Gastric Sleeve FAQ
Eligibility, recovery, diet, vitamins, pregnancy, regain: the questions patients ask before a gastric sleeve, answered with sources and in the words of Dr. Mesut Çaynak, who has performed more than 3,800 obesity surgery procedures. Your surgeon reviews your case first and gives you a personal quote in writing.
Surgery at a JCI-accredited hospital
TEMOS-accredited hospital
SRC-accredited Master Surgeon- One of only 7 SRC-listed bariatric surgeons in Turkey
- 3,800+ obesity surgery procedures
Surgical Review CorporationMaster Surgeon, Metabolic & Bariatric SurgeryAccredited Aug 2021 – 2027The surgeon's team reviews your height, weight and health history. No obligation. SRC accreditation can be verified on SRC's site.
The surgeon's team reviews your height, weight and health history. No obligation. SRC accreditation can be verified on SRC's site.
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Coverage of Dr. Çaynak's work.
Credentials
Accreditation you can check yourself
Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) certificate for Op. Dr. Mesut Çaynak, accredited August 2021–2027. Tap the certificate to enlarge it.
Source for “one of only 7 SRC-listed bariatric surgeons in Turkey”: SRC accredited providers list.
Candidacy and what to expect
What is the minimum BMI for gastric sleeve?
The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) describes a BMI of 35 or higher as the range where obesity can be hard to treat with diet and exercise alone, and says surgery may be considered at a BMI of 30 to 35 when type 2 diabetes is difficult to control. Eligibility also depends on your overall health and readiness for lifestyle change. The surgeon decides after reviewing your own height, weight and health history.
NIDDK: Definition & Facts of Weight-Loss SurgeryHow much weight will I lose?
It varies from person to person and depends on your starting weight, eating habits, activity and how closely you follow the aftercare plan. We do not publish an average percentage because we do not have a source we can cite for it. Your surgeon gives you realistic expectations for your case during the online consultation.
Can weight come back after a gastric sleeve?
Yes, it can. Surgery is a tool, not a guarantee: long-term results depend on permanent changes in how you eat and on follow-up care. Dr. Çaynak lists weight regain among the reasons revision surgery is considered, so your team plans long-term follow-up from the start.
Does gastric sleeve cure diabetes?
NIDDK says weight-loss surgery can improve many of the medical conditions linked to obesity, especially type 2 diabetes. Improvement is not guaranteed, and your doctors adjust diabetes and blood pressure medication as your weight changes. Your surgeon explains what is realistic for your health history.
Sleeve vs bypass comparisonSleeve, bypass or revision: which one fits?
Gastric sleeve or gastric bypass: which is right for me?
Which one fits depends on your health: bypass is often considered when metabolic disease such as type 2 diabetes is present, and sleeve when obesity is the main issue. Dr. Çaynak explains his view in the video, and your surgeon recommends one after reviewing your case.
Compare sleeve and bypassIs gastric sleeve reversible?
No. The part of the stomach that is removed does not grow back. If more weight loss or reflux management is needed later, a sleeve can be converted to another procedure such as gastric bypass. That is revision surgery, and the surgeon reviews your records first.
Do you offer revision surgery?
Yes. Revision surgery is for patients whose earlier weight-loss surgery needs to be corrected or converted. Whether it is possible depends on your case. Send your records and the surgeon's team reviews them before giving you a personal quote.
What happens in the hospital and afterwards?
How is the surgery done, and how long is the hospital stay?
Sleeve and bypass are done laparoscopically: through several small incisions rather than one large cut. The package includes 3 nights in the hospital. The surgeon decides when you are cleared to fly, usually around day 5 to 7.
How long is the recovery?
Recovery follows a timeline your surgeon sets for you, so we do not promise fixed dates. Dr. Çaynak walks through the typical recovery in the video. Preparation starts weeks ahead: the team tells you what to do before the operation and what to expect after.
Is gastric sleeve safe?
Every surgery carries risks, including bleeding, infection and blood clots. Outcomes depend on a thorough pre-operative assessment, the surgeon's experience and follow-up care. We cannot promise results. Dr. Çaynak's team reviews your case first and can decline you if surgery isn't appropriate.
Diet, vitamins, alcohol, pregnancy and loose skin
What is the diet after gastric sleeve?
Dr. Çaynak describes the order as liquids first, then pureed food, then solid food, under a dietitian's guidance. Once the training is complete, you follow the rules you were given. Your dietitian gives you a written plan with exact timing and portions.
Will I need vitamin supplements forever?
Weight-loss surgery requires lifelong dietary changes and vitamin supplements. Regular blood tests are part of follow-up, and your dietitian and surgeon tell you which supplements you need and how often to be checked.
What about excess skin after weight loss?
Loose skin varies by age, starting weight, how much weight you lose and your anatomy. Dr. Çaynak advises assessing it once weight loss is complete. Once your weight stabilizes, we can coordinate excess-skin removal (body contouring), a separate procedure.
Excess skin removal after weight lossCan I drink alcohol after gastric sleeve?
Dr. Çaynak advises against alcohol after bariatric surgery, especially in the first year when weight loss is most active. Ask your surgeon about your own situation.
Can I get pregnant after gastric sleeve?
Dr. Çaynak says pregnancy is not recommended in the first year after surgery. After that he sees no obstacle. Discuss timing with your surgeon and your obstetrician, and do not stop any medication on your own.
Does gastric sleeve cause hair loss?
Some patients notice temporary hair thinning in the months after surgery. We cannot cite a reliable percentage, so we do not quote one. Tell your dietitian if you notice it: protein and nutrient intake are part of the follow-up plan.
Surgeon, travel and pricing
Who performs the surgery?
Your surgeon is Op. Dr. Mesut Çaynak, a bariatric surgeon. He has been an SRC-accredited Master Surgeon in Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery since 2021 and has performed more than 3,800 obesity surgery procedures. Surgery takes place at ASV Yaşam Hospital, Antalya (JCI-accredited) or, in some cases, in Istanbul.
How long is the flight, and when can I fly home?
Most US itineraries connect through Istanbul, so flight time depends on your departure city. After surgery the surgeon decides when you are cleared to fly, usually around day 5 to 7. Longer itineraries can mean waiting a few extra days.
How much does gastric sleeve cost in Turkey?
You get a personal quote in writing after the surgeon assesses your case. We do not quote a price before that review, because the right procedure and your health history decide it. The treatment price list shows how the packages are built, and the price section below shows the US self-pay range for comparison.
Treatment price listIs the price really all-inclusive?
The package covers tests, surgery, anesthesia, 3 nights in the hospital, hotel accommodation, dietitian visits, first-month medications, compression stockings and airport transfers. It does not cover flights. You get the exact price in writing before you decide.
What about follow-up after I'm home?
You get 12 months of remote follow-up with a dietitian. Weight-loss surgery requires lifelong dietary changes and vitamin supplements. If you have severe symptoms at home, go to your nearest emergency room.
Before and after, from Dr. Çaynak's practice
Patients of Dr. Çaynak. Results vary, and these images don't predict yours.
Patient of Op. Dr. Çaynak
Patient of Op. Dr. Çaynak
Patient of Op. Dr. Çaynak
Patient of Op. Dr. Çaynak
Patient of Op. Dr. Çaynak
Patient of Op. Dr. Çaynak
Op. Dr. Mesut Çaynak answers these questions
He has been an SRC-accredited Master Surgeon in Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery since 2021, according to the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). He has performed more than 3,800 obesity surgery procedures over the past decade.
He works with a team that includes a gastroenterological surgeon and two dietitians (Prof. Dr. İsmail Gömceli; Dt. Ece Eyiler and Dt. Melis Çivril).
Surgery takes place at ASV Yaşam Hospital in Antalya, which is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI). Dr. Çaynak also operates in Istanbul.
Sleeve or bypass: one assessment decides
Gastric sleeve in Turkey
The most common procedure. Part of the stomach is removed, which reduces capacity and hunger hormones.
See gastric sleeve →Gastric bypass in Turkey
The stomach is made smaller and the intestine rerouted. Often considered for higher BMI or type 2 diabetes, and more involved than a sleeve.
See gastric bypass →Sleeve vs bypass: which one?
A side-by-side comparison of the two most common procedures.
Compare →Revision surgery
For patients whose earlier weight-loss surgery needs to be corrected or converted. The surgeon reviews your records first; the price depends on your case, so there is no fixed price.
Ask about revision →JCI-accredited ASV Yaşam Hospital
Sleeve and bypass are done laparoscopically: through several small incisions rather than one large cut. Surgery takes place at ASV Yaşam Hospital in Antalya, a JCI-accredited hospital. Your package includes 3 nights in the hospital. The surgeon decides when you are cleared to fly, typically around day 5 to 7 for most patients.
- METHOD
- Laparoscopic
- HOSPITAL
- ASV Yaşam Hospital, Antalya (JCI-accredited)
- HOSPITAL STAY
- 3 nights (package)
- FLY-HOME CLEARANCE
- Surgeon decides, usually day 5 to 7
Gastric sleeve cost: $15,000 to $25,000 in the US
We do not publish a Turkey price before your surgeon has assessed your case. For comparison, NIDDK, the US National Institutes of Health institute, says weight-loss surgery can cost $15,000 to $25,000 or more in the United States, depending on the procedure.
| Item | Gastric sleeve, Turkey (NexWell package) | Weight-loss surgery, United States (self-pay) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Personal quote after your surgeon's assessment, in writing. See the treatment price list | $15,000–$25,000 USD or more |
| Source | Your written quote from the surgeon's team | NIDDK, “Definition & Facts of Weight-Loss Surgery” (page last reviewed Sept. 2020) |
Not an apples-to-apples comparison: the NIDDK range covers weight-loss surgery in general, not only sleeve gastrectomy, and varies by procedure and complications. Prices in US dollars.
12 months of follow-up
- Remote check-ins with a dietitian for 12 months.
- Weight-loss surgery means lifelong changes: a new way of eating and vitamin supplements. Your dietitian and surgeon explain this before you decide.
- If you have severe pain, fever, vomiting you can't stop or trouble breathing after you return, go to your nearest emergency room and tell them about your surgery. Don't wait for an online reply.
More information
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Mesut Çaynak, General Surgeon, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Last reviewed October 2026
Ask your surgeon your own question
Tell us your height, weight and any health conditions. Dr. Çaynak's team reviews your case and replies with a personal written quote. Prefer to talk first? Request an online consultation with the surgeon.
A physician reviews your case. No obligation.
For information only, not medical advice. Surgery carries risks, and results vary. See our editorial policy and medical disclaimer. NexWell is a health tourism agency (Nexwell Global Solutions FZCO, Dubai); the surgery is performed by an independent surgeon at ASV Yaşam Hospital in Antalya or a hospital in Istanbul.