Today, it is possible to treat this condition with surgical methods. Moreover, surgical treatment is the most radical and most effective treatment method today.  Although most morbidly obese patients lose weight for a while with diet and exercise programs, the success rate is low (3%) and the risk of weight regain is high.  With surgery, the metabolism of patients changes, especially after sleeve gastrectomy surgery, there is a very serious loss of appetite, and since the stomach volume is very small, eating is restricted. For this reason, it is not possible to compare surgery and medical methods in terms of success. However, considering that this is an operation and a serious decision, the first treatment approach should almost always be diet and sports. 

Morbid obesity surgeries are surgical interventions that should be performed with a multidisciplinary approach. Patients should be evaluated by endocrinology, diet and psychologists when necessary. Especially before surgery, the endocrinologist evaluates whether the patients have any hormonal diseases and their suitability for surgery. Again, endoscopy should be performed before surgery in order to be aware of any other possible pathology in the stomach.

Fight obesity with a multidisciplinary approach!

Patients should be informed by dieticians about how they will be fed before and after surgery. This is very important especially in the first few months in terms of diet and adaptation of the metabolism to the new situation. Patients may also be subjected to psychiatric examination for their psychological state before surgery. People who will undergo morbid obesity surgery should also have full family support. Motivation and approval for the surgery, from the meal order at home, is at least as important as the patient’s decision. Obesity treatment in turkey is generally restrictive, disruption of absorption or a combination of both.  If there is no other obstacle, all surgeries are performed laparoscopically, that is, by closed method.

Sleeve Gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy is an operation performed by removing approximately 75-80% of the entire stomach. It is so named because the shape of the remaining stomach resembles a tube. This method is a popular obesity treatment in Turkey . Since most of the stomach is surgically removed and a volume of 50-100 ml is left behind, it limits the amount of food consumed. In other words, it is a restrictive type of surgery. This allows weight loss by reducing intake. Since the appetite hormone (Ghrelin) secreted from the stomach section (Fundus) removed in this surgery decreases after the procedure, there is a significant decrease in appetite. This is a serious advantage, especially as patients do not have their old appetite after surgery.

In addition, many people searching for medical tourism options are also curious about “hair transplantation in Turkey” applications as well as sleeve gastrectomy operations, which are popular in the treatment of obesity in Turkey. Both applications are carried out quite successfully. There are other prominent options for the treatment of obesity in Turkey.

Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-y gastric bypass)

Immediately after the esophagus, a large part of the stomach is bypassed, leaving a very small part behind. A small intestine is brought to this part of the stomach in accordance with the technique and sutured. With the Gastric Bypass operation, both the stomach volume is reduced and a part of the intestines is disabled. As a result, the amount of food consumed is reduced and absorption is affected.  In this way, blood sugar control, especially in insulin-dependent diabetics, is more effective.

Today, there are no big gaps between the two techniques in terms of results. Gastric sleeve surgery is more physiologic in terms of results and has lower rates of complications and operative mortality. Gastric sleeve gastrectomy has a shorter operation time and is an easier technique for the surgeon. After both techniques, some of the patients may regain weight 3-4 years after surgery. If the technique is sleeve gastrectomy, these patients may undergo resleeve surgery or gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric Balloon

A gastric balloon is an inflatable medical device made of silicone. It is inserted endoscopically into the stomach and inflated. Thus, it is intended to create a feeling of fullness by creating a volume. It can be easily removed from the stomach after six months. The application takes approximately 20 minutes. It is not a surgical intervention. It is often applied in patients who do not consider surgery or in super morbidly obese (BMI=50-60) patients, it is aimed to facilitate surgery by reducing the liver volume by losing up to 10 kg.