Bariatric surgery at MedProper Istanbul. Sleeve, bypass, balloon, revision from £1,925 all-inclusive. JCI hospital, IFSO surgeons.
Is it safe?
Your hospital holds the same JCI accreditation as Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins. Verified by TEMOS for international patient safety.
Will the price change?
Your price is locked before you book. Surgery, hospital, hotel, transfers, aftercare — one number, no extras.
What if something goes wrong?
Mandatory insurance required by Turkish law. If a revision is needed — flights, hospital, surgeon — covered. You never pay twice.
Who's my surgeon?
Confirmed before you pay. Full credentials, specialisation, and patient results shared upfront. No last-minute switch.
What happens after I fly home?
24/7 WhatsApp with your coordinator. Scheduled video check-ups with your surgeon. 12 months, not 12 days.
Bariatric surgery — from the Greek baros (weight) and iatrikos (medicine) — is the branch of surgery that treats severe obesity and its associated metabolic conditions. Unlike cosmetic surgery, bariatric surgery is a medically indicated intervention for a chronic disease, supported by decades of clinical evidence and endorsed by every major medical organisation worldwide.
The first bariatric procedures were performed in the 1950s. The laparoscopic revolution of the 1990s transformed the field, reducing complication rates and recovery times dramatically. Today, over 600,000 bariatric procedures are performed annually worldwide, and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) recognises bariatric surgery as the single most effective long-term treatment for severe obesity.
A 2022 meta-analysis published in The Lancet confirmed that bariatric surgery produces significantly greater and more sustained weight loss than any non-surgical intervention — including intensive lifestyle programmes, pharmacotherapy, and the newest GLP-1 receptor agonists. Surgery also delivers superior rates of Type 2 diabetes remission, cardiovascular risk reduction, and overall mortality improvement.
At MedProper Istanbul, we perform the full range of bariatric procedures in a JCI-accredited hospital, with IFSO-member surgeons and all-inclusive packages starting from £1,543.
Bariatric surgery is not simply about making the stomach smaller. Modern research has revealed a complex interplay of hormonal, neurological, and metabolic changes that explain why surgery succeeds where diets fail.
When you lose weight through calorie restriction, your body responds with a coordinated counter-attack known as metabolic adaptation. Resting metabolic rate decreases, hunger hormones (ghrelin) increase, satiety hormones (leptin, GLP-1, PYY) decrease, and your brain's reward system intensifies cravings for high-calorie foods. This "set point" defence mechanism means that 80-95% of patients who lose weight through diet alone regain it within five years.
Bariatric surgery is a group of surgical procedures that treat severe obesity by reducing stomach capacity, altering digestive hormones, or both. The term comes from the Greek baros (weight). It is a medically indicated treatment for a chronic disease, not cosmetic surgery. Procedures include gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric balloon, and revisional surgery.
At MedProper Istanbul, bariatric surgery starts from £1,275 / €1,490 for a gastric balloon and from £1,925 / €2,250 for a gastric sleeve. Gastric bypass starts from £2,695 / €3,150. All prices are all-inclusive with no hidden charges.
Yes, when performed at an accredited centre by experienced surgeons. MedProper operates in a JCI-accredited hospital with Level 3 ICU, IFSO-member surgeons, and a dual leak test protocol. The mortality rate for gastric sleeve at experienced centres is 0.08-0.19%.
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Restriction: Reducing stomach volume from approximately 1 litre to 100-150 ml (sleeve) or 30 ml (bypass) physically limits food intake.
Hormonal restructuring: Removing or bypassing the stomach fundus reduces ghrelin (the hunger hormone) by 60-70%. Simultaneously, GLP-1 and PYY (satiety hormones) increase significantly, particularly after bypass procedures.
Bile acid changes: Bariatric surgery alters bile acid signalling, which independently improves insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism — explaining why diabetes remission often occurs within days of surgery, before significant weight loss.
Gut microbiome remodelling: Surgery shifts the composition of intestinal bacteria toward profiles associated with leanness and improved metabolic health.
These mechanisms explain why bariatric surgery produces durable weight loss maintained at 10+ years, while non-surgical interventions almost universally fail to maintain results beyond 2-3 years.
The most commonly performed bariatric operation worldwide, representing approximately 55% of all procedures. The surgeon removes 75-80% of the stomach laparoscopically through 4-5 small incisions, leaving a narrow tube-shaped sleeve with a capacity of 100-150 ml.
Best for: BMI 35-45 without severe gastroesophageal reflux.
The gold standard for metabolic surgery. A small stomach pouch (approximately 30 ml) is created and connected directly to the jejunum, bypassing the majority of the stomach and the duodenum. The dual mechanism — restriction plus controlled malabsorption — produces the highest rates of Type 2 diabetes remission among all bariatric procedures.
Best for: BMI over 45, poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes, or chronic acid reflux.
A simplified version of Roux-en-Y with a single intestinal connection rather than two. Creates a longer, tubular stomach pouch connected to a loop of small intestine approximately 200 cm from the ligament of Treitz. Now representing approximately 30% of all bypass procedures globally.
Best for: BMI 40+ or revision patients seeking bypass with shorter surgical time.
A non-surgical option. A silicone balloon is placed endoscopically (through the mouth, no incisions) into the stomach under light sedation and filled with saline. The balloon occupies space and creates early satiety. Placed for 6-12 months, then removed endoscopically.
Best for: BMI 27-35. Patients who prefer a non-surgical, fully reversible option.
Published data in Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD) indicates that 15-25% of bariatric patients require a revisional procedure within ten years. Common reasons include insufficient initial weight loss, weight regain after initial success, sleeve dilation, or chronic GORD following sleeve gastrectomy.
MedProper offers sleeve-to-bypass conversion and re-sleeve procedures, performed by bariatric surgeons with extensive revision experience.
| Procedure | MedProper (GBP) | MedProper (EUR) | UK Private | USA Private | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric Sleeve | from £2,185 | from €2,550 | £5,000-£9,000 | $15,000-$25,000 | up to 90% |
| Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y) | from £3,257 | from €3,800 | £8,000-£12,000 | $20,000-$35,000 | up to 90% |
| Banded Sleeve | from £2,143 | from €2,500 | £6,500-£10,000 | $18,000-$28,000 | up to 89% |
| Gastric Balloon | from £1,543 | from €1,800 | £3,000-£5,000 | $6,000-$9,000 | up to 82% |
| Gastric Revision | from £2,400 | from €2,800 | £12,000-£18,000 | $18,000-$28,000 | up to 86% |
All MedProper prices are all-inclusive: surgeon fee, hospital stay, hotel, VIP transfers, pre-operative tests, post-operative medications, vitamin supplements, dietitian consultation, and 12-month online aftercare. There are no hidden charges.
Bariatric surgery is one of the most thoroughly studied surgical interventions in medicine. Key evidence:
| Condition | Sleeve Resolution | Bypass Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Type 2 diabetes | ~60% remission | 80%+ remission |
| Hypertension | 60-70% resolution | 65-75% resolution |
| Obstructive sleep apnoea | 80-85% resolution | 80-85% resolution |
| GORD (acid reflux) | May worsen (15-20%) | 90%+ resolution |
| Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease | Significant improvement | Significant improvement |
| Dyslipidaemia | 60-70% improvement | 70-80% improvement |
A 2024 meta-analysis in The Lancet demonstrated that bariatric surgery reduces all-cause mortality by 50-70% in patients with severe obesity over a 10-year follow-up period. The survival benefit is particularly pronounced for patients with Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.
Bariatric surgery significantly improves fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Studies show normalisation of menstrual cycles in 70-80% of patients and increased natural conception rates.
| Criteria | NHS (NICE CG189) | IFSO (MedProper) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum BMI for surgery | 40 (or 35 with comorbidities) | 35 (or 30 with comorbidities) |
| Minimum BMI for balloon | Not routinely offered | 27 |
| Pre-surgery programme | 6-24 months Tier 3 | 2-4 week liquid diet |
| Average waiting time | 2-3 years | 2-4 weeks |
| Annual UK procedures | ~6,000 | No limit |
| Eligible but untreated (England) | ~2.9 million | N/A |
Turkey is the world's third-largest medical tourism destination, and bariatric surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures for international patients:
Success rates depend on the procedure: gastric sleeve produces 60-70% excess weight loss at 12-18 months, gastric bypass produces 65-75%, and these results are largely maintained at 10 years (51-60% EWL). Type 2 diabetes remission rates are 60% for sleeve and 80%+ for bypass.
At MedProper (following IFSO guidelines): BMI 35+ for surgery, BMI 30+ with comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnoea), and BMI 27+ for gastric balloon. The NHS requires BMI 40+ or 35+ with comorbidities.
Bariatric surgery is the umbrella term for all weight loss surgery procedures. Gastric sleeve is one specific type of bariatric surgery — the most commonly performed. Other types include gastric bypass, gastric balloon, and revisional surgery.
Gastric sleeve takes 45-75 minutes, gastric bypass takes 90-150 minutes, mini bypass takes 60-90 minutes, and gastric balloon takes 15-20 minutes. All surgical procedures are performed laparoscopically under general anaesthesia.
Long-term effects include sustained weight loss (51-60% of excess weight at 10 years), Type 2 diabetes remission (60-80%), resolution of hypertension and sleep apnoea, reduced cardiovascular mortality (50-70%), and improved quality of life. Lifelong vitamin supplementation is required after bypass and recommended after sleeve.
Bariatric surgery produces remission of Type 2 diabetes in approximately 60% of gastric sleeve patients and 80%+ of gastric bypass patients. Remission often occurs within days of surgery, before significant weight loss, due to hormonal and metabolic changes. Bypass is the recommended procedure specifically for diabetes treatment.
The mortality rate for laparoscopic gastric sleeve at experienced, JCI-accredited centres is approximately 0.08-0.19% (roughly 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,250). For gastric bypass, the rate is 0.2-0.5%. Both are comparable to or lower than many commonly performed surgical procedures.
Gastric sleeve is recommended for BMI 35-45 without severe reflux — it is simpler, has lower complication rates, and requires fewer lifelong supplements. Gastric bypass is recommended for BMI over 45, Type 2 diabetes, or chronic acid reflux — it produces greater weight loss and superior metabolic outcomes. Your MedProper surgeon will recommend the best option during a free consultation.
The post-operative diet progresses through four phases: clear liquids (days 1-3), full liquids including protein shakes (days 4-14), pureed foods (weeks 3-4), and soft foods (weeks 5-6), before transitioning to normal meals in small portions. Protein intake (60-80g daily) is prioritised. MedProper provides a detailed 12-month nutrition guide.
After losing 60-75% of excess weight, many patients have excess skin, particularly around the abdomen, arms, thighs, and breasts. Body contouring procedures such as tummy tuck, arm lift, and breast lift are typically performed 12-18 months after bariatric surgery, once weight has stabilised.
Yes, MedProper performs bariatric surgery on patients up to 65 as standard. Patients over 65 are assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering overall fitness, anaesthesia risk, and expected benefit. Additional cardiac and pulmonary testing may be required.
The typical timeline from initial consultation to surgery is 2-4 weeks. After your free assessment and procedure recommendation (within 48 hours), you pay the deposit, complete a 2-4 week pre-operative liquid diet, and travel to Istanbul for surgery. There are no waiting lists.