If you have serious issues with your weight and are not happy with it, it can emotionally drain you and your self-confidence. In such cases, if diet and exercise don’t yield desired results, then bariatric surgery may be beneficial for you. Now, you must be wondering about the best medical destination for getting treated.
Well, Turkey is one of the medical options for bariatric surgery.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 2 billion people are overweight around the globe.
Why is Turkey a go-to destination for bariatric surgery?
Out of all medical procedures including cardiac, neuro, spinal, dental, cosmetic and reproductive, bariatric is one of the common medical treatments performed in Turkey. Also, Ankara, Antalya, Izmir, and Istanbul are the preferable cities in Turkey where people prefer to go for their medical treatment. This has been possible due to available medical resources, well-facilitated hospitals, experienced medical personnel, and technological intelligence.
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Reasonable Pricing: Fair pricing is one of the main factors which is quite important to patients as heavier cost of treatments becomes a burden for patients. People migrate from their home countries to some popular medical destinations in search of low and affordable medical treatment. Turkey is one such option that offers budget-friendly, high-quality medical care as compared to countries offering quality medical treatment at higher rates. The main reason responsible is highly-experienced medical staff, quality-oriented medical care and the tourist attractions Turkey offers, make it a go-to medical destination for medical tourists worldwide.
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Advanced Treatment Options: In the healthcare industry, quality is a key factor and cannot be ignored. Turkey is one such medical destination where healthcare institutions take care of their patients seriously. In Turkey, hospitals and medical care institutions are facilitated with high-quality equipment and advanced treatment techniques. Turkey offers the best health care as promised.
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Bundle of Treatment and Vacation: While it can be difficult to vacation in our busy lives, it is a smart idea to bundle up treatment and vacation. The Euroasian country offers both due to its rich history, ancient monuments, the beautiful architecture along with favorable climatic conditions. There are many cities in Turkey that are suitable for treatment as well as vacation, such as Istanbul, Bodrum, Antalya, where you can enjoy nature’s beauty and discover many ancient monuments. Therefore, while getting treated, vacationing in such a wonderful country is an opportunity not to be missed.
Who is a good candidate for bariatric surgery?
There are several reasons responsible to undergo bariatric surgery. However, some of the reasons are listed below:
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When Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 40 or the body weighs more than 100 pounds.
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When Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 35 or if there is an obesity-related condition persists such as type-II diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, osteoarthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, lipid abnormalities, or heart disease.
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When other weight loss efforts such as diet or exercise, fail.
What are the surgical bariatric procedures in Turkey?
Bariatric surgery is a treatment procedure performed on obese people. It involves the reduction of the size of the stomach with gastric band or removal of a portion of the stomach. It can also be done by reshaping the small intestine to a small stomach pouch. The most common bariatric surgery procedures are:
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Gastric Bypass Surgery: When people fight with obesity while joining weight-loss services but fail, it leaves them to undergo weight-loss surgery yielding long-term results. Gastric bypass surgery is a commonly performed bariatric surgery in Turkey which involves the reduction of the size of the stomach and bypasses a portion of the small intestine to reduce food intake and storage of food calories giving long-term results. As the surgery requires the number of incisions, therefore, the recovery time depends accordingly. The surgeon may prescribe you to intake Vitamin B12, iron and calcium.
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Gastric Balloon Surgery: It is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment which requires insertion of FDA approved device into the stomach by using endoscopic methods. When the candidate is obese and tries various weight loss methods but fails, then gastric balloon surgery is required. It helps patients to lose 30 percent of the required weight in 6 months to 1 year. After 6 months to a year, the surgeon removes the inserted balloon using endoscopy. This method also reduces the risk of other health problems such as heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and blood pressure. The person can go back to perform normal activities after 3 weeks of balloon insertion.
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Gastric Sleeve: This method applies where all other methods such as diet, exercise, don’t give required results. Gastric Sleeve Surgery, also termed as Sleeve Gastrectomy, is a bariatric surgery that requires the removal of a portion of the stomach leading to less hunger and eventually, weight loss. This method helps patients to lose 70 percent of their excess weight. The patient may experience the symptoms of dumping syndrome such as diarrhea, nausea or faintness which can be recovered by orally prescribed medications.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of bariatric surgical procedures?
Like any other surgery, bariatric surgeries also come with a pack of advantages and disadvantages which are discussed below:
Bariatric Procedure | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Gastric Bypass | 1. 60 to 80 percent of excess weight loss. 2. Restricts intake of excessive food. 3. Increases energy expenditure 4. Favorable changes in gut hormones that reduce appetite and enhance satiety | 1. May produce complications. 2. Lead to long-term vitamin/mineral deficiencies. 3. Longer hospital stay. 4. Requires strict follow-up, vitamin/mineral supplementation and diet. |
Gastric Sleeve (Gastrectomy) | 1. Restricts intake of excessive food. 2. 50 percent of excess weight loss. 3. Minimum incisions required. 4. A shorter hospital stay of 2 days. 5. Favorable changes in gut hormones that suppress hunger, reduce appetite and enhance satiety. | 1. Non-reversible procedure. 2. Long-term vitamin deficiencies. 3. Higher complication rate. |
Gastric Balloon | 1. Non-surgical and fast procedure. 2. Not as strict as other weight-loss surgeries. 3. Three times of the excess weight loss. 4. Balloon inserted can be easily removed. | 1. Strict diet to be followed along with exercise. 2. Slight possibility of deflation and leak of the balloon in the stomach. 3. May cause nausea or discomfort. 4. A temporary process as the inserted balloon can be removed once inserted. |
How much does bariatric surgery cost in Turkey?
As there are many bariatric surgical procedures available in Turkey, you may come out with several questions like is Turkey a good medical destination, which surgical procedure is effective, how much does gastric bypass surgery cost in Turkey and many more. There are many weight loss clinics in Istanbul such as Erdem Hospital for gastric sleeve, get slim in Turkey and more. Let’s discuss the cost of bariatric surgery in Turkey and compare it with the other western countries.
Medical | USA | Mexico | UAE | UK | Australia | Turkey |
Gastric | $21,000 | $7,000 | $13,000 | £8,000 to £15,000 | AU$ | $5,500 |
Gastric | $15,400 | $4,350 | $9,000 | £8,000-£10,000 | AU$ | $4,000 |
Gastric | $7,500 | $3,000 | $4,000 | £4,000-£8,000 | AU$ | $2,700 |
How to choose the right bariatric surgeon in Turkey?
Teaming up the right kind of surgical procedure along with the experienced surgeon gives the desired results. In Turkey, the Turkish Ministry of Health conducts regular inspections in clinics to check its accreditation, hygiene level, and medical staff’s license.
However, the following are some of the key points to look into by yourself before deciding the bariatric surgeon and clinic in Turkey:
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Check whether the clinic has international accreditation such as Joint Commission International (JCI), etc.
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Check the clinic’s reputation from Google, star ratings, reviews from previous patients, and catalog showing before and after pictures.
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Ensure whether the clinic provides a free consultation to answer your queries and follow-up care services.
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The clinic should be well-equipped with advanced treatment options.
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Surgeons associated with clinics must have vast experience.
Bariatric surgeons in Turkey are experienced enough to perform various bariatric surgical procedures such as gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric balloon, etc. The best part is clinics in Turkey provide weight loss programs to help patients for maintaining a healthy weight.
Conclusion:
The bariatric surgery cost in Turkey is 70 percent less as compared to other western countries. Somehow, it is advisable to follow follow-up care services for long-term results.