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Weight loss surgery, which is also known as bariatric or metabolic surgery, is designed to help people who are struggling with normal weight loss and within the limits of obesity. For this purpose, a number of different techniques including gastric sleeve, gastric band, gastric bypass, and gastric balloon are available at Vantage Clinic in Istanbul, Turkey.
Today, many people are suffering from obesity. Unhealthy eating habits, genetics, and certain medications are some of the most common reasons for this serious health condition. Whatever the reason, being over the ideal body weight can lead to important and life-threatening conditions. This is why people who have trouble with weight loss and are overweight resort to surgical help.
Weight loss surgery is not a one size fits all operation. Because everyone’s case is different, various weight loss surgery options have been developed over the years. The most common weight loss surgery options are gastric sleeve, gastric band, gastric bypass, and gastric balloon. See below for the details.
Gastric sleeve operation, which is also known as sleeve gastrectomy, partial gastrectomy, vertical gastrectomy or gastric sleeve, aims to remove a part of the stomach to decrease appetite and accelerate weight loss. In gastric sleeve operation, the stomach is split into two sections vertically. The food path remains untouched however the part of the stomach that releases appetite hormones is separated. The surgery decreases your appetite and restricts the amount of food you can eat. This is a great long-term solution that makes you avoid anatomical alteration.
| Duration: | 1 – 2 hours | Daily life: | 2 – 4 weeks |
| Hospital Stay: | 1 – 2 days | Exercise: | 4 – 6 weeks |
| Anaesthesia: | General | Full recovery: | 6 – 8 weeks |
A gastric band is a small band placed around the stomach to create a smaller section at the top, which decreases the stomach’s capacity. This small section makes you feel full earlier and thus decreases your appetite and food intake. Just like before the operation the ingested food slowly moves down to the main part of the stomach and is digested normally. Because the gastric band is inflatable, it can be adjusted to your needs. A gastric band is one of the popular weight loss operations because it is adjustable, easily removable, and less invasive than other operations.
| Duration: | 30 – 60 minutes | Daily life: | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Hospital Stay: | 1 night | Exercise: | 3 – 4 weeks |
| Anaesthesia: | General | Full recovery: | 4 – 6 weeks |
A gastric balloon is a small expandable ball placed inside the stomach to occupy a part of its volume. It is introduced to the stomach through endoscopy in a collapsed structure. An expanded gastric balloon occupies a significant volume of the stomach that diminishes the appetite. Because the gastric balloon is a non-surgical operation it is commonly preferred by people who are looking for the least invasive solution or are not good candidates for a surgical weight loss operation.
| Duration: | 15 – 20 minutes | Daily life: | 1 – 2 days |
| Hospital Stay: | – | Exercise: | 1 – 2 days |
| Anaesthesia: | – | Full recovery: | 1 – 2 days |
In gastric bypass operation, a small part of the stomach is separated and connected to the small intestine, thanks to that the amount of food you can eat and colories intake is restricted. Gstric bypass operation is suitable for people who are looking for a long-term solution and find it hard to stick to a diet and exercise regime. However, it is important to note that gastric bypass is not suitable for people with a BMI over 50.
| Duration: | 2 – 3 hours | Daily life: | 2 – 4 weeks |
| Hospital Stay: | 2 – 3 days | Exercise: | 4 – 6 weeks |
| Anaesthesia: | General | Full recovery: | 6 – 8 weeks |
Bariatric surgery in Turkey is not only safe and high-quality but also affordable. Thanks to the high number of qualified surgeons and high exchange rates, bariatric surgery in Turkey is much cheaper than in many other countries. Gastric sleeve in Turkey costs around $4,000, Gastric bypass in Turkey costs between $5,000-$6,000, gastric balloon in Turkey costs around $3,500 while the gastric band in Turkey can cost around $5,000.
To be eligible for weight loss surgery, you need to meet certain conditions. A suitable candidate for weight loss surgery options should be between the ages of 16-70, have a BMI of 40 or more, have an obesity-related condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, and should have tried and failed to lose weight through diet and exercise.
Weight loss surgery requires a bit of preparation from your end. Because weight loss surgery cannot work wonders alone, you’ll need to get used to some lifestyle changes that need to be carried out after the surgery. This is why your surgeon might ask you to stick to a certain diet for a while before your surgery. This diet will depend on your metabolism and the type of surgery you will be having. Shortly before your surgery, you might be asked to go on a strictly liquid diet to prepare your digestive system. If your surgery involves changes to the intestines, you might have to use a laxative to clear out your digestive system.
Before your surgery, you’ll have to quit smoking and consuming alcohol and avoid taking any blood-thinning medication. Make sure that you stick to any other instructions your surgeon will give before the surgery.
Because the risk of clotting is increased and your stomach needs time to heal after a weight loss surgery, it is advisable to give your body some time before you go on any long flights. Your surgeon might advise you to wait for 3-6 weeks before you can fly for a long period. However, if you had gastric balloon surgery you might be able to fly sooner since this operation is less invasive.
The length of your operation depends on what type of weight loss surgery you are having. Gastric balloon operation only takes about 15-20 minutes, gastric band surgery takes 30-60 minutes, gastric sleeve surgery takes approximately 1-2 hours, and gastric bypass surgery can take 2-3 hours.
To give your stomach some time to adjust and heal, you should consume only water and liquids in the first couple of weeks. After the 3-week mark, you can move on to soft food in puree texture. 7 weeks after your surgery is a good time to slowly get into a healthy normal diet. Make sure to incorporate protein-rich meals every step of the way to help your body recover from the surgery.
Choosing the right place and clinic for your weight loss surgery is extremely important. The experience and qualifications of your surgeon will greatly affect how smooth your surgery runs and the quality of the results. This is why make sure to ask for some patience testaments as well as before and after photos.
Turkey is one of the best places to get weight loss surgery thanks to high-quality medical education and lower price points. In Turkey, experienced qualified surgeons at Vantage Aesthetics Clinic offer safe weight loss operations and effective results. Reach us for a free medical consultation!
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