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Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Why Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Performed?

Gastric sleeve surgery—also called laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy—is performed to help people with obesity achieve durable weight loss and improve obesity-related health conditions. The operation removes the stretchy, outer portion of the stomach and shapes the remainder into a narrow “sleeve.” This reduces how much food you can comfortably eat and also decreases ghrelin, the hunger hormone produced in the stomach’s fundus, which many patients find lowers appetite and cravings. For individuals whose weight has resisted structured nutrition plans, medications, and coaching, the sleeve can provide a reliable tool to change metabolism and portion control. Benefits often include improvement in type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, and joint pain—alongside better mobility and energy. Because it does not reroute the intestines, nutrient malabsorption is less of a concern than with bypass; lifelong vitamins are still recommended.

When is it considered?

  • Long-standing obesity with medical complications despite supervised non-surgical care

  • Recurrent weight cycling and difficulty maintaining loss

  • Need for a restrictive procedure without intestinal bypass

As an agency, Antioch Health Travel coordinates your gastric sleeve pathway in accredited Antalya hospitals—aligning surgeon selection, anesthesia assessment, nutrition education, and follow-ups—so you receive a structured, safety-first experience from consultation to aftercare.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Good candidates are adults with clinically significant obesity and related health issues who are ready to engage in a comprehensive program—surgery plus nutrition, movement, and follow-up. Many guidelines consider patients with BMI ≥40, or BMI ≥35 with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or osteoarthritis. Some candidates with BMI 30–34.9 plus difficult-to-control metabolic disease may also be considered under specific programs after specialist review. Equally important is readiness: understanding how the sleeve works, accepting lifestyle changes, and committing to follow-up visits and vitamin supplementation.

You’re likely a strong candidate if you:

What Should Be Done Before Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Preparation increases safety and speeds recovery. Expect a multi-step work-up: blood tests, ECG/chest evaluation, abdominal ultrasound or endoscopy when indicated, and assessments by nutrition and anesthesia. Many surgeons recommend a liver-shrink (very-low-calorie) diet for 1–2 weeks pre-op to reduce liver size and make laparoscopy safer. You’ll be asked to stop nicotine and minimize alcohol, optimize blood sugar and blood pressure, and bring CPAP if you use one. Certain medications (e.g., blood thinners, specific diabetes drugs) will be adjusted under medical supervision.

How Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Performed in Turkey?

In Antalya, sleeves are performed in modern, accredited hospitals—typically laparoscopically (keyhole) under general anesthesia. After safety checks, the surgeon makes several small incisions to place a camera and instruments. The outer, stretchy curve of the stomach is freed from attachments; a soft calibration tube (bougie) guides the new stomach size. A stapler then divides the stomach vertically, creating a slender sleeve and removing the fundus where ghrelin is produced. The staple line may be reinforced and is often leak-tested with dye or air. Surgeons frequently administer local anesthetic blocks for comfort and start DVT prevention early. Operating time commonly ranges around an hour for straightforward cases; most patients walk the same day and drink clear fluids shortly after.

Typical intra-op steps

  • Laparoscopic access and liver retraction
  • Gastric mobilization and sizing over a bougie
  • Vertical stapling with hemostasis and optional reinforcement
  • Leak test, removal of resected stomach, and small-incision closure
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Recovery and Post-Procedure Care after Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Turkey

Recovery focuses on hydration, gradual nutrition, movement, and follow-ups. Most patients spend 1–2 nights in hospital, begin walking within hours, and start a structured diet as swelling subsides.

Potential Complications and Risks Post Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve is widely performed with strong safety data in qualified centers, yet all surgery carries risk. Early risks include bleeding, infection, blood clots (DVT/PE), anesthesia reactions, and staple-line leak (uncommon but serious). Intermediate risks include dehydration, nausea/vomiting, gastric stricture, or worsening/new reflux (GERD) in susceptible patients. Long-term considerations involve vitamin and mineral shortfalls (iron, B12, vitamin D, calcium), gallstone formation during rapid weight loss, excess skin, or weight regain if lifestyle support lapses.

How risks are reduced

  • Experienced bariatric surgeon, accredited hospital, standardized stapling and leak-testing

  • DVT prevention: early walking, compression devices, and blood thinners as indicated

  • Strict hydration and staged diet, anti-nausea plan, and proton-pump inhibitor (when prescribed)

  • Routine vitamins/minerals and scheduled follow-ups (in clinic or telehealth)

Red flags to report promptly

  • Fever, tachycardia, severe or left-shoulder pain, shortness of breath, persistent vomiting, dark stools, or inability to sip fluids

Antioch Health Travel works only with vetted teams who maintain clear escalation pathways and 24/7 contact, answering the common question “is gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey safe?” with systems focused on prevention, early recognition, and rapid response.

How Much Does Gastric Sleeve Surgery Cost in Turkey?

Instead of a single figure, consider the scope and services included. The price of gastric bypass surgery in Turkey varies depending on factors such as the surgeon’s seniority, hospital accreditation, length of hospital stay, anaesthesia and surgery duration, whether endoscopy and advanced leakage testing are included, and the intensity of post-surgery support (access to a dietitian, laboratories, long-term follow-up).