Obesity affects millions of people worldwide and contributes to serious health issues including diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea. When diet and exercise fail to deliver lasting results, bariatric surgery offers a permanent solution. Gastric sleeve surgery (sleeve gastrectomy) is one of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures.
What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
In a sleeve gastrectomy, approximately 80% of the stomach is removed laparoscopically, leaving behind a narrow, banana-shaped pouch. This dramatically reduces food capacity while also eliminating most of the cells that produce ghrelin, the hunger hormone.
Eligibility Criteria
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above
- BMI of 35-40 with obesity-related comorbidities
- Previous unsuccessful attempts at sustained weight loss through diet and exercise
- Age between 18 and 65
- No alcohol or substance dependency
The Surgical Procedure
Gastric sleeve surgery is performed laparoscopically through 4-5 small incisions in the abdominal area. The procedure takes an average of 45-60 minutes. Patients typically stay in hospital for 2-3 days and can return to daily activities within 7-10 days.
Expected Outcomes
Following gastric sleeve surgery, patients typically lose 60-70% of their excess weight in the first year. By the end of the second year, this figure can reach 70-80%. Beyond weight loss, significant improvement is observed in obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and joint pain.
Post-Operative Nutrition
- Weeks 1-2: Liquids only (water, broth, protein shakes)
- Weeks 3-4: Pureed foods
- Weeks 5-6: Soft foods
- Week 7 onward: Normal but portion-controlled meals
- Lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation is required
Obesity Surgery in Turkey
Turkey is one of Europe's most experienced countries in bariatric surgery. Expert surgeons performing thousands of procedures annually, JCI-accredited hospitals and treatment packages at half the European cost make Turkey an attractive destination for obesity surgery.
