Travelling abroad for gastric sleeve surgery is a big step — exciting, emotional, and life-changing.
But there is one question patients rarely ask:
“Is it possible to arrive in Türkiye and still be denied surgery?”
The honest answer is: yes, it can happen — but it is almost always preventable.
In this article, we explain:
Even if your surgeon has initially approved you based on:
Your reported weight
Your medical form
Photos or scans
Your health history
Below are the real-world situations our team — and many bariatric teams globally — have encountered.
Even patients who “feel healthy” can have underlying issues such as:
• Active stomach ulcers
Endoscopy may reveal an ulcer that makes surgery unsafe.
➡️ Solution: 6–8 weeks of treatment, then re-evaluation.
• Untreated severe anemia
Low hemoglobin increases anesthesia and healing risks.
➡️ Solution: Iron treatment + delayed surgery.
• Positive Hepatitis B/C or other infectious markers
Some markers require delayed surgery or referral to a specialist centre.
➡️ Solution: Additional treatment or clearance needed.
• Pregnancy
Yes — this has happened.
➡️ Surgery cannot be performed if pregnancy hormones are present.
This is more common than people think — sometimes by mistake, sometimes due to shy reporting.
If BMI is significantly higher than expected:
➡️ Result: Surgery may be postponed until the patient loses some weight safely.
This puts the patient at major risk because the liver does not shrink enough.
If the liver is too large, the surgeon cannot safely see the anatomy.
➡️ Result: Surgery may be cancelled or rescheduled.
Examples:
Some increase bleeding risk or interact with anesthesia.
➡️ Result: Surgery may be postponed until medication washout is complete.
These are typical scenarios — all based on real patient patterns:
Patient arrived approved.
Endoscopy showed a bleeding ulcer.
Surgery postponed; patient treated and returned 8 weeks later.
A patient’s blood test showed elevated HCG levels.
She had no idea she was pregnant.
Surgery cancelled immediately for safety.
BMI turned out much higher than declared.
The anesthesiologist recommended 2–4 weeks of diet before surgery.
Patient returned home and rebooked later.
Despite feeling “fine,” blood work showed very low hemoglobin.
Surgery postponed for treatment.
A patient arrived for surgery with no symptoms and no known history of hepatitis.
During routine pre-op blood tests, the team detected:
Even though the patient felt completely fine, these results indicated liver stress or possible hepatitis, making surgery unsafe at that moment.
➡️ Result: Surgery was cancelled.
➡️ Next step: The patient was referred to a hepatologist for full evaluation and treatment.
➡️ Surgery was only possible after specialist clearance.
This was extremely important for the patient’s safety — anesthesia and bariatric surgery are risky when liver function is compromised.
✔️ Be 100% honest about your weight
Your medical plan depends on accuracy, not perfection.
Nobody is judging you — your safety depends on real numbers.
✔️ Follow your pre-op diet exactly
The liver shrinkage is one of the most important safety factors.
✔️ Share all medications
Even vitamins, herbal teas, or supplements matter.
✔️ Do a basic blood test in your own country
If possible, check:
✔️ Take your pre-op stomach protector
Especially if you have reflux or a history of gastritis.
Surgeons in Türkiye operate with extremely high safety standards.
Surgery is only stopped when it would be risky — and that is always in your best interest.
For 99% of patients, everything goes smoothly.
Cancellations happen only when your health requires it.
Want to know if you are eligible?
Fill out the short form below — it only takes 2 minutes, and our medical team will assess your case carefully.
Sarah, 38, Christchurch, New Zealand
"Before my gastric sleeve surgery with &New Me, I struggled with obesity-related health issues. Now, I’ve lost 40 kg, and my diabetes is under control. I finally feel like myself again."
Michael, 45, Sydney, Australia
"I hesitated for years, but &New Me gave me confidence. I lost 50 kg post-surgery, and my energy levels have skyrocketed!"