Gastric Sleeve in Istanbul, Turkey

Cost-Effective

• Gastric sleeve surgery in Istanbul, Turkey is priced at €3185 whereas the same surgery in the UK costs up to €11,000.
• Thus, choosing Istanbul can result in massive savings, as they amount to nearly 70%.

Quality Care

• The Turkish government has taken every measure to ensure that the facilities and treatments are world class.
• The credit for this success goes to the Health Transformation Program implemented by the government.
• They have ensured that the services are affordable and accessible for both locals and foreigners.

Source: ResearchGate^[3]ResearchGate
Medical Touirsm An Assessment in Turkey
“….they have proven themselves with their world-class quality and their first-class activities …All these opportunities make easier and more affordable to travel Turkey for medical tourists….Ministry of Health also started the standardization and accreditation process for public healthcare organizations …”
View in Article ^[4]NCBI
Health Services Management in Turkey: Failure or Success?
“The health transformation program (HTP) has improved the Turkish health-care system since 2003”
View in Article

Experienced Doctors

• Our partner doctors are highly qualified and have more than a decade experience.
• They are equipped to provide high quality care.

Travel Opportunity

• The best part about traveling to the beautiful country of Turkey is the amazing travel opportunities!
• There are a lot of scenic beauty and sights to visit in Istanbul.

Preparing for Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Istanbul

Gastric sleeve surgery is a simple operation.

It is, however, essential that the patient is both physically and mentally ready for the surgery and life after.

Physical Preparation

You will be under strict dietary restrictions.

In preparation for the surgery, your doctor will likely ask you to go on a diet to reduce some fat off of your:

• Abdomen and
• primarily, your liver.

This reduces the risks and makes the overall procedure much more safer.

Additionally, blood tests and stomach imagings might be required too.

A nutrition evaluation might be necessary so you can understand what foods are recommended at what stage after the surgery.

You aren’t allowed to eat or drink anything 12 hours before the surgery.

Mental Preparation

In the case of weight loss surgeries, a proper psych evaluation is necessary.

This is done to gauge whether you are prepared for life after the operation.

The patient has to be ready to adopt a completely new lifestyle and make some big changes.

Gastric Sleeve Procedure in Istanbul

The operation can normally take anywhere from one to two hours.

General anesthesia is administered to the patient before the start of the surgery.

• The surgery is usually performed laparoscopically
• Incisions are made on the upper abdomen
• A sizing tube that goes from your mouth to your stomach is then inserted
• Next,the stomach lining is stapled together which creates the “sleeve”
• The cut portion is removed by the surgeon through one of the incisions.

Lastly, a thorough check is done to catch any leaks from the new “sleeve” stomach.

Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine^[13]Johns Hopkins Medicin
Health
“What happens during gastric sleeve surgery?…You will have general anesthesia for your surgery…..”
View in Article

Gastric Sleeve Risks

Just like any other surgery, gastric sleeve surgery also has some potential risks that one should keep in mind.

Blood Clots

These are the most common.

Your doctor will provide you with blood thinning medicine but some symptoms include:

• pain
• swelling on the lower legs and
• difficulty breathing.

Leaks

• The recovery period is crucial.
• During this time, if you get a fever or tummy aches, it could be a sign of a leak in the gut.

Infection

• The wound or incision sites can get infected.
• The best way to avoid wound infection is to follow all medical instructions to the tee.

Malnutrition

• With the stomach being reduced, there is a chance that you might not be able to absorb all the nutrients needed.
• This can be avoided by taking the necessary supplements.

Gallstones

They are also a pretty common occurrence as when you lose weight fast and in a short time, gallstones can accumulate in the gallbladder.

Source: NHS^[14]NHS
Risks- Weight Loss Surgery
“Blood clots…Wound infection…Leak in the gut…Malnutrition…”
View in Article

Recovery After Sleeve Gastrectomy Bariatric Surgery in Istanbul

After your surgery, you’ll have to keep certain protocols and guidelines in mind.

Initially, you will be on a strict liquid diet.

In a few weeks, after your body has adjusted, you will move to soft foods before resuming a normal diet.

Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine^[15]Johns Hopkins Medicine
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
“…liquid diet for the first week or two…You’ll go from liquids to pureed foods, then soft foods, and then to regular food…”
View in Article

Istanbul Gastric Sleeve Surgery – Aftercare

In the long run, you’ll have to get adjusted to eating small meals with nutrient rich foods.

This is because you want your body to absorb as many nutrients as possible to keep malnutrition at bay.

You will have to follow an exercise regime and be mindful about your dietary restrictions.

Additionally, to combat your nutrition deficiency, you will have to take supplements and multivitamins.

The patient should undergo regular blood tests post-surgery to monitor anemia, glucose, vitamin D, and calcium levels.

Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine^[16]Johns Hopkins Medicine:
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
“People who have weight-loss surgery may have trouble getting enough vitamins and minerals….You’ll need to have regular blood tests every few months in the year after surgery. This is to make sure you don’t have low blood iron (anemia), high blood glucose, or low calcium or vitamin D levels…”
View in Article

As a Tourist

As a tourist visiting Turkey, you will find that the country has a staggeringly low crime rate of just 2.48%.^[21]Macrotrends:
Turkey Crime Rate & Statistics 2003-2023
“Turkey crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 2.48…”
View in Article

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has established certified tourism facilities all over the country to ensure that travelers face no issues.^[22]Times of India
Turkey has all safety measures in place for travellers this summer season
“…Summer 2021 season with more than 10,000 certified tourism facilities across Turkey.”…”
View in Article

As a Procedure

The government has ensured that many private and public hospitals are accredited and standardized across Turkey.

Thus, ensuring the quality of medical services offered are impeccable.

The doctors and staff are highly qualified and trained in providing quality care to foreign patients.

The doctors have a lot of experience under their belt.

The country’s health expenditure was above the OECD’s average.

The credit to this goes to the massive reformation of their healthcare services by the Turkish government.

Additionally, well known international organizations, work in collaboration and support Turkish healthcare facilities, like:

• Johns Hopkins Medicine, and
• Harvard Medical School

Source: ResearchGate^[23]ResearhGate
Medical Touirsm An Assessment in Turkey
“…supported by well-educated and well-qualified physicians and other health staff and strengthened through the accreditation of healthcare organizations by international standardization organizations….Supports of Turkish Government play an important role in the success of private sector….Healthcare facilities of Turkey mostly work in the collaboration with international well-known organizations such as Johns Hopkins Medicine and Harvard Medical School”
View in Article

How to Reach?

The best and the most direct way of reaching Istanbul, Turkey is via a direct flight.

Below is a table showing the flight time from prominent airports in the UK to Istanbul ineternational airport (IST).

Carry These Essential Documents

As a medical tourist, it is mandatory for you to carry some essential documents with you when you visit Turkey.

Passport

Make sure that your passport expiry date is not expiring within 6 months of your trip.

Medical Insurance

Carrying a photocopy of your medical insurance is prudent and will help you save on costs.

Visa

For UK citizens traveling to Turkey, there is no need for a visa.

UK citizens are allowed to travel to Turkey for up to 90 days without a visa.

Travel Insurance

Incase of any mishap on your trip, travel insurance will come in handy and save you not just on the time but costs too.

Medical Reports

If you have any medical reports or test reports that are important for you to carry, make sure you have a photocopy of those documents with you.

Source: Travel.State.Gov,^[24]Travel.State.Gov
Traveler’s Checklist
“it should be valid for at least six months after you return home and have two or more blank pages,”
View in Article, CDC^[25]CDC
Medical Tourism
“Obtain international travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation back to the United States…Bring copies of your medical records with you, including results of lab tests and any other tests done….”
View in Article

Things To Do

There are plenty of things to do in Istanbul, Turkey.

The country is full of scenic beauty and glorious sights to visit.

Source: Planetware^[26]Planetware
22 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Istanbul
“Visit the Blue Mosque…The mosque gets its nickname from its interior decoration of tens of thousands of Iznik tiles….Grand bazaar …This massive covered market is basically the world’s first shopping mal…”
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