Gastric Sleeve in Turkey for UK Patients

On the NHS you usually need a BMI of 40 or more (or 35 with a condition such as type 2 diabetes), a specialist weight-management programme first, and then a wait that is often 2 years or longer. Privately, a gastric sleeve in the UK costs about £8,500-14,000.

Istanbul has experienced bariatric surgeons in hospitals licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health for international patients. The flight is short, and the full package costs less than a third of UK private prices.

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

£3,490 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 UK airports are often £150-350 if you book a few weeks ahead.

Private surgery in the UK: about £8,500-14,000. Other surgeons on &NewMe quote their own packages - always compare what is included. Be careful with very cheap offers: a £2,000 clinic rarely includes a licensed hospital stay, insurance and aftercare.

A fair question. The NHS sees patients with 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 London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and other UK airports, with several flights a day.

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: UK citizens can visit Turkey visa-free for short stays - check GOV.UK travel advice 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 the UK?

The full package most patients choose is £3,490, 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 the UK costs about £8,500-14,000.

Can I get a gastric sleeve on the NHS instead?

Possibly, if you meet the criteria (usually BMI 40+, or 35+ with a condition like type 2 diabetes) and complete a weight-management programme. Waits are often 2 years or longer, so many people choose to go privately.

Will the NHS look after me after surgery abroad?

Your GP stays your doctor and can arrange blood tests and routine follow-up. Bring your English discharge summary; we can help your GP and surgeon talk.

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.