What is the price of a gastric sleeve in Turkey?
The average cost of a gastric sleeve in Istanbul, Turkey, is €2,300. Depending on your needs, the price can range from €2,200 up to €3,500, compared with £7,000 to £11,000 in the UK. The procedure takes around 2 hours and is performed laparoscopically. The hospital stay is 2 days.
| Procedure | Price Turkey | Price UK |
|---|---|---|
| Gastric sleeve | £1,900 - £3,000 | £7,000 - £11,000 |
| Gastric botox | £750 - £1,200 | £1,500 - £2,800 |
| Gastric balloon | £1,200 - £2,400 | £3,000 - £6,000 |
| Gastric bypass | £2,800 - £3,900 | £8,500 - £13,000 |
| Gastric band | £2,200 - £3,300 | £4,500 - £7,000 |
If you are considering treatment abroad, it is worth checking what your NHS cover provides in your situation. For further guidance, contact your GP or NHS services.
What is a gastric sleeve?
A gastric sleeve is a restrictive procedure that significantly reduces the capacity of the stomach by removing part of it (sleeve gastrectomy)[1], to support substantial long-term weight loss. As a result, your overall health may also improve. Weight-loss surgery in Turkey is growing in popularity, partly thanks to procedures such as the gastric balloon.
How does a gastric sleeve work?
A gastric sleeve works by permanently removing a large part of your stomach. Because your stomach capacity is greatly reduced, it can only hold a small amount of food. You will feel full after eating much less and you will be less hungry between meals.
A sleeve gastrectomy also removes the part of the stomach that produces the hunger-stimulating hormone ghrelin. This means your appetite is reduced.
Read also: Bariatric surgery in Turkey
Weight loss begins as soon as you have had the operation. Over time, the stomach can stretch. It is therefore important to keep portions reasonable and not wait until the sleeve stops you from eating.
If you eat the recommended foods (no liquids or soft foods), the feeling of hunger stays limited. Systematic vitamin supplementation, particularly D and B12, and iron, is essential after a sleeve[1].
Who is eligible for a gastric sleeve?
You may be eligible for gastric sleeve surgery if:
- you have a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or above
- You have a BMI of 35 or above and you have type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure that could be improved by weight loss.
- You are fit enough to have a general anaesthetic and surgery.
- You are committed to losing weight and maintaining your weight loss by changing your lifestyle and diet.
- You have tried to lose weight by eating healthily, exercising and taking appropriate medication for at least six months and it has not worked.
How is a gastric sleeve operation performed in Turkey?
Before the operation, you will have a general anaesthetic. The procedure is performed laparoscopically and usually takes around two hours.
Your obesity surgeon in Turkey will make several small incisions in your abdomen and insert a long, thin telescope with a light and camera lens at one end, called a laparoscope, along with other surgical instruments to remove a large part of your stomach. Once the removal is complete, it will be sealed with staples.
Postoperative precautions and follow-up
After gastric sleeve surgery, you will stay in hospital for two days.
You will probably need pain relief. You can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
You will only be able to drink clear liquids on the first day after the operation. You will then follow a liquid diet for several weeks, before moving on to soft, moist foods, and finally, after four to six weeks, you will add solid foods.
Your surgeon or a dietitian will discuss your strict diet with you. You will need small portions because your stomach will fill up quickly.
You should rest after the operation and avoid straining your wound. It is best to have someone with you to help with daily activities in the first few days. Most people can return to normal activities within two to four weeks of the operation.
Complications and side effects
You may experience some side effects such as pain, bruising and swelling around your wounds, and vomiting or nausea after eating more than your new stomach can hold. You should try to chew your food well, eat smaller portions and stick to your diet.
Possible complications of any operation are: bleeding or blood clot, pain and wound infection. Complications associated with gastric sleeve surgery are:
- Narrowing (stricture) of the stomach that obstructs the passage of food.
- Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), stomach ulcers or heartburn.
- Injury to adjacent organs.
- Leak at the staple line and serious infection
Your surgeon will discuss possible complications and side effects with you in detail before you decide to have sleeve surgery.
The final price depends on the facility, the pre-operative work-up and what the package includes, which can only be determined after your medical file has been reviewed.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
How much does a gastric sleeve cost in Turkey compared with the UK?
In Turkey, a gastric sleeve costs between £1,900 and £3,000 depending on the facility, the pre-operative work-up and what the package includes, compared with £7,000 to £11,000 in the UK. The gastric sleeve in Tunisia falls into a different range.
Will the NHS cover a gastric sleeve performed in Turkey?
Planned treatment abroad is generally not funded by the NHS, and any reimbursement is only considered in exceptional cases. The Turkish quote is therefore usually paid for by you.
Sleeve or bypass: what is the difference in the long term?
At ten years, bypass leads to slightly more weight loss than sleeve, with no difference in remission of type 2 diabetes; sleeve carries a higher risk of reflux and is more often converted[3]. See also metabolic surgery in Turkey.
Is reflux common after a gastric sleeve?
In the SLEEVEPASS randomised trial, oesophagitis was found in 31% of patients ten years after a sleeve, compared with 7% after a bypass[4]. Reflux present before the operation should therefore be discussed with the surgeon when choosing the technique.
Can you regain weight after a gastric sleeve?
Yes. In SLEEVEPASS, median excess weight loss was 43.5% ten years after sleeve, and 15.7% of patients had further surgery[4]. Excess skin, once weight is stable, can be addressed with an abdominoplasty.
Who provides follow-up after returning from Turkey?
Follow-up lasts a lifetime: 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, then 18 and 24 months, then once or twice a year[5]. It should be arranged in the UK before you leave, because a complication is treated far from the operating team[6]. See medical tourism in Turkey.
What is the risk of death from a gastric sleeve?
In an international meta-analysis of more than 3.6 million patients, perioperative mortality was 0.05% after a sleeve, compared with 0.09% after a bypass[7]. This figure says nothing about non-fatal complications, which are more common.
Sources & References
- Assurance Maladie. Obésité de l’adulte : suivi, médicaments et chirurgie. 2026. View source
- Assurance Maladie. Soins programmés à l’étranger : votre prise en charge. 2026. 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
- Haute Autorité de Santé. Obésité de l’adulte : prise en charge de 2e et 3e niveaux. Recommandation de bonne pratique. 2024. View source
- Tay JQ, Lo S. Complications of cosmetic surgery tourism. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2022. View source
- Robertson AGN, Wiggins T, Robertson FP, et coll. Perioperative mortality in bariatric surgery: meta-analysis. British Journal of Surgery. 2021. View source
