Obesity is defined as a body mass index (link between height and weight) over 30. All surgical interventions that include obesity treatment, provide weight loss and aim to eliminate metabolic disorders are performed under the name of bariatric surgery.
Applications performed within the scope of bariatric surgery, also known as obesity surgery, are generally shaped around changes in the nervous system. However, weight loss is only one result of the bariatric procedure that targets changes related to metabolism.
Who Can Have Bariatric Surgery Performed?
Operations performed within the scope of bariatric surgery are suitable for people with severe obesity (body mass index of 40 and above), who cannot lose weight with individual studies, treatments and medical methods, and who regain weight after weight loss. Especially people with the following conditions related to obesity are good candidates for this procedure:
- Sleep apnea,
- Type 2 diabetes,
- Blood pressure – high blood pressure,
- Unhealthy cholesterol level,
- Urinary incontinence,
- Chronic knee, hip and joint pain.
Bariatric Surgery Techniques
While some of the bariatric surgical procedures involve the practice of reducing the stomach, some are performed with the aim of changing the digestive tract of food.
Intra-gastric Balloon (Gastric Balloon) Surgery: This application, which is performed by endoscopy without the need for general anesthesia, is completed by placing a balloon with adjustable dimensions inside the stomach. With this procedure, the patient gains a feeling of satiety thanks to the balloon placed, thus losing weight by choosing small meal portions.
Gastric Band (Stomach Clamp): This procedure, which is performed by attaching a silicone gastric band to the intersection of the esophagus and the stomach, is completed by making small incisions in the area to be applied by laparoscopic method. Since the laparoscopic method is used during the application, the healing process can be completed quickly.
This procedure, which is a very effective solution, provides a feeling of satiety and causes weight loss, as in the gastric balloon application. So much so that between 18 and 24 months, the patient can lose 60 to 80% of their excess weight.
Gastric Sleeve (Tube Stomach): In this procedure, the size and volume of the stomach is reduced by removing a certain part of the stomach together with the part that secretes hunger hormone. Since the stomach takes the shape of a tube after the reduction procedure, the procedure is called “tube stomach”. As in the gastric band application, the healing process of this procedure progresses very rapidly and the patient can be discharged after the procedure.
Thanks to the gastric sleeve procedure, the patient gets a feeling of satiety with small portions and can lose weight effortlessly. Especially 80-90% of the excess weight can be lost within a few years following the procedure.
Gastric By-pass: During this application, a large part of the stomach is connected to the small intestines with the by-pass method, resulting in a smaller stomach in terms of size and volume. During the process, no external object is placed on the body.
With the gastric by-pass process, a conscious absorption disorder is created, preventing the food from being digested by the body in normal ways. With this method, a large amount of weight loss can be achieved.









