Gastric Sleeve in Turkey for Irish Patients

Ireland has very few public bariatric surgery places, so waits are long, and not everyone referred qualifies. Privately, a gastric sleeve in Ireland costs about €12,000-16,000.

Istanbul has experienced bariatric surgeons in hospitals licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health for international patients. It is a short direct flight, and the full package costs about a third of Irish private prices.

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

€3,990 all-inclusive (the package most patients choose). It includes:

• Surgery with Prof. Dr. Toygar Toydemir, anaesthesia and 3 nights at Istanbul Cerrahi Hospital
• 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

Not included: flights and travel insurance. Return flights from Dublin are often €200-450 if you book a few weeks ahead.

Tax relief: you may be able to claim 20% tax relief on the treatment cost through Revenue (health expenses) - travel and hotel do not qualify. Keep your invoice; we give you one that shows the treatment and the amount.

Other surgeons on &NewMe quote their own packages - always compare what is included.

A fair question. Irish doctors do see complications after surgery abroad - usually after choosing an unlicensed clinic, skipping pre-op checks, or having no plan for follow-up at home.

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 is included, as Turkish law requires
• 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.

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

Most of our patients so far have come from New Zealand and Australia - their stories are the same trip you would make, just a longer flight.

• Kristy: 66 kg down
• Sammie: 46 kg down, back on the flying fox
• Ngatiira: more than just surgery

Want to talk to someone who has done it? Ask your coordinator - past patients are happy to answer questions on WhatsApp.

Flight: about 4 hours direct from Dublin.

How long you stay: 4 nights in Istanbul on the full package - 3 in hospital and 1 in a hotel - then home once your surgeon confirms you are fit to fly. Most people take 1-2 weeks off desk work.

Passport: check the Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice for Turkey before you book.

Coming with someone: many patients bring a partner or friend. 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 from Ireland?

The full package most patients choose is €3,990, including surgery with Prof. Dr. Toygar Toydemir, 3 nights in hospital, 1 hotel night, transfers, medication, protein and dietitian support. Flights and travel insurance are extra. Private surgery in Ireland costs about €12,000-16,000.

Can I claim tax relief?

Treatment abroad by a registered doctor can qualify for 20% health expenses relief through Revenue. Only the treatment counts - not flights or hotel. Keep your invoice.

Will the HSE refund surgery in Turkey?

No. HSE schemes for treatment abroad cover EU/EEA countries, and Turkey is not one of them.

How long do I need to stay in Turkey?

4 nights on the full package: 3 in hospital and 1 in a hotel. Most people are back at a desk job within 1-2 weeks.

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.