Lead Bariatric Surgeon
Dr Kenan Afilitak
General Surgery Specialist and lead surgeon of Istanbul Obesity Center, focused on bariatric, metabolic and advanced laparoscopic surgery.
Istanbul’s specialist bariatric centre
Obesity care is not one operation. It is a lifelong medical journey.
A focused surgical, coordination and nutrition team—built around Dr Kenan Afilitak and more than 22 years of experience in obesity care.
22+years of sector experience
100%focused on obesity care
EN · TRbilingual coordination
Illustrative team visualBariatric care teamOne connected teamSurgery · coordination · nutrition
Real patient journeys
Gastric sleeve before & after in Turkey.
Every photograph reflects a different starting point and personal journey. These are consented patient stories—not a promise of a particular result.
Clear package pricing in Istanbul
Know what your gastric sleeve package includes.
For clinically accepted primary cases, surgery, accommodation, transfers and follow-up are brought together in one written plan.
IOC package price£1,800For eligible primary cases
- Surgery, anaesthesia and 2 hospital nights
- Tests, medicines and surgeon review
- 1 hotel night and private transfers
- 1 year of dietitian follow-up and coordination
Final eligibility and the written quote are confirmed after medical-history and surgeon review. Flights are not included.
Gastric sleeve answer centre
Type your question. Go straight to the answer.
Search bilingual answers about price, reflux, risks, diet, vitamins, recovery, flying and long-term aftercare.
104 carefully prepared questions and answersGeneral information, not individual medical advice.
Procedure basicsWhat is gastric sleeve surgery?+
Sleeve gastrectomy is a permanent bariatric operation that removes much of the stomach and leaves a narrow, sleeve-shaped stomach. The intestines are not rerouted.
Procedure basicsHow much of the stomach is removed?+
Around 80% is commonly removed, although the exact technique is decided by the surgeon for the individual patient. The removed part is not put back later.
Procedure basicsIs gastric sleeve surgery reversible?+
No. Sleeve gastrectomy permanently removes part of the stomach. Revision to another bariatric procedure may be possible in selected situations, but that is not the same as reversing it.
Suitability & preparationWhat BMI is needed for gastric sleeve surgery?+
NICE recommends specialist bariatric assessment at BMI 40 or above, or 35–39.9 with a significant condition that may improve with weight loss. Lower thresholds can apply to some ethnic groups and clinical circumstances; BMI alone never confirms suitability.
Suitability & preparationCan I have gastric sleeve if I have acid reflux?+
Sleeve can cause new reflux or worsen existing reflux, so symptoms and any relevant tests must be reviewed before choosing an operation. For some patients a different procedure may be more appropriate.
Risks & safetyIs gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey safe?+
No provider or destination is automatically safe. Check your personal risk assessment, the named surgeon and hospital, how leaks, bleeding and clots are managed, how long you should remain in Turkey, and the written aftercare and emergency plan before booking.
Surgery is never one-size-fits-all
A complete bariatric treatment spectrum.
From established operations to advanced metabolic and endoscopic options, every route starts with medical selection—not a sales package.
SGBariatric surgery
Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy)
A laparoscopic procedure that creates a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach.
Explore treatment
RYGBBariatric surgery
Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y)
A small gastric pouch combined with a carefully planned intestinal bypass.
Explore treatmentOAGBBariatric surgery
Mini Gastric Bypass (OAGB)
A one-anastomosis bypass with restrictive and metabolic effects.
Explore treatmentSASIAdvanced metabolic surgery
SASI Bypass
A sleeve-based metabolic procedure with an additional intestinal pathway.
Explore treatmentSADI-SAdvanced metabolic surgery
SADI-S
A sleeve combined with a single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass.
Explore treatment
IGBEndoscopic & non-surgical
Gastric Balloon
A temporary, non-surgical tool supporting portion control and behaviour change.
Explore treatmentVectors are simplified educational visuals that help distinguish procedures; they do not represent an individual surgical plan. Lina Wolf · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Illustrative team sceneOne specialist team
Experience concentrated in bariatric care.
Istanbul Obesity Center is shaped by more than 22 years in the sector and an exclusive focus on obesity surgery. Dr Kenan Afilitak leads clinical decision-making, supported by a team that stays close before, during and after treatment.
- Bariatric and metabolic surgery focus
- Surgeon-led patient selection
- Integrated coordination and nutrition follow-up
The people behind your care
Meet the full team One connected team. No hand-offs into the unknown.
Bariatric Clinical Coordinator
Mustafa Hekin
An experienced bariatric coordinator who works alongside the surgeon and keeps the clinical journey organised from assessment to follow-up.
Bariatric Dietitian
Aylin Demir
Provides structured nutrition preparation and long-term dietary guidance before and after bariatric treatment.
Hospital, stay & transfer
An Istanbul experience planned beyond the procedure.
Hospital care, comfortable accommodation and airport transfer are connected in one coordinated plan. Your confirmed hospital and hotel are stated in writing before travel.
Illustrative visual
Illustrative visual
Patient aftercare portal
Your care does not end when you fly home.
Use your personal access link for nutrition stages, follow-up planning and coordination support. Login access is issued only to verified patients by the medical coordination team.
There is no public self-registration. The medical coordination team verifies your patient record before issuing a personal link.Nutrition plan
Your staged nutrition guidance from Aylin.
Follow-up schedule
Tests, reviews and important reminders.
Reach the team
Secure, direct access to your coordination team.
IOC Journal
Explore the blog Ask better questions while researching treatment.
Nutrition & aftercare
IOC Aftercare Portal: Registration, Access and Patient Guide
Understand what the IOC patient aftercare portal is for, who can access it, how to request registration and when to contact emergency services instead.
7 min read · 17 August 2026Read article
Weight-management medication
Mounjaro: Benefits, Use and Side Effects
An evidence-led overview of tirzepatide, who it may be considered for and why medical follow-up matters.
6 min read · 16 August 2026Read articleWeight-management medication
Ozempic and Weight Loss: Uses, Risks and Alternatives
What semaglutide is approved for, why product names matter and what should be assessed before treatment.
6 min read · 16 August 2026Read article
Treatment comparison
Weight-Loss Injections: Brands, Effectiveness and Long-Term Planning
A practical comparison of prescription injection pathways and the role of long-term multidisciplinary care.
7 min read · 16 August 2026Read article
Gastric sleeve
Gastric Sleeve Cost in Turkey 2026: What £1,800 Includes
A transparent guide to our current £1,800 gastric sleeve package in Istanbul, what is included and how to compare surgical quotes safely.
8 min read · 16 August 2026Read articleGastric sleeve
Is Gastric Sleeve in Turkey Safe? Risks, Death Rate & Checklist
An evidence-led guide to gastric sleeve safety in Turkey, what mortality figures can and cannot show, and the checks to complete before booking.
9 min read · 16 August 2026Read articleNutrition & aftercare
Nutrition After Gastric Sleeve: A Stage-by-Stage Guide
How fluids, texture progression, protein, vitamins and warning signs are managed after sleeve gastrectomy.
9 min read · 16 August 2026Read article
Gastric balloon
Swallowable vs Endoscopic Gastric Balloon: Key Differences
Compare placement, removal, duration, suitability, evidence and follow-up before choosing a gastric balloon pathway.
8 min read · 16 August 2026Read article
Treatment comparison
ESG vs Gastric Sleeve: Endoscopic and Surgical Options Compared
A practical comparison of anatomy, eligibility, recovery, expected trade-offs and aftercare for ESG and sleeve gastrectomy.
9 min read · 16 August 2026Read articleGastric sleeve
Leak Testing in Gastric Sleeve Surgery: What It Can—and Cannot—Show
Understand intra-operative leak testing, why no test removes all risk and which post-operative symptoms need urgent assessment.
7 min read · 16 August 2026Read articleWeight management
How to Lose Weight Safely: A Clinician-Led Starting Point
Replace crash-diet promises with an evidence-led plan covering assessment, nutrition, activity, medication and bariatric options.
8 min read · 16 August 2026Read article
Treatment comparison
Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass: Benefits, Risks and Selection
Compare anatomy, reflux, diabetes, weight loss, nutritional follow-up and revision considerations before surgery.
10 min read · 16 August 2026Read article
Preparation & recovery
Pre-Bariatric Surgery Diet: How to Prepare Safely
Why a liver-reduction diet may be prescribed, how medicines are reviewed and what to prepare before travelling for surgery.
8 min read · 16 August 2026Read articleYour care pathway
Planned before you fly. Supported after you return.
Medical assessment
Health history, BMI, medications, previous procedures and expectations are reviewed.
Surgeon planning
Dr Afilitak evaluates suitability, alternatives and the tests needed before treatment.
Hospital care
Admission, tests, treatment, interpretation and discharge are coordinated as one pathway.
Nutrition & follow-up
Aylin and the coordination team guide staged nutrition, monitoring and recovery.
Clear before you commit
What responsible bariatric care should answer.
Is it right for me?
Eligibility depends on a complete clinical assessment—not BMI alone.
What exactly is included?
Your written plan should separate hospital care, travel logistics and long-term costs.
What happens after I fly home?
You need a follow-up schedule, blood-test plan and clear urgent-warning guidance.
What if another option is safer?
The right answer may be a different procedure—or no procedure at this time.
Free initial assessment
Let’s assess the right approach for you.
Complete the form and our medical coordination team will contact you on WhatsApp. Final suitability is decided only after surgeon review and appropriate testing.