Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Turkey

Overview

A gastric sleeve procedure is a form of targeted weight loss treatment involving the removal of part of the stomach. But how exactly does removing parts of your stomach help you lose weight? Is weight loss with this kind of bariatric surgery, a reliable and effective treatment method? What are the benefits of gastric sleeve surgery? Having a sleeve gastrectomy is a safe, efficient, and highly effective treatment method as compared to a gastric bypass. Where the latter uses an overall stomach reduction, a gastric bypass divides the stomach into two separate pouches. A sleeve gastrectomy can have a substantial impact on a patient’s health and well-being in a relatively short time frame. This weight loss surgery lessens the volume of your stomach and makes it less susceptible to stretching. Your appetite is reduced so you’ll be able to eat less to feel full. Your body also requires less energy to process food and carry out other functions. This means you can be more productive and energetic with a lower food intake. Having a sleeve gastrectomy doesn’t just reduce your weight, but can dramatically improve your overall quality of life. Gastric sleeve surgery removes the fundus of the stomach as it is involved in the production of ghrelin, a hormone that influences appetite. The removal of the fundus safely reduces ghrelin production, reducing your appetite significantly. A sleeve gastrectomy can also transform your dietary preferences. Some patients report a reduced appetite for sweet or fatty foods, processed foods, or alcohol after having a sleeve gastrectomy. This makes maintaining a healthy diet much easier, improving chances of sustained weight loss in the future.

Risks of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

As with any surgery, there are some minor risks associated with having a sleeve gastrectomy. These are very rare but worth discussing with your surgeon

Blood Loss

This is the most common risk associated with this kind of bariatric surgery. The patient may experience heavy blood loss. In some cases, they may need a blood transfusion and another gastric sleeve procedure. In other instances, another procedure is not required.

Stomach Leakage

While this might sound dangerous, it is a common side effect most individuals experience after the surgery. Stomach leakage usually means that the stomach is losing some of its contents as a result of its new form. Some patients experience this in the days following their surgery. While it is not usually serious, it may require a longer hospital stay.

Heartburn

If you have a history of acid reflux issues, gastric sleeve surgery may not be the best option for you. People with heartburn and reflux problems may find these conditions worsening immediately after the operation. These patients also may not ultimately achieve their weight loss goals.  Chronic acid reflux is a potentially serious issue. This is particularly true if the problem persists in your lower gullet. If you experience chronic acid reflux, you should discuss the problem with your doctor, particularly if you are considering a gastric sleeve procedure. If you are not deemed to be a suitable candidate for gastric sleeve surgery, other gastric surgical procedures may still be possible, such as a gastric bypass where the stomach is divided instead of reduced.

Who Is Eligible For Gastric Sleeve? 

Gastric sleeve surgery is a reliable and effective weight loss option for many people. However, not everyone is a suitable candidate. Here, we’ve listed the most common eligibility requirements for gastric sleeve surgery.

BMI

This is probably the most significant factor in a patient’s eligibility for gastric sleeve surgery. If your BMI is above 40, you are considered clinically obese. In this case, gastric sleeve surgery may be recommended. If your BMI is above 30, your doctor may also recommend a gastric sleeve depending on other factors. In this range, other treatment methods may be preferable, but your doctor will carry out a thorough assessment before making a recommendation. A medical professional will carry out a full assessment of medical history and other relevant factors. They may recommend lifestyle changes or other treatment methods. They may also recommend a gastric sleeve procedure with a detailed aftercare program. The primary goal of a medical assessment for a gastric sleeve is to identify whether the procedure will be safe and the benefits worthwhile for the patient.

Weight Criteria

When you discuss a gastric sleeve procedure with a medical professional, the first thing they will consider will be your BMI. After that, they will focus on your total weight. Your total weight is calculated with your height. The efforts you have already made to lose weight may be the deciding factor in whether you are a suitable candidate for a gastric sleeve Turkey procedure. If lifestyle methods such as diet and exercise have failed to have the desired impact, your doctor may recommend other treatment methods. If these are unsuccessful, gastric sleeve surgery may be recommended.

Additional Requirements

Age

Candidates for gastric sleeve are usually aged between 18 and 65. In some cases, however, the surgery may be performed for teenagers, or individuals older than 65 if the benefits are deemed significant enough.

Medical History

A full assessment of a patient’s medical history and general health will be carried out before deciding if they are a suitable candidate for gastric sleeve. Some medical conditions may make a gastric sleeve inadvisable or excessively risky. Clients who do not have underlying conditions that are unrelated to their obesity are less likely to be recommended gastric sleeve surgery. Certain conditions may interfere with the surgical process or aftercare treatment. Other medical conditions may mean that you are not a suitable candidate for gastric sleeve surgery even if you meet the other criteria.

Nicotine Intake

If you smoke, make sure to discuss this with your doctor before deciding on having gastric sleeve surgery. You will probably be required to stop smoking for around two weeks before surgery. You may also be asked to continue this pause for a period after surgery. If you are willing to do this, the procedure will probably be an option for you provided there are no other complicating factors.

Emotional Readiness

It can sometimes be overlooked, but emotional readiness is a crucial aspect in deciding if you are a suitable candidate for gastric sleeve surgery. Your doctor will discuss all aspects of the treatment in detail and will fully assess your medical history. If you have experienced any mental health issues, they will discuss this with you. If you are on medication for conditions such as anxiety or depression, you may be prescribed additional medication to test your reaction. Your doctor will only recommend surgery if they think you are mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared.

How Can I Become Eligible for Gastric Sleeve? 

Consult a doctor about your BMI. Ask them to conduct a thorough full-body check-up and to assess your medical history to check if you have any underlying conditions related to obesity. Once you have established that you are a suitable candidate, find hospitals in your city or area that provide gastric sleeve surgery. Discuss with them the benefits, risks, and recovery requirements of the procedure. Most providers offer a free first consultation, where you can discuss all of the relevant details and any concerns you may have. You can also assess the experience of the medical teams in providing the procedure.  During your consultation, you will be asked to complete a comprehensive medical questionnaire. Your responses will be assessed by qualified surgeons to check if you are eligible for the process. You can also discuss your eligibility concerns and the financial cost of the procedure during the consultation. In some instances, the surgeon may deem you eligible based on the first meeting. Alternatively, you may be asked to meet again to continue the assessment. Your suitability for a sleeve gastrectomy and anything you need to do to become eligible will be discussed in detail. Once you have been assessed as a suitable candidate for bariatric surgery, you must still follow some very specific instructions provided by your medical team in terms of diet, medication, and physical preparation. You will be given a detailed diet plan and may be prescribed medication or asked to pause the use of some that you are already taking. You need to follow these instructions very carefully. If you fail to meet the requirements, your surgery may be cancelled up to the last moment for your safety.

FAQ

What happens during gastric sleeve surgery? 

The gastric sleeve procedure follows these steps:

• The surgeon makes several small incisions in the upper abdominal region. They may use advanced surgical methods to reduce visible scarring after surgery.
• Surgical devices such as endoscopes are inserted into the incisions.
• The external part of the stomach (around 70 to 80% of it) is removed.
• Stapling equipment is used to fasten the stomach in its new shape and location.

Is gastric sleeve surgery painful?

You won’t feel any pain during the surgery as you will be under anaesthesia. The laparoscopic, minimally-invasive surgical method also reduces pain and recovery time after surgery. Common post-surgical symptoms include a tightness around your chest, the sensation of a stitch in your upper abdomen, especially below the rib cage, aches, and mild-to-moderate pain around the tip of the shoulder. Most post-surgical symptoms usually subside within three or four days. There may still be some discomfort after this period, but it is unlikely to limit your mobility or ability to perform regular tasks. Your medical team will also provide medication to deal with any discomfort. They will work to ensure that you are comfortable before, during, and after surgery.

How long does the surgical process take?

Usually, the entire surgical process takes less than one hour. However, you will require pre-operative treatment which may take some time. You will also require a short inpatient stay after surgery so that you can recover and your medical team can monitor your progress. This stay will be for a minimum of two nights.

What happens after surgery? 

As the surgery uses minimally invasive keyhole incisions, any pain should subside quickly. The anaesthesia should also wear off within two to three hours and you will feel relatively alert again. Your medical team will prescribe medication depending on your general condition and response to surgery. You will remain in the hospital for two or three days while you fully recover and while your medical team monitors this recovery.

How much weight will I lose with a sleeve gastrectomy?

Many people see an average weight loss with gastric sleeve surgery of upwards of around 60% of their total current body weight. This can mean 40-50 pounds depending on the person, within the first year

Will I experience hunger after surgery? 

Most patients experience reduced hunger cravings following surgery. If you maintain a healthy diet and exercise plan and be able to eat less, then you should experience healthy, consistent weight loss.

How long is the recovery process? 

You can expect a quick recovery after surgery assuming there are no complications. You will be able to resume regular activities within a few days. While there may be some mild pain or discomfort, it should fade in the days after surgery. You may have to wait four weeks or more before resuming more strenuous activities such as exercise or sports. While the recovery period is quite brief, you will have to make and maintain lifestyle changes in the long term to truly benefit from the surgery.

Can I take other medications? 

Your doctor will prescribe medication before and after your surgery. You should inform them of any medications you are already taking. They may ask you to pause or stop your use of them before or after surgery. Your medical team will provide detailed instructions about medication. You should follow them precisely.

Will I experience constipation?

Although your stool volume may change, you won’t necessarily experience constipation after gastric sleeve surgery. Lower stool volume is completely normal due to a decrease in your food consumption. However, even after the surgery, it is vital to maintain a proper intake of fibre. Your dieticians and doctor will discuss this with you. Ideally, you should take fibre supplements after surgery. This will help you to maintain healthy and consistent bowel movements. If you experience any complications, inform your doctor and they will advise you.

When will I be able to drive after surgery?

You should not drive immediately after gastric sleeve surgery. This is due to the effects of anaesthesia and the necessary recovery period from the surgery itself. You should arrange for someone to collect you from the hospital and wait one full week after surgery before driving a manual vehicle. You should also check with your car insurance provider about coverage after surgery when preparing for the procedure.

Can people visit me? 

You can have friends or family visit you during your inpatient stay after surgery. While you will not be in the hospital for so long, having visitors can benefit your recovery. While you may be low on energy for a few days, short visits can help you to maintain a positive mindset through the initial recovery phase. You should avoid having very frequent visits or large groups of visitors, however, as this can be quite draining.

Will I be able to eat as before, or will my eating habits change? 

Your food habits will change substantially after gastric sleeve surgery. This is one of the main objectives of the procedure. You will have a smaller appetite so you will become full much more quickly. Your particular tastes in food and beverages may also change. In the days immediately after surgery, you may also have a reduced appetite due to the effects of the surgery and anaesthesia. After surgery, doctors generally recommend a gastric sleeve diet for at least two weeks. After this, you are asked to follow a pureed diet for two more weeks. You will then gradually transition to soft food items in two-week phases. You can then be able to eat pre-surgery food items within six to nine weeks of the surgery. As you eat, make sure you masticate thoroughly and eat slowly. Here’s a tip: Turkish black tea is a good source of antioxidants and flavonoids that can speed up recovery and reduce bad cholesterol at the same time. We highly recommend that you include this in your diet.

What’s the average cost of gastric sleeve Turkey surgery?

Having gastric sleeve surgery performed in Turkey is a practically cost-effective choice for those seeking bariatric surgery. With gastric sleeve Turkey costs significantly lower than in various other countries, it is no wonder why it is becoming increasingly popular to have any form of gastric sleeve procedure done abroad. Turkey offers gastric sleeves at some of the most competitive prices, allowing patients to have their surgery undertaken with experienced surgeons and receive great service while keeping costs low. Turkey even has all-inclusive gastric sleeve packages that provide the services necessary during your secondments, so you can rest assured knowing that everything is taken care of in one place and you can focus on your recovery and overall health without worrying about hidden costs.