What is stomach stapling, and is it still done in Turkey?
Stomach stapling is the everyday name for weight-loss surgery that uses surgical staples to make the stomach smaller. Strictly, it refers to vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), an operation from the 1980s in which a row of staples and a small band created a narrow pouch at the top of the stomach with a tight outlet. VBG has largely been abandoned because many patients regained weight, developed reflux or had problems with the band, and needed another operation. Today, bariatric hospitals in Turkey do not usually offer it as a first choice.
The term lives on because modern operations also use staples: a sleeve gastrectomy staples the stomach into a narrow tube, and a gastric bypass staples off a small pouch. When someone asks for stomach stapling now, they usually mean one of those. This guide explains the history, whether stomach stapling works, what the modern choices cost in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, and how to check a hospital. See our overview of bariatric treatments in Turkey for the full range.
How does stomach stapling work?
The principle is restriction. By making the stomach small, you feel full on far less food and eat much smaller portions. In the old gastroplasty, the stomach stayed in place and food passed through a narrow channel. In a sleeve, around 70 to 80 percent of the stomach is removed along the staple line, which also lowers the hormone that stimulates hunger. In a bypass, the pouch is joined to the small intestine, so food skips part of the gut, which changes digestion and gut hormones as well as limiting portions.
The operations are done through keyhole (laparoscopic) incisions under general anaesthesia and normally take one to two hours.
Does stomach stapling work? What the evidence says
The honest answer depends on which operation you mean. VBG produced early weight loss, but long-term studies show high rates of failure, reflux and revision, and it has been replaced. Modern stapled operations have much better evidence: the sleeve and the bypass lead on average to a loss of roughly a quarter to a third of body weight in the first one to two years, improve or put into remission type 2 diabetes in many patients, and reduce sleep apnoea and blood pressure. Some weight regain over the years is common, which is why lifelong dietary habits and follow-up matter.
No operation works without changed eating habits. A hospital that promises a fixed weight loss is not being straightforward. For the broader metabolic effects see our page on metabolic surgery.
Stomach stapling cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for a modern stapled operation (sleeve or bypass), not hospital quotes. The stomach stapling price depends on the operation chosen, whether the hospital uses a robot, the hospital stay, the surgeon's experience, the tests and whether a dietitian and follow-up are included. Each hospital confirms its price in writing.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €2,800 – €7,000 |
| United Kingdom | €9,000 – €17,000 |
| United States | €15,000 – €32,000 |
| Germany | €9,000 – €19,000 |
A package normally includes pre-operative blood tests, the operation and anaesthetist, three to four hospital nights, medication, a dietitian visit and airport transfers. Ask whether the price covers a repeat endoscopy, the vitamins you will need and an online follow-up programme.
Which stapled operation should you consider: VBG, sleeve, bypass or band?
Your surgeon will recommend a procedure after assessing your weight, health, eating pattern and reflux. The two most common choices are the gastric sleeve, which removes part of the stomach, and the gastric bypass, which reroutes the gut and is often used when reflux or diabetes is significant. The adjustable gastric band is a different idea, a ring around the upper stomach with no stapling, and is now rarely chosen.
| Operation | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical banded gastroplasty (old stomach stapling) | Historical; seldom performed today | High rates of regain, reflux and revision |
| Gastric sleeve | Most patients with a BMI of 35 or more without severe reflux | Cannot be reversed; reflux may worsen |
| Gastric bypass | Patients with reflux, type 2 diabetes or high BMI | Longer operation; lifelong vitamin supplements |
| Adjustable gastric band | Selected patients who prefer an adjustable device | Slippage and band problems; lower average weight loss |
Who qualifies for stomach stapling surgery, and who does not?
In the UK, NICE guidance supports bariatric surgery for adults with a BMI of 40 or more, or 35 to 40 with a related condition such as type 2 diabetes, after other measures have been tried, and it can be considered at lower BMI for recent-onset type 2 diabetes. Turkish hospitals generally use similar thresholds. You are less suited if you are pregnant, have an untreated eating disorder, active substance misuse, severe untreated heart or lung disease, or cannot commit to the dietary changes and supplements afterwards. An assessment by the surgeon and a dietitian is part of a good programme.
Stomach stapling procedure and trip planning, step by step
You arrive a day before for tests and a meeting with the surgeon, then fast overnight. Under general anaesthesia the surgeon makes five or six small incisions, inflates the abdomen with gas and uses a stapling device to divide the stomach. A leak test checks that the staple line is sound, and a drain may be left in for a short time. You walk the same day and start with liquids. Plan five to seven nights in Turkey so the team can check you before the flight.
Stomach stapling recovery: diet and weeks after surgery
Stomach stapling recovery is staged. Week one is liquids; weeks two to four are pureed or soft food; solid food returns around week four to six, in small portions, with protein first. Most people return to desk work after one to two weeks and exercise gradually after about four to six weeks. Daily protein, vitamins and enough fluid are essential, and bariatric dietitians advise a lifetime of supplements, particularly after a bypass. Follow-up blood tests are needed, so ask who will arrange them at home.
What weight loss can you realistically expect?
Studies show that average weight loss is fastest in the first six to twelve months and levels off after about eighteen months to two years. Individual results vary widely with age, starting weight, activity and adherence to the diet. "Before and after" photographs show the strongest responders; ask the hospital for typical, not exceptional, outcomes. Loose skin is common after major weight loss, and some patients later consider body contouring.
What are the risks of stomach stapling?
Risks include bleeding, infection, a leak from the staple line, blood clots, narrowing of the stomach or pouch, reflux, gallstones, nutritional deficiencies and weight regain. Rare complications such as a leak or serious bleeding can need another operation, and the surgery carries a small risk of death. The NHS and professional societies such as the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery explain these risks and recommend an experienced team, intensive care back-up and lifelong follow-up.
How to choose a hospital for stomach stapling, and questions to ask
Look for a bariatric surgeon registered in Turkey with a hospital that has intensive care, a dietitian and a clear follow-up plan. Red flags include promises of fixed weight loss, no medical review before quoting, a quote with no breakdown and offers of surgery without any assessment. Read how our process works and use our free quote page so that the hospital can assess your details.
- Which operation do you recommend for me, and why not the others?
- Do you offer the old gastroplasty, or only sleeve and bypass?
- What does the package include after discharge, and for how long?
- Who handles complications and blood tests once I am home?
- How many of these operations does my surgeon perform each year?
Hospitals with Bariatric Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is the everyday name for weight-loss surgery that staples the stomach to make it smaller. Strictly it means the older vertical banded gastroplasty, but today people usually mean a gastric sleeve or bypass, which also use staples.
The old gastroplasty often failed over time because of weight regain and reflux. Modern stapled operations such as the sleeve and bypass lead on average to a loss of about a quarter to a third of body weight, if diet and follow-up are maintained.
Approximate ranges for a sleeve or bypass are €2,800 to €7,000 in Turkey, against about €9,000 to €17,000 in the UK. The price depends on the operation, hospital stay and what follow-up is included. Ask for a written quote.
Photographs show visible weight loss over twelve to eighteen months, but they tend to feature the strongest responders. Ask for typical outcomes and expect loose skin after major weight loss.
Most people return to desk work after one to two weeks and exercise after four to six weeks. The diet moves from liquids to purée to solids over about four to six weeks.
The operation is done under general anaesthesia through small incisions. Afterwards expect soreness and shoulder discomfort from the gas, which painkillers usually control within a week.
A sleeve is permanent because part of the stomach is removed, and a bypass is difficult to reverse. Weight regain can still happen if eating habits slip, so lifelong follow-up and healthy habits are needed.
Modern keyhole bariatric surgery is widely performed, but it carries risks such as leaks, bleeding, clots, reflux and nutritional deficiencies. An experienced team and intensive care back-up reduce the risks.
Old stomach stapling is rarely offered now. The modern choice is usually between a sleeve and a bypass, and a surgeon should recommend one after reviewing your weight, reflux and diabetes.
Plan five to seven nights, including a day before for tests, three to four hospital nights and a final check before you fly. Complications or longer recovery may extend the stay.