Bariatric surgery
Gastric bypass surgery in Turkey
A gastric bypass creates a small stomach pouch and routes food past most of the stomach and the first part of the intestine — restricting intake and changing the gut hormones that drive hunger and blood sugar. It's the gold-standard metabolic procedure, particularly for type 2 diabetes and severe reflux. Prof Dr Nurullah Bulbuller has performed Roux-en-Y and mini bypass at NewMe Obesity Clinic's standard since 2007.
Two techniques, one decision
Roux-en-Y vs mini gastric bypass
We perform both — which means the recommendation you get is based on your anatomy and health profile, not on the only technique a clinic happens to offer.
| Roux-en-Y (RYGB) | Mini Bypass (OAGB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Connections | Two (pouch → intestine, plus a second join) | One — technically simpler |
| Operation time | ~120 minutes | ~90 minutes |
| Weight loss | 70–80% of excess weight | Comparable — 70–80% of excess weight |
| Type 2 diabetes | Strong remission rates | Strong remission rates |
| Acid reflux | The procedure of choice for severe reflux | Small risk of bile reflux — assessed per patient |
| Track record | Longest-established bypass worldwide | Newer, with a strong and growing evidence base |
| Often preferred for | Severe GORD, complex metabolic cases | High BMI, shorter theatre time priorities |
The final recommendation is made by your surgeon after reviewing your history, endoscopy findings where relevant, and metabolic profile.
More than weight loss
Why bypass is called metabolic surgery
The bypass doesn't just shrink portions — it reroutes food past the part of the gut that regulates hunger and blood sugar hormones. That's why blood glucose often improves within days of surgery, before significant weight loss, and why published studies report type 2 diabetes remission in a majority of bypass patients.
This hormonal dimension is an area our team knows from the research side too: Prof Bulbuller's group has published on gut hormones (ghrelin, obestatin, nesfatin-1) after bariatric surgery — the science behind why these operations change appetite, not just anatomy.
Who it suits best
When we recommend a bypass over a sleeve
- Type 2 diabetes — especially when medication-dependent
- Severe acid reflux (GORD) — where a sleeve could make symptoms worse
- Very high BMI — where maximum metabolic effect matters
- Revision cases — e.g. converting a sleeve after weight regain or reflux
Not sure? Our side-by-side comparison of all procedures is a good place to start — and the free assessment settles it for your specific case.
Your journey, day by day
From first message to flying home
You recover in hospital throughout your stay — round-the-clock nursing, daily surgeon visits, your companion welcome in your room. A bypass week runs a day or so longer than a sleeve:
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Before you travel
Free video consultation; surgeon review of your history, medications and any endoscopy results; fixed quote in £ and surgery date; preparation guide and pre-op diet where recommended.
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Day 1 — Arrival
We meet you at Antalya Airport and bring you straight to the hospital. You settle into your private room and meet your coordinator.
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Day 2 — Tests & final decision
Blood panel, ECG, imaging and anaesthetic review. Your surgeon confirms in person which bypass — RYGB or mini — serves you best, and walks you through consent.
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Day 3 — Surgery
The bypass takes 90–120 minutes laparoscopically. Connections are tested before closure. You wake in recovery, and take your first short walk the same evening.
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Days 4–6 — Hospital recovery
Clear liquids progress to protein-rich fluids; walking builds daily; your surgeon reviews you every morning while the early recovery window passes under full monitoring.
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Days 7–8 — Final checks & home
Discharge sign-off: medications, your 8-week staged diet plan, lifelong supplement schedule, and a full English report for your GP — then a private transfer to the airport.
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At home — Weeks 1–8 and beyond
Staged return to food guided by our dietitian, scheduled video follow-ups, periodic blood tests for vitamin levels, and a direct WhatsApp line to your team.
Flights, visa and travel details are in our UK patient guide.
Results
What you can realistically expect
Published outcomes show 70–80% excess weight loss within 12–24 months — typically a little more than a sleeve — alongside high rates of improvement or remission in type 2 diabetes, reflux, sleep apnoea and high blood pressure.
The honest part: results depend on you as much as the operation. Protein-first eating, limited refined sugar, daily vitamins for life and periodic blood checks are part of the deal — and the patients who treat them that way get the results the studies describe.
Risks, honestly
What can go wrong — and what we do about it
Beyond general surgical risks, bypass-specific ones include anastomotic leak (the joins are tested during surgery and monitored through your longer hospital stay), dumping syndrome after sugary food (managed by the eating pattern — and largely a built-in deterrent), nutrient deficiencies (prevented by lifelong supplements with blood monitoring), and rare late issues such as internal hernia, which is why ongoing follow-up matters.
Your team stays one WhatsApp message away after you're home, and coordinates with your UK doctors whenever needed.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Roux-en-Y and mini gastric bypass?
RYGB uses two intestinal connections and is the longest-established bypass, with strong evidence for reflux control. Mini bypass (OAGB) uses a single connection, takes less theatre time, and delivers comparable weight loss and diabetes remission. Your surgeon recommends one based on your anatomy, reflux history and metabolic profile.
Can a bypass put type 2 diabetes into remission?
In many patients, yes — published studies report remission in a majority of bypass patients, with blood sugar often improving within days of surgery due to hormonal changes. Results depend on how long you've had diabetes and your metabolic health.
Is gastric bypass reversible?
Technically yes — the stomach isn't removed, so reversal is possible. In practice it's a complex operation reserved for rare situations, and bypass should be approached as permanent.
Will I need vitamins forever?
Yes. A daily bariatric multivitamin plus B12, iron, calcium and vitamin D as advised, with periodic blood tests — all mapped out in your aftercare plan.
What is dumping syndrome?
A reaction to sugary or very rich food passing too quickly into the intestine — nausea, cramping, sweating or faintness. It's prevented by the post-bypass eating pattern: small, protein-first meals and limited refined sugar.
Get started
Find out if a bypass is right for you
Send your height, weight, medical history and any diabetes or reflux details. A surgeon reviews your case and gives you an honest recommendation — free, within 24 hours, no obligation.
Comparing options? See Gastric Sleeve · Revision Surgery · All bariatric procedures →