Bariatric Surgery in Turkey

What bariatric surgery is

Bariatric surgery is the group of operations that produce significant, lasting weight loss when diet and lifestyle changes have not been enough on their own. They work by reducing how much the stomach can hold and, in some cases, how much the body absorbs. Beyond the weight itself, bariatric surgery often improves conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnoea — which is frequently the main reason it is recommended.

The two main operations

The gastric sleeve removes around 80% of the stomach and is the simpler of the two. The gastric bypass adds a rerouting of the small intestine and is often preferred where type 2 diabetes or severe reflux is present. Both lead to an average loss of around 40% of excess weight — the choice between them is clinical, not a question of which works better. Not sure which applies to you? Read our guide to sleeve versus bypass.

Who qualifies

Bariatric surgery is generally considered at a BMI of 35 or above, or from 30 where there are related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea. BMI is only the starting point: your medical history, previous attempts at weight loss and general fitness for anaesthesia all feed into the decision, and the final call always rests with the surgeon after your pre-operative tests. Our BMI and eligibility guide sets out the detail.

What the package covers

Our all-inclusive packages are built so there is nothing to settle on arrival: the surgery itself, your stay in a JCI-accredited hospital, a 4★ hotel for recovery, all airport–hospital–hotel transfers, complete pre-operative tests and blood work, and 12 months of follow-up with a dedicated English-speaking coordinator. Flights are the one thing not included, because patients prefer to book their own.

Safety and accreditation

Operations are carried out in JCI-accredited hospitals — the international standard for hospital safety — by specialist bariatric surgeons working under the medical direction of Prof. Dr. Nurullah Ermiş and his team, who have performed over 2,000 bariatric procedures. Every operation carries risk, and the honest version of that conversation happens with your surgeon before you commit, not after. Read more on whether surgery in Turkey is safe.

What it costs compared with home

The price difference is the reason most patients look abroad, and it is substantial. We set out an indicative comparison against UK private fees in our cost comparison guide, including what is and is not available on the NHS.