Gastric sleeve is a weight loss surgery and a life-altering decision that needs strong motivation and discipline from the patient. Even after the surgery, you will need to change your lifestyle to maintain the procedure results. There are many advantages of having gastric sleeve surgery abroad:
It is affordable
The main reason many patients from the US, UK, and Europe travel abroad to have gastric sleeve surgery is to reduce the cost of the treatment. Most patients can't afford to do gastric sleeves in their native country.
The average cost of gastric sleeve surgery in the UK is 12,000 GBP. Compared to Turkey or Poland where it cost %50 less.
Gastric sleeve surgeons abroad are highly experienced
Finding the right surgeons is vital to ensure your procedure goes well and as planned. Specific destinations have some of the best doctors in the bariatric surgery field. They have been in the field for years, and you can check their qualification, experience, and the types of weight loss surgeries they performed in the past.
Doctors abroad speak and communicate in English.
Countries like Turkey, Poland, and Hungary are medical tourism hubs. They regularly deal with international patients. If the doctor has weak English proficiency, these clinics provide a translator as part of their service.
You qualify for a gastric sleeve if you have a BMI higher than 35. But if the patient has a medical condition like type 2 diabetes or arterial hypertension, a BMI of 30 - 35 is considered within the acceptable range.
The factors that affect the cost of gastric sleeves abroad are the hospital's location, the surgeon's experience, the technique used, and the type of treatment.
Country | Estimated Cost |
UK |
€10,000 - €13,000 |
US |
€9000 - €27,000 |
Turkey | €2850 - €3500 |
Australia |
€20,000 |
Learn more about Gastric Sleeve in Turkey by comparing costs and reviewing the clinics and doctors.
Gastric Sleeve (47 Clinics)
A sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve surgery may not be suitable for extremely overweight individuals as the surgery itself can be life-threatening. In some cases, it’s best to wait and lose some weight under physician supervision and with the help of a well-planned diet and exercise program before undergoing surgery.
The patient is required to stay 4 nights in the hospital.
The patient should stop using blood thinners such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and vitamin E at least 2 weeks before the gastric sleeve surgery. At least 3 weeks before the surgery, the patient should stop smoking as it can interfere with the anesthesia and then the recovery period.
The patient is administered general anesthesia, and the surgeon may begin to work on removing part of the stomach and the fundus. Since gastric sleeve surgery is a laparoscopic procedure, around 6 incisions are created around the abdomen area.
During gastric sleeve surgery, the surgeon removes most of the stomach. The remaining part of the stomach is joined together using surgical staples. A long tube or banana-shaped stomach has been created when this process completes and the small cuts(incisions) used are stitched closed. The entire surgery takes about 60 to 90 minutes to complete.
At the end of the operation, around 25% of the stomach will remain and function as normal, still connected to the small intestine and the esophagus.
Patients who decide on gastric sleeves abroad, spend around 4 days in the hospital after the surgery and the whole recovery period lasts about 4 weeks, after which they can safely return to work and their daily activities. Patients need to follow a special sleeve gastrectomy diet during the recovery period, effectively avoiding solid food for a few weeks.
In this way, the recovery will be more comfortable and the adaptation of the "new" stomach to the body and the systems can be achieved more smoothly.
Gastric sleeve side effects can include:
Gastric sleeve has a 99% success rate according to patients’ reviews of their surgery results. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery can help patients live a healthy life and improve eating habits according to the gastric sleeve reviews
The amount of weight the patient loses after gastric sleeve surgery or sleeve gastrectomy depends on the patient’s determination to follow the doctor’s post-op instructions. A proper diet needs to be followed regularly and kept following consistently.
What Are the Other Benefits Of A Sleeve Gastrectomy?
Gastric sleeve surgery can help patients suffering from
Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Bypass – What Is the Difference?
In gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is divided into two parts and the smaller stomach gets connected to the small intestine. The procedure can be performed laparoscopically, and it is the preferred choice among doctors and patients.
Which Foods Should I Avoid in My Sleeve Gastrectomy Diet?
Patients should avoid the following foods and drinks during their post-op diet: