- Eat liquid foods after the operation,
- Follow a protein-rich diet,
- Eat very small portions and slowly,
- Do not drink while eating, but between meals instead,
- Avoid fizzy and/or sugary drinks,
- Avoid very fatty foods (fried food…), sauces and sweets.
The patient can gradually increase the volume of food eaten. Partial weight regain is common in the long term, and further surgery remains an option[5].
Struggling to choose the right clinic at the best price? Our British coordinator compares quotes from Tunisian bariatric clinics for you, free of charge. Ask us for a free quote.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Are sleeve prices in Tunisia quoted in pounds or in dinars?
Tunisian clinics quote in pounds sterling for international patients, between £2,100 and £3,000. The dinar is not convertible outside Tunisia, so a price in dinars is indicative only. A gastric sleeve in Turkey follows a different range.
Is a sleeve performed in Tunisia covered by the NHS?
Any coverage of elective treatment abroad depends on your individual circumstances. If you are considering surgery overseas, it is worth checking in advance what your NHS care and any private medical insurance would cover, and what your options would be if a complication arose after your return. A sleeve in Tunisia is generally paid for privately.
Sleeve or bypass: how is the choice made?
At ten years, the bypass produces slightly more weight loss, with no difference in remission of type 2 diabetes; the sleeve exposes patients more to reflux and is converted more often[4]. A comparison of the procedures is set out on the bariatric surgery in Tunisia page.
Is an endo-sleeve the same operation as a gastric sleeve?
No. An endo-sleeve is performed endoscopically and removes no part of the stomach, whereas a surgical sleeve gastrectomy removes around two thirds of it by keyhole surgery. A gastric balloon is another option without resection.
Is follow-up and vitamin supplementation needed after a sleeve?
Follow-up continues for life: at least four appointments in the first year, then one or two a year[2]. Regular blood tests and supplementation go hand in hand with the lasting reduction in stomach volume[1].
Can you regain weight after a gastric sleeve?
Yes. In the SLEEVEPASS trial, median excess weight loss reached 43.5% at ten years and 15.7% of patients had further surgery over the period[5]. Partial weight regain is a documented scenario, not an isolated failure.
What happens to the skin after major weight loss?
Loose skin often appears on the abdomen, arms and thighs once weight has stabilised. It does not tighten on its own and requires separate surgery, such as an abdominoplasty in Tunisia, scheduled once the weight-loss phase is over.
Sources & References
- Assurance Maladie. Obésité de l’adulte : suivi, médicaments et chirurgie. 2025. View source
- Haute Autorité de Santé. Obésité : prise en charge chirurgicale chez l’adulte. Recommandation de bonne pratique. 2009. View source
- Tay JQ, Lo S. Complications of cosmetic surgery tourism. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2022. View source
- Chouky Kamar M, Astudillo Coello PE, Rodrigues Dos Santos AV, Leite Melo S. Ten-Year Follow-Up for Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Obesity Surgery. 2026. View source
- Salminen P, Grönroos S, Helmiö M, Hurme S, Juuti A, et coll. Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on Weight Loss, Comorbidities, and Reflux at 10 Years: The SLEEVEPASS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surgery. 2022. View source
- Assurance Maladie. Soins programmés à l’étranger : votre prise en charge. 2026. View source
