Gastric Sleeve in Turkey for Australians

If you pay for it yourself, a gastric sleeve in Australia costs about A$18,000-25,000. A Melbourne bariatric centre lists about A$18,000 after the Medicare rebate (Epworth Centre for Bariatric Surgery) and a NSW practice A$20,000-25,000 (Central Coast Surgery). With private hospital cover the out-of-pocket cost is much lower (those two practices quote about A$3,500-5,500), but new or upgraded cover usually means a 12-month wait.

Istanbul has experienced bariatric surgeons in hospitals licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health for international patients. Surgeon & hospital packages on &NewMe start from €2,200 (about A$3,540). The flight is long - about a day with one stop - so plan the trip carefully.

&NewMe is a marketplace: compare surgeons and their Google reviews, and get written quotes before you decide.

Surgeon & hospital packages on &NewMe start from €2,200 - about A$3,540 (1 EUR = 1.6097 AUD, ECB reference rate of 5 October 2026). That is the surgeon and hospital package, not the whole trip. Full packages usually include:

• Surgery, anaesthesia and your hospital stay (at least 2 nights)
• At least 1 hotel night after discharge
• Pre-op tests in Istanbul
• Airport and hospital transfers
• Medication and protein for the first weeks
• Dietitian support and a coordinator from first message to home

We do not publish a fixed AUD package price yet. Tell us about your health and travel dates and your coordinator sends a written full-package quote in AUD within 24 hours, so you can compare it line by line with any Australian quote.

Not included: flights and travel insurance. Turkish Airlines' own fare page shows Sydney-Istanbul return economy fares from about A$1,750 when booked ahead (Turkish Airlines, October 2026); holiday periods cost more.

Be careful with very cheap offers: a low headline price rarely includes a licensed hospital stay, insurance and aftercare.

Medicare: no - Medicare does not cover you when you are overseas (Smartraveller). Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Turkey (Better Health Channel).

Private health insurance: usually not. Australian hospital cover is built around treatment in Australia; a few insurers have arrangements with overseas hospitals, so ask yours. Smartraveller advises telling your insurer about your plans either way - otherwise you may void your policy if you have a complication (Smartraveller).

Travel insurance: basic policies rarely cover medical tourism. Look for a policy that covers your procedure, complications and medical evacuation, and read the PDS (Smartraveller).

Back home: anyone with a Medicare number can be treated free as a public patient in a public hospital, including in emergency departments (healthdirect). Further treatment you need later because of overseas surgery may not all be covered by Medicare (Better Health Channel), which is one more reason to choose carefully and keep your GP involved.

Only in limited cases, and the ATO - not us and not the surgeon - decides. The ATO calls compassionate release of super a last resort (ATO).

For medical treatment, the ATO requires both of these (ATO: medical treatment):

• You need the treatment to treat a life-threatening illness or injury, or to alleviate acute or chronic pain, or an acute or chronic mental illness
• The treatment is not readily available through the public health system

You need an itemised quote and two medical reports: one from a registered specialist in the area of your treatment, and one from a registered medical practitioner (such as your GP) or another specialist. If you travel overseas for treatment, the reports must explain why you cannot have it in Australia.

Worth knowing (ATO): cosmetic or elective procedures usually do not qualify; no one can promise fast or guaranteed approval; health providers are not allowed to charge you a fee to prepare your application; paying upfront is not a requirement; and early release can raise your tax and reduce your retirement savings. Talk to your GP first and, if you are weighing it up, a licensed financial adviser.

If you decide to apply, we can give you an itemised written quote. We do not apply for you and do not charge for any of this.

A fair question. The Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons warn about the risks of surgery abroad - unaccredited facilities, no follow-up plan and flying too soon (Better Health Channel).

Before you book with any provider through &NewMe, we check four things for you:

• The hospital is licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health and authorised for international patients
• Complication insurance: included by most providers, as Turkish law requires for international surgical patients (check your quote; an initial exclusion period may apply)
• You get the price and refund rules in writing before you pay
• The surgeon who operates on you is named in your quote

Your surgeon reviews your medical history before anything is confirmed, and will say no if surgery is not safe for you. After you are home, you can reach us any time and we coordinate with your surgeon.

Smartraveller's advice for anyone going overseas for a procedure: talk to your doctor in Australia, get a health check at least 6 weeks before you go, take someone with you, and make sure your insurance covers complications (Smartraveller). We agree with all of it.

Doing nothing has risks too: diabetes, heart disease and joint damage get worse with time.

• Loretta from Australia: her gastric sleeve journey (video)
• Kristy (New Zealand): 66 kg down
• Sammie (New Zealand): 46 kg down, back on the flying fox
• Ngatiira (New Zealand): more than just surgery

Most of our patients so far have come from New Zealand - the same long-haul trip you would make. Want to talk to someone who has done it? Ask your coordinator.

Flights: from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth you fly with one stop, usually via Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways) or Asia. Turkish Airlines flies from Sydney and Melbourne with a stop in Asia, and has announced non-stop Sydney flights (Executive Traveller). From the east coast, plan on about 20-24 hours door to door; Perth is the shortest trip.

Passport and visa: Australian ordinary passport holders do not need a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days in any 180 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 60 days beyond your stay (Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Check Smartraveller's Türkiye advice before you book.

Time difference: Istanbul is on UTC+3 all year (timeanddate). It is 7 hours behind Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (8 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne during Australian daylight saving) and 5 hours behind Perth.

How long you stay: at least 2 nights in hospital and 1 night in a hotel; the exact plan depends on the provider and package and is in your written quote. You fly home once your surgeon confirms you are fit to fly. With the flights, plan a bit over a week away.

Coming with someone: many patients bring a partner or friend - Smartraveller recommends it. Tell us when you enquire and we will check the companion options and price.

Tell your GP before and after your surgery - your GP stays your main doctor at home. We recommend a GP visit about 2 weeks after you are back, and blood tests at 3, 6 and 12 months (B12, iron, folate, vitamin D, calcium).

On the full package, a bariatric dietitian guides you from liquids to normal food, and our AI support assistant - trained by the dietitian - answers questions 24/7. Your surgeon gives you a discharge summary and follow-up plan in English, and we help your GP and your surgeon talk if needed.

How much does a gastric sleeve in Turkey cost for Australians?

Surgeon & hospital packages on &NewMe start from €2,200 (about A$3,540 at today's rate). Your full-package quote in AUD - with hotel, transfers, medication and dietitian support - comes in writing within 24 hours. Flights and travel insurance are extra. Self-funded surgery in Australia costs about A$18,000-25,000.

Do I need a visa for Turkey?

Not for a tourist visit of up to 90 days in any 180 days on an ordinary Australian passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 60 days beyond your stay.

Does Medicare cover surgery in Turkey?

No. Medicare does not cover treatment overseas, and most private health insurance does not either - ask your insurer, and tell them about your plans.

Can I use my super?

Only if the ATO approves compassionate release, which has strict conditions and needs two medical reports. Cosmetic or elective procedures usually do not qualify. See the section above and the ATO website.

How long do I need to stay in Turkey?

At least 2 nights in hospital and 1 night in a hotel - your quote shows the exact plan. With the flights, plan a bit over a week away.

Is it safe?

Surgery always has some risk, wherever it is done. It is safest with an experienced bariatric surgeon in a licensed hospital, after proper pre-op checks and with follow-up at home - which is what we check before you book.