Why is Turkey a perfect country for gastric bypass surgery?
➡️Innovative medical facilities
Since 2017, Turkey has significantly increased its expenditure volume on healthcare infrastructure. It spent around 4.5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on medical industry promotion, leading to state-of-the-art medical facilities. This indicator improved even further compared with some European countries and the US market.
Now, most Turkish hospitals are equipped with the latest technologies, ensuring high standards of medical services. That's the main reason why more and more people prefer Turkey for their medical journey.
➡️Skilled and experienced surgeons
Turkey has a vast pool of highly professional surgeons trained internationally at world-renowned medical institutions. These surgeons are highly skilled in bariatric surgery, particularly gastric bypass, and have sufficient background in using the newest medical technologies.
Weight loss surgeons are members of the Turkish Surgery Association, Turkish Obesity Surgery Society, World Obesity Association, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity, and other professional societies. They also currently undergo extensive training in advanced laparoscopic surgery., which extends their knowledge and skills.
➡️Cost-effective surgical solutions
The cost of gastric bypass surgery in Turkey is lower than in Europe. On average, a procedure costs $3,400-$6,400 in Turkey. The average cost of a gastric bypass in Spain is around $23,000, while in Germany, it is around $10,000.
So, Turkey became an affordable option for many patients worldwide to undergo gastric bypass surgery without compromising the quality.
➡️Comprehensive packages
Turkish healthcare providers offer comprehensive packages for weight loss operations that cover a wide range of surgical services. It simplifies the process for international patients to get quality surgery.
Besides the operation, the package includes:
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follow-up examination;
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post-op medications;
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blood tests;
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preoperative tests;
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general/local anesthesia;
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consultation with a doctor;
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accommodation at 4*/5* hotel not far from a clinic;
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transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport;
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extra tests (anti-HCVAb test, anti-HBC test, anti-HIV test, hormone tests, etc).
What is the price rate for gastric bypass surgery in Turkey?
The average price for gastric bypass surgery types in Turkey:
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Gastric bypass
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Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
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Mini gastric bypass
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Da Vinci gastric bypass
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Biliopancreatic diversion
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$3,400
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$6,200
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$4,500
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$10,000
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$4,900
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The average price for gastric bypass surgery types by country:
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Gastric bypass
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Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
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Mini gastric bypass
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Da Vinci gastric bypass
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Biliopancreatic diversion
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Turkey
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$3,400
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$6,200
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$4,500
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$10,000
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$4,900
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Czech Republic
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$7,300
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$11,000
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$5,700
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$10,800
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$8,600
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Mexico
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$6,000
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$6,400
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$7,500
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$11,000
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$9,500
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Germany
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$8,400
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$12,000
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$16,500
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$22,000
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$20,000
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UK
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$8,700
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$6,500
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$14,000
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$18,000
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$15,000
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Why is gastric bypass cheap in Turkey?
Gastric bypass surgery is a more cost-friendly procedure in Turkey due to several factors:
Medical staff salaries and operational expenses are lower in Turkey than in European countries. So, the final cost of gastric bypass is lower.
The Turkish government facilitates international patient tourism to the country by offering unique treatment plans and all-inclusive packages. Additionally, clinics offer lower prices, maintaining high-quality services.
Turkish clinics are known for their comprehensive packages, including surgery, accommodation, transfers, pre- and post-op consultations, post-surgery care, etc. This makes Turkish services more attractive, affordable, and convenient for foreign patients.
Turkey provides patients with a wide range of public and private hospitals specializing in weight loss surgery, namely gastric bypass. Most of them offer competitive prices and various services that hook patients.
What can be included in the gastric bypass surgery packages in Turkish clinics?
As usual, gastric bypass packages in Turkish clinics include a wide range of medical services covering the very start of a patient's journey to the final stages of their after-surgery recovery and rehabilitation. The complete package includes all the necessary investigations, tests, consultations to check the initial health state and get assured that a patient is ready for the surgery. Then, it's guaranteed that a patient will get after-op support and specialists' consultations to monitor the recovery period.
What are the advantages of having gastric bypass in Turkey?
Having hosted more than 800,000 medical tourists from 60 countries by 2017, it now has more than one million patients. Turkey has already become an advanced country with excellent medical services: most medical entities have innovative medical equipment and solutions that use advanced pre-screening and diagnostics, effective treatment, and surgical devices applying robotics technologies.
✅Innovative healthcare solutions
With novelties in the healthcare system, the entire medical history is recorded in an Electronic Health Record (EHR). That means all visits, diagnostics, treatments, and prescriptions are entered into the record. The system also produces e-prescriptions. So, it ensures the system is free of mistakes and other discrepancies along the patient's way of problem resolution.
✅Preserving top standards
Besides cost-effective gastric bypass prices and all-inclusive packages, Turkish healthcare is famous for its high-quality standards. Most hospitals in Turkey are accredited by international organizations like JCI (Joint Commission International), ensuring high standards of care.
✅No waiting time lists
Additionally, Turkish clinics have a short waiting time to undergo gastric bypass. So, patients can plan their journey in advance and schedule the operation without hassle.
✅Profound medical infrastructure and services.
Due to the support of the Bookimed medical platform, a patient can be sure about their experience of having surgery in Turkey. The company has a wide network of hospitals with which it is in partnership.
So, each option will be included and provided on a high level. Moreover, Bookimed guarantees 24/7 assistance, a personal medical coordinator, and a full list of medical services in the package.
✅Post-surgery support
Turkish clinics are responsible for providing patients with personalized diet plans, post-operative check-ups, and visits to nutritionists and other specialists needed to ensure long-term success.
How is gastric bypass surgery performed in Turkey?
Gastric bypass, or Roux-en-Y surgery, is an operation that involves creating a small pouch from the stomach, connecting directly to the small intestine. It bypasses a significant portion of the stomach and the initial segment of the small intestine. As a result, the stomach reduces its volume, decreasing food intake and nutrient absorption.
The procedure includes the following stages:
➡️Creation of a small pouch. A surgeon divides the upper section of the stomach, forming a small pouch sized 15-30 milliliters. It restricts the amount of food that a patient can consume at one time.
➡️Bypassing the small intestine. Then, a surgeon reroutes a part of the small intestine to connect it directly to the created pouch. This way, it enables the reduction of calorie and nutrient absorption, promoting weight loss.
Generally, gastric bypass operation is performed by applying a minimally invasive method which is a laparoscope.
With its help, a surgeon can make small incisions by putting specialized instruments with a camera to operate the stomach. The laparoscopic technique reduces post-surgery pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery.
Gastric bypass surgery in Turkey boasts a success rate of around 85%, with patients typically losing a significant portion of their excess weight within the first year.
What cities in Turkey are popular for gastric bypass surgery?
The most popular destinations for gastric bypass surgery in Turkey are:
✅Istanbul
The largest city and a major hub for medical tourism. It offers a wide range of clinics with varying price points. Among them, Istanbul's most popular clinics for undergoing gastric bypass are Hisar Intercontinental Hospital, Anadolu Medical Center, and Lotus Bariatrics Clinic, which offers beneficial gastric bypass packages.
✅Ankara
The capital city provides gastric bypass services at the Memorial Ankara Hospital and Private Koru Ankara Hospital, known for their modern medical facilities and experienced surgeons.
✅Antalya
Being a popular tourist destination, this city offers patients the opportunity to recover in a gorgeous environment at the most outstanding clinics, like Soraca Med Clinic and Clinics United, which provide the most comprehensive packages for gastric bypass.
Comparison table of the average prices for gastric bypass by city
Is it safe to have a gastric bypass in Turkey?
The Turkish medical area has proven itself to be safe and of high quality in the international healthcare arena, particularly in the field of bariatrics. It’s characterized by a robust network of regulations, accreditations, and a tendency to improve healthcare services continuously. It includes the following:
The Turkish Ministry of Health regulates the medical industry, ensuring adherence to the highest safety protocols and ethical medical practices. The reason is that since 2017, Turkey has set its direction in the medical area to comply with national and international healthcare standards.
Most hospitals in Turkey have international accreditations from reputable world organizations, such as Joint Commission International (JCI) certification, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Standards of Accreditation in Health (SAS).
Medical facilities follow a patient-centric approach of healthcare services provision. Patients’ safety, comfort, and satisfaction are a high priority. That’s why Turkish clinics offer gastric bypass all-inclusive packages at affordable prices, which attract patients from all over the world.
Turkish hospitals, especially private ones, have the necessary tools and technologies to handle emergencies. Also, they adhere to strict infection control protocols. This point refers to bariatric surgery in particular.
Does the insurance cover gastric bypass surgery in Turkey?
To know whether the insurance covers gastric bypass operation in Turkey it's recommended to check the specifics of the insurance plan.
As a rule, domestic insurance plans don't cover procedures performed abroad. However, some include international policies with add-ons involving medical coverage for surgeries overseas.
If you have an international health insurance plan, it can cover gastric bypass abroad, in Turkey specifically. It's available if you have an all-inclusive package and your health condition requires necessary operation intervention.
What is the success rate of gastric bypass in Turkey?
Gastric bypass surgery in Turkey has a high success rate among patients who managed to lose around 70-80% of excess weight within the first year after the surgery. Moreover, patients succeeded in maintaining excess weight reduction of 60-70% in five years after the procedure.
It's worth noting that such indicators can vary based on factors such as following post-operative guidelines, lifestyle changes, and overall patient health conditions.
How Bookimed can help you?
Bookimed is a profound medical tourism platform that helps patients find the best way to resolve their health issues, offering the following privileges:
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24/7 personalized support along your whole journey of losing weight.
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Providing all-inclusive packages from a partner clinic customized to patients' needs.
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Getting in touch with professional surgeons and having access to accredited hospitals.
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Benefit from transparent prices for medical services. Bookimed offers reasonable prices for the packages without fees.
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Bookimed's users will get unique medical packages with comprehensive offers, including pre- and post-op tests, check-ups, transportation, medicines, and other extra options.
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Each patient will get a personal medical coordinator who will accompany them along their medical journey. While Bookimed ensures smooth communication between the patient and medical providers.
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The company provides patients with trusted and verified ratings of hospitals and medical experts. So that each patient is informed about the clinic's background and surgeons’ expertise.
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Bookimed preserves the highest standards of medical services, offering the audience reputable medical institutions that uphold high international standards and possess the necessary licenses.
How to choose a perfect hospital for undergoing gastric bypass surgery in Turkey?
Choosing a proper hospital for gastric bypass surgery is a highly decisive step to ensure surgery safety, efficiency, and a smooth and quick recovery. Consider the following points to make a thought-out decision:
✅Availability of credentials
Check international certifications such as JCI (Joint Commission International) or ISO standards, which prove a clinic adheres to high-quality standards.
✅Field of specialization
Get assured that the chosen clinic specializes in gastric bypass. Also, check doctors working there. Pay attention to their experience and success rate of operations they performed. Also, look what certifications they possess.
✅Patient reviews
Read patients' feedback to assess the satisfactory rate with the service quality.
✅Consider the clinic’s facilities like application of advanced equipment, availability of multidisciplinary staff to provide a comprehensive healthcare services.
✅Evaluate the surgery price and package availability
Check whether there a clear breakdown of prices, package inclusions, and other extra services for better comfort.
✅Check post-operation services
See whether the clinic has a comprehensive aftercare plan, or the availability of supportive groups.
✅Compare several options
Take several best hospitals and compare them to estimate their overall rating, reputation, and key inclusions.
References:
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Healthcare Resource Guide - Turkey. International Trade Administration. Source: https://www.trade.gov/healthcare-resource-guide-turkey#:~:text=Turkey%20spends%204.5%25%20of%20its,program%20in%20healthcare%20was%20initiated.
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Healthcare in Turkey. An Overview of Turkey’s Healthcare System. International Citizens Insurance. Source: https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/turkey/#:~:text=Turkey%20has%20offered%20universal%20healthcare,Health's%20website%20or%20mobile%20app.
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Alaa Abuatallah, Muayyad Ahmad. The Health Care System in Turkey. Perspectives on the Standardization of Health Care Systems Globally (pp.1-4).