Weight Loss Clinic Istanbul sleeve, bypass or a non-surgical balloon

Surgery is usually considered with a BMI of 40 or more, or 35 or more with an obesity-related illness such as type 2 diabetes. Some people with a BMI of 30 to 35 and poorly controlled diabetes are assessed case by case. You should also have tried supervised diet and lifestyle changes. Send your details, and our medical team reviews them for free.

There is no single best operation. A gastric sleeve offers restriction and hormonal change with simpler nutrition. A gastric bypass is often preferred for reflux or long-standing diabetes. A mini bypass has one join, but a higher nutritional risk and does not suit severe reflux. Your BMI, medical history and, where needed, an endoscopy help decide. Our medical team explains the trade-offs of each option.

For some people, yes. A gastric balloon is non-surgical, placed by endoscopy under sedation, and stays in for about 6 or 12 months. Studies show average weight loss of around 10–13% of body weight at six months. Early nausea is common. You follow a structured diet with remote dietitian support. For higher BMIs, surgery gives more substantial and lasting weight loss.

No. Vivid Clinic stopped offering gastric botox in 2025. The evidence for weight loss is limited and mixed, and it is an off-label use of botulinum toxin. Our gastric botox page explains the evidence and risks. We now point patients to a gastric balloon or gastric sleeve when suitable. Our medical team reviews your details for free and tells you honestly which, if any, suits you.

A gastric balloon needs about 3–4 days. A gastric sleeve or mini gastric bypass usually needs about 7 days, including 2–3 nights in hospital. A Roux-en-Y gastric bypass needs about 8 days, including 3–4 hospital nights. Your surgeon may advise a longer stay. A final review confirms you are fit to fly before you travel home.

You move through liquids, purée and soft food before returning to regular textures over about 6–8 weeks. Portions stay small, and protein comes first. After a sleeve or bypass you take supplements for life. Remote dietitian follow-up supports you once you are home. Sticking to the plan helps you avoid complications and protects your long-term result.

Weight loss varies by person and by procedure. After a sleeve or bypass, it is fastest in the first six months. Most people reach their lowest weight at around 12–18 months. Keeping the weight off depends on healthy habits, lifelong supplements and follow-up. A gastric balloon gives more modest loss, so the diet programme during the balloon period matters.

After a gastric balloon, most people return to desk work within 3–5 days, once nausea settles. After a sleeve or mini bypass, allow about 2–3 weeks, and around 3 weeks after a Roux-en-Y bypass. Walking starts from day one. Gym training and heavy lifting usually resume after about 4–6 weeks. Your surgeon or dietitian adjusts this to your recovery.