Gastric Sleeve + Laser Fistulectomy in Turkey
Address your weight loss and anal fistula in a single trip, from £3,860 with full hospital care and aftercare.
This combined package allows you to have both a gastric sleeve and a laser fistulectomy performed during the same hospital stay, addressing two conditions in a single trip rather than scheduling separate procedures months apart.
An anal fistula is a small tunnel that develops between the inside of the anal canal and the skin near the anus. It typically occurs after an anal abscess and can cause persistent pain, discharge, and discomfort. Obesity can increase the risk of fistula development and make healing more difficult, which is why addressing both conditions together can be particularly beneficial.
The gastric sleeve reduces your stomach by approximately 80%, producing significant weight loss (60-70% of excess body weight within 12-18 months). The laser fistulectomy uses advanced laser technology to close and heal the fistula tract with minimal tissue damage and a faster recovery than traditional surgical methods.
Your all-inclusive package covers both procedures in a government-licensed hospital, 3 nights of hospital care, 5-star hotel accommodation, private airport transfers, a personal translator, and 12 months of aftercare. From £3,800, fully inclusive. Having these procedures separately in the UK would cost £12,000-£18,000 combined.
What Is Gastric Sleeve + Laser Fistulectomy?
The Two Procedures
Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy): Performed laparoscopically under general anaesthesia, approximately 80% of your stomach is removed using a surgical stapler. The remaining sleeve-shaped stomach limits your food intake and reduces hunger hormones. The procedure takes approximately 45-60 minutes.
Laser Fistulectomy (FiLaC): A minimally invasive technique for treating anal fistulas. A laser fibre is inserted into the fistula tract and used to destroy the lining of the tract from the inside, causing it to close and heal. The laser approach is gentler than traditional fistula surgery, preserving more of the surrounding tissue (particularly the sphincter muscle) and reducing the risk of incontinence.
Why Combine Them?
Having both procedures during a single hospital stay means one trip, one anaesthetic, and one recovery period instead of two. This saves time, cost, and the inconvenience of scheduling and recovering from two separate procedures. Your surgical team coordinates the timing and approach to ensure both procedures can be performed safely in the same session.
Am I Suitable?
This combined procedure may be right for you if:
- You have a BMI of 30 or above and need weight loss surgery
- You also have a diagnosed anal fistula that requires treatment
- You are fit enough for general anaesthesia covering both procedures
- You want to address both conditions in a single trip rather than two separate visits
You may not be suitable if:
- Your fistula is complex (multiple tracts or very deep) and requires a more extensive surgical approach
- You have active infection at the fistula site that needs to be treated before the procedure
- You have health conditions that make a longer combined procedure unsafe
Your free consultation includes a review of both your weight loss needs and your fistula condition. Your surgical team will confirm whether combining the procedures is safe and appropriate, or whether a staged approach is recommended.
What Happens During the Procedure?
Before Your Procedures
Your patient coordinator reviews your weight loss goals, medical history, and fistula diagnosis. You receive preparation guidance including a 2-week liver-shrinking diet for the gastric sleeve and any specific instructions for the fistulectomy.
On the Day
Pre-operative checks cover both procedures. You meet with your surgeon and anaesthetist to confirm the plan. Both procedures are performed under the same general anaesthesia:
- The gastric sleeve is performed first (45-60 minutes).
- The laser fistulectomy is performed while you are still under anaesthesia (approximately 20-30 minutes).
Total theatre time is typically 75-90 minutes.
After Your Procedures
You spend 3 nights in hospital. Your medical team monitors your recovery from both procedures, checking the gastric sleeve staple line, managing pain, and monitoring the fistula site. You begin with clear liquids for the sleeve and receive specific wound care instructions for the fistulectomy site.
Your personal translator is available throughout your stay. Once discharged, you recover at your 5-star hotel before your airport transfer.
Recovery & Aftercare
What to Expect During Recovery
Your recovery combines the timelines for both procedures. The gastric sleeve recovery is typically the longer of the two.
Days 1-3 (Hospital): Close monitoring for both procedures. Clear liquids for the sleeve. The fistula site may have some discharge and mild discomfort, managed with dressings and pain medication. Walking is encouraged from day 1.
Week 1-2 (Home): Liquid diet for the sleeve. The fistula site requires daily cleaning and dressing changes, your aftercare team provides detailed instructions. Sitting may be uncomfortable for the first 1-2 weeks; a cushion or doughnut ring helps.
Week 2-4: Soft foods for the sleeve. The fistula site continues to heal. Most patients can return to desk-based work within 2-3 weeks, though sitting for long periods may still be uncomfortable. Physical roles may require 4 weeks.
Month 2-6: Normal diet (in small portions) for the sleeve. The fistula site should be fully healed within 4-8 weeks in most cases. Weight loss accelerates.
Month 6-12: Continued weight loss from the sleeve. Your 12-month aftercare programme covers both your bariatric recovery and any follow-up needed for the fistulectomy.
Risks & Considerations
This combined procedure carries the risks of both a gastric sleeve and a laser fistulectomy, though the overall risk profile remains manageable.
Gastric Sleeve Risks
- Staple line leak (rare, approximately 1-2%)
- Nausea and discomfort in the first few days
- Blood clots (reduced by early mobilisation)
- Nutritional deficiencies (managed with supplements)
Laser Fistulectomy Risks
- Fistula recurrence (laser fistulectomy has a success rate of approximately 60-70% on first attempt)
- Minor bleeding or discharge from the fistula site during healing
- Very low risk of sphincter damage compared to traditional fistula surgery
Combined Procedure Considerations
- Longer total anaesthesia time (75-90 minutes vs 45-60 for sleeve alone)
- Managing two recovery sites simultaneously
- Slightly increased overall infection risk (mitigated by hospital hygiene protocols)
How Your Risk Is Managed
Both procedures take place in a government-licensed hospital with experienced surgical teams. The laser approach to fistulectomy is specifically chosen for its tissue-preserving qualities and lower complication profile compared to traditional methods.
UK vs Turkey: What You Save
UK prices are indicative ranges based on private healthcare providers. Your THST price is confirmed during your free consultation.
UK Aftercare: We Are Here When You Get Home
Unlike other medical tourism companies, we do not leave you on your own once you are back in the UK. We have two dedicated aftercare clinics staffed by NHS-registered wound care specialists, so you can see a professional face-to-face for wound checks, dressing changes, and recovery support.
Medical disclaimer: Results of any surgical or interventional procedure may vary from person to person. You are advised to consult your physician for detailed information before undergoing any procedure. The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute medical advice. See our Medical Disclaimer for full details.
What Our Patients Say
Real reviews from real patients. Their words, not ours.
"The staff are absolutely amazing. The coordinators are always there for you. The hospital is very clean and looks more like a spa or 5-star hotel."
"Fantastic care given from arriving at the airport to going home. I felt totally looked after and cared for. I would definitely use again."
"Fantastic staff. Everyone took their time and explained everything clearly. I loved all the hospital staff and my surgeon was lovely."
Frequently Asked Questions
Combining the procedures means one trip, one general anaesthetic, and one recovery period instead of two. This saves time, reduces overall cost, and means you can address both conditions together. Additionally, obesity can make fistula healing more difficult, so the weight loss from the sleeve may actually improve your fistula outcomes long-term. Your surgical team will confirm that combining both procedures is safe for your individual case.
The fistulectomy adds some additional discomfort to your recovery, particularly when sitting during the first 1-2 weeks. However, the two procedures affect different parts of your body, so the recovery processes do not significantly interfere with each other. The gastric sleeve recovery (dietary progression from liquids to solids) is unaffected by the fistulectomy. Your aftercare team provides guidance for managing both recovery timelines simultaneously.
A laser fistulectomy (also called FiLaC, Fistula-tract Laser Closure) is a minimally invasive technique for treating anal fistulas. A laser fibre is inserted into the fistula tract and used to destroy the tract lining from the inside, causing it to close and heal. Unlike traditional fistula surgery, the laser approach preserves surrounding tissue and significantly reduces the risk of damage to the sphincter muscle, which means a lower risk of incontinence after the procedure.
Laser fistulectomy has a success rate of approximately 60-70% on the first attempt for straightforward fistulas. For complex or branching fistulas, a second procedure may sometimes be needed. The advantage of the laser approach over traditional surgery is that it preserves the sphincter muscle and surrounding tissue, which means if a second procedure is needed, it can be performed without the cumulative tissue damage that traditional approaches can cause.
In the UK, a gastric sleeve costs £8,000-£12,000 privately, and a laser fistulectomy costs £3,000-£5,000. Combined, you could expect to pay £12,000-£18,000 for both procedures separately, plus the inconvenience of two hospital stays and two recovery periods. At The Health Store Turkey, both procedures are included in a single all-inclusive package from £3,860, covering hospital care, 5-star hotel, transfers, and aftercare.
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