Mini gastric bypass Turkey · one-anastomosis bypass (OAGB) · JCI + TEMOS hospital · İzmir
Mini gastric bypass Turkey: one connection, four nights in hospital, £3,500 all-inclusive
A mini gastric bypass in Turkey is the operation we most often recommend when type 2 diabetes or reflux is the main problem. This page explains how the one-anastomosis bypass works, who it suits better than a sleeve, what it costs in İzmir, what happens on each of your five days here and which risks you should know about before you decide.
Send your height, weight, age and whether you have type 2 diabetes or reflux. Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı replies personally, usually the same day.
How it works
What is a mini gastric bypass? One connection instead of two
A mini gastric bypass — also called a one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), single-anastomosis bypass or omega-loop bypass; MGB and OAGB are the same operation — combines two effects. First, a long, narrow pouch is formed from the upper stomach, so you feel full after small portions. Second, that pouch is joined directly to a loop of small intestine around 150–200 cm further down, so food bypasses the first part of the gut.
The difference to the classic Roux-en-Y bypass is the number of joins. A Roux-en-Y needs two connections and divides the intestine into a Y shape; the mini gastric bypass needs one. That makes the operation shorter — usually 60–90 minutes, laparoscopically through four or five small incisions — and leaves one join fewer that has to heal. When reflux or the anatomy point to the classic version, we explain why on our gastric bypass Turkey page.
The mini gastric bypass is not a reversible band, but it can be revised or reversed if it is ever medically necessary. Whether it is the right operation for you depends on your BMI, your diabetes, your reflux history and any previous surgery — not on the price.
Is it for you?
Who is a mini gastric bypass in Turkey for?
Most people who write to us about a mini gastric bypass in Turkey fall into one of four groups. Which one you belong to decides whether we recommend the bypass, a sleeve or something else entirely.
Type 2 diabetes
often the strongest reason
If you take tablets or insulin for type 2 diabetes, the hormonal effect of the bypass usually helps blood sugar more than a sleeve does. Remission is likelier when diabetes is recent.
BMI 40 or above
or 35+ with a condition
A BMI of 35 or more qualifies; from 30 if you also have type 2 diabetes or another obesity-related condition. A high BMI alone is not a reason to choose a bypass over a sleeve.
Reflux
sleeve could make it worse
With marked reflux a gastric sleeve can increase the problem. A bypass lowers the pressure on the oesophagus; with severe reflux the classic Roux-en-Y may be the safer version.
After a failed sleeve or band
revision
If the weight came back after a sleeve or a gastric band, a mini gastric bypass is a common next step. That is a revision and is planned differently — see gastric revision surgery.
Not suitable, or only after treatment: active smoking, untreated alcohol or drug misuse, unstable mental illness, and stomach ulcers that have not healed. If you are still on Mounjaro, Wegovy or Ozempic, you do not need to stop weeks in advance — the last dose ideally one week before surgery; more on bariatric surgery after GLP-1.
The comparison
Mini gastric bypass vs gastric bypass and gastric sleeve: which one fits?
All three are permanent operations with four nights in hospital. The differences lie in how they work, whom they suit and what they ask of you afterwards. A full guide to the sleeve is on our gastric sleeve Turkey page, and how I decide between them is explained in gastric sleeve vs gastric bypass.
| Mini gastric bypass | Gastric sleeve | Roux-en-Y bypass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Narrow pouch + one join to the small intestine | About 80 % of the stomach removed | Small pouch + intestine re-joined in a Y |
| Type 2 diabetes | strong effect | good effect | strong effect |
| Reflux | usually improves | can get worse | best choice for severe reflux |
| Reversible? | can be revised or reversed | no | can be revised or reversed |
| Vitamins | about nine months, then by blood test | about nine months | about nine months, then by blood test |
| Price in İzmir | £3,500 | from £3,000 | £3,500 |
In short: if your main goal is weight and you have no reflux, a sleeve is simpler. If diabetes or reflux is in the picture, the mini gastric bypass is usually the better tool. We decide on your findings, not on what you booked.
Type 2 diabetes
Mini gastric bypass for type 2 diabetes: why blood sugar falls within days
Around nine in ten people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, and insulin resistance links the two conditions. A mini gastric bypass treats both: the pouch limits how much you eat, and because food skips the upper small intestine, the signals between gut, pancreas and brain change within days.
- 1
More GLP-1, naturally
Food reaches the lower small intestine faster and triggers more GLP-1 — the hormone that weight-loss injections imitate. Insulin release improves and the liver releases less glucose.
- 2
Blood sugar falls before the weight does
Many patients need less medication in the first week, long before most of the weight has gone. That is why we check your blood sugar on the ward and adjust tablets or insulin before you fly home.
- 3
Remission is possible, not promised
It is more likely when diabetes is recent and long-term insulin has not been needed. We tell you honestly what to expect from your HbA1c, medication and duration of diabetes.
If you are weighing a sleeve against a bypass because of diabetes, the trade-offs are explained on our gastric sleeve for diabetes page.
Price
Mini gastric bypass Turkey cost: £3,500 all-inclusive
The mini gastric bypass Turkey price with Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı is £3,500 all-inclusive. Privately in the UK the mini gastric bypass cost is typically £8,500 to £15,000, usually for the operation and hospital stay only. Our price is fixed before you travel and paid on the day of surgery, in cash — no deposit and no instalment plan.
| Included in £3,500 | Not included |
|---|---|
| Pre-operative blood tests, ultrasound, echocardiogram, cardiology, chest and anaesthesia checks | Flights to İzmir |
| The operation by Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı | Extra nights for a companion outside the hospital |
| Four nights in hospital until discharge — no hotel transfer | Vitamins after the first supply |
| Airport and hospital transfers, interpreter | |
| 12 months of follow-up by video call and WhatsApp |
How the mini gastric bypass cost compares with a sleeve and a balloon, and what cheaper offers usually leave out, is broken down line by line on our gastric sleeve surgery price Turkey page.
Your price in writing · reply within 24 hours
Is a mini gastric bypass right for you? Ask the surgeon
Send me your height, weight, age, any diabetes medication and whether you have reflux. I review every request myself and tell you honestly whether a mini gastric bypass, a sleeve or a Roux-en-Y suits you better – with the fixed price of £3,500.
- Personal reply from Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı
- Four nights in hospital until discharge – no hotel transfer
- No deposit – you pay on the day of your operation
Prefer WhatsApp? Write to me on +90 532 466 67 67 — I answer my messages myself.
Your stay
Your 5 days in İzmir: four nights in hospital, no hotel
- 1
Day 1 · arrival
Airport pick-up, admission to the hospital and blood tests — no surgery on the day you land.
- 2
Day 2 · tests and surgery
Abdominal ultrasound, echocardiogram and cardiology, chest and anaesthesia checks in the morning. If all is clear, the mini gastric bypass follows around midday.
- 3
Days 3–4 · on the ward
Walking within hours, clear liquids, daily rounds by your surgeon, blood sugar checks if you have diabetes. An interpreter is on hand.
- 4
Day 5 · home
Final check, discharge and transfer straight to the airport. Follow-up continues for 12 months.
Many lower-cost clinics move patients to a hotel on the second day. We do not: the first days are when bleeding or a leak would show, so you spend them in a JCI- and TEMOS-accredited hospital with an intensive care unit in the same building.
Safety
Is a mini gastric bypass safe? Risks you should know
Every bariatric operation carries risk, and a page that does not name them is not doing you a favour. These are the ones we explain in every consultation for a mini gastric bypass in Turkey; for the broader picture see how safe is gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey, and for the published figures on mortality see gastric sleeve death rate in Turkey.
- 1
Bleeding and leaks
Rare, and most likely in the first days — which is why you stay in hospital for four nights. The staple line is reinforced and the seal is tested during the operation.
- 2
Bile reflux
Because bile flows past the pouch, a small number of patients develop bile reflux. It is usually treated with medication; occasionally the bypass is converted to a Roux-en-Y.
- 3
Ulcer at the join
Smoking and painkillers such as ibuprofen raise the risk. You must stop smoking before surgery and avoid these painkillers afterwards.
- 4
Vitamin and iron deficiency
Because part of the intestine is bypassed, you take supplements for about nine months and have regular blood tests. Low iron, B12 and vitamin D are the most common findings.
- 5
Dumping syndrome
Sugar and fatty food can cause sweating, palpitations or diarrhoea. Most patients learn to avoid it within weeks.
Before and after
Preparing for a mini gastric bypass and life afterwards
Before you travel
no liver diet
You do not need a two- to four-week liver-shrinking diet. Stop smoking, send your recent blood results if you have them, and take the last GLP-1 dose about a week before surgery.
Weeks 1–4
liquids, then purée
Clear liquids in hospital, then two weeks of full liquids and protein drinks, then purée and soft food. Small sips, slowly, all day.
Back to normal
work and daily life
Walking from the first day; light daily activities after about a week. Most people return to work after two to four weeks, depending on the job.
The first year
12 months of follow-up
Video calls and WhatsApp with Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı, blood tests at set points, and vitamins for about nine months. Most weight is lost in the first 12–18 months.
If the weight returns years after a sleeve, that is a different question — see weight regain after gastric sleeve.
Patient experiences
Mini gastric bypass in Turkey: patient experiences
Patients like Duygu Yaşar and Linda Kelly have shared their experiences of the professionalism and care they received in İzmir. Three more stories:
- 1
Sarah, 38, teacher from the UK
After years of struggling with her weight, Sarah chose a mini gastric bypass in Turkey. Within six months she had lost 30 kilograms. “Choosing mini gastric bypass Turkey was the best decision I’ve ever made. The care I received was world-class, and the results speak for themselves.”
- 2
Mark, 45, engineer from Germany
Mark had tried every diet and exercise plan. One year after his operation he had lost 40 kilograms and no longer suffers from joint pain or high blood pressure. “The entire process, from consultation to recovery, was seamless.”
- 3
Linda, 50, mother of three from Spain
Six months after surgery Linda had lost 25 kilograms and regained her energy. “Mini gastric bypass Turkey didn’t just change my body — it changed my life.”
More results are in our before and after gallery, and written reviews on our gastric sleeve surgery patients' comments page.
Your surgeon
Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı: who performs your mini gastric bypass
Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı is a general and bariatric surgeon in İzmir and has performed more than 5,000 obesity operations since 2014 — every one himself, not delegated to an assistant. He sees you before surgery, operates, does the ward rounds and stays your contact for twelve months on WhatsApp. Patients rate the practice 4.9 out of 5 on Google (74 reviews) and 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot (174 reviews). More about Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı.
Questions
Mini gastric bypass Turkey: frequently asked questions
What is the mini gastric bypass Turkey price?
With Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı the mini gastric bypass in Turkey costs £3,500 all-inclusive: pre-operative tests, the operation, four nights in hospital until discharge, airport transfers, an interpreter and 12 months of follow-up. Only flights are extra. You pay on the day of surgery; there is no deposit and no instalment plan.
Is a mini gastric bypass in Turkey safe?
In an accredited hospital with an experienced bariatric surgeon, the risk of a serious complication is low — but not zero. The main risks are bleeding and leaks in the first days, bile reflux, an ulcer at the join and vitamin deficiencies. You stay in a JCI- and TEMOS-accredited hospital for four nights, with an intensive care unit in the same building.
Is a mini gastric bypass worth it?
For most people with a BMI of 40 or more, or 35 and above with type 2 diabetes, it is one of the most effective treatments available: 60–80 % of excess weight lost and often a large improvement in blood sugar. It is worth it if you are ready for the diet changes, the vitamins for about nine months and the follow-up in the first year.
Is it a good idea to go to Turkey for a mini gastric bypass?
It is, if you choose the surgeon and the hospital rather than the cheapest package. Check who operates, whether the hospital is accredited (JCI, TEMOS), whether there is intensive care in the building, and how many nights you stay in hospital. With us you stay four nights in hospital — no hotel transfer — and the operating surgeon follows you up for 12 months.
How long does the operation take and how long do I stay?
The laparoscopic mini gastric bypass usually takes 60–90 minutes. You stay in hospital for four nights until discharge — no hotel transfer — and the whole stay in Turkey is five days: arrival and blood tests on day 1, tests and surgery on day 2, discharge and flight home on day 5.
Mini gastric bypass or gastric sleeve: which is better?
Neither is better for everyone. Without reflux and diabetes, a sleeve is simpler. With type 2 diabetes or reflux, the mini gastric bypass usually works better. Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı recommends one or the other on your findings, not on price.
Mini gastric bypass vs gastric bypass: what is the difference?
A classic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass needs two connections and divides the intestine into a Y shape; the mini gastric bypass needs one, so the operation is shorter. Both have a strong effect on weight and type 2 diabetes. With severe reflux the Roux-en-Y is usually the safer choice; otherwise the mini gastric bypass is often preferred. The price in İzmir is the same: £3,500 all-inclusive.
What is a single anastomosis gastric bypass?
It is another name for the mini gastric bypass, also called OAGB or omega-loop bypass. A long, narrow stomach pouch is joined to the small intestine with a single connection, instead of the two connections of a Roux-en-Y bypass.
How much weight will I lose after a mini gastric bypass?
Most patients lose 60–80 % of their excess weight in the first 12–18 months. How much you keep off depends on eating habits, activity and the follow-up appointments in the first year.
Does a mini gastric bypass cure type 2 diabetes?
It can lead to remission, especially when diabetes is recent and long-term insulin has not been needed, but it cannot be promised. Blood sugar often falls within days, before most weight is lost, so medication is reduced under supervision.
Do I need a liver-shrinking diet before surgery?
No. A two- to four-week liver-shrinking diet is not required. Stop smoking before surgery and send recent blood results if you have them.
Do I have to stop Mounjaro, Wegovy or Ozempic before surgery?
You do not need to stop weeks in advance. Ideally the last dose is about one week before your operation; tell us which injection and dose you use.
How long do I need vitamins after a mini gastric bypass?
You take vitamin and mineral supplements for about nine months and have regular blood tests. Iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D are the values we watch most closely; the blood results decide whether anything is needed after that.
Can a mini gastric bypass be reversed?
Yes, while not common, a mini gastric bypass can be reversed or converted to a Roux-en-Y bypass if it is medically necessary — for example for persistent bile reflux. The decision is made after an endoscopy.
What can you never do again after a mini gastric bypass?
Very little is forbidden for ever, but some things change: large portions are gone, smoking and painkillers such as ibuprofen raise the risk of an ulcer at the join, alcohol acts faster and stronger, and very sugary or fatty food can cause dumping. Most patients adapt within the first months.
What is the honeymoon phase after a mini gastric bypass?
The first 12–18 months after surgery, when hunger is low and weight comes off fastest. It is the best time to build the eating and exercise habits that keep the weight off later, which is why the follow-up in the first year matters most.
When can I fly home after a mini gastric bypass?
On day five, after four nights in hospital and a final check by your surgeon, you are transferred straight to the airport.
Can I drink coffee after a mini gastric bypass?
Yes, after about one month. Start with small amounts, sip slowly and keep caffeine low at first; coffee should never replace water or protein.
Mini gastric bypass Turkey · free written answer
Your question is not on the list? Send it to me
Write your question together with your height, weight and medication. You receive a written answer from me, usually within a day, and no obligation to book.
- Personal reply from Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı
- Four nights in hospital until discharge – no hotel transfer
- No deposit – you pay on the day of your operation
Prefer WhatsApp? Write to me on +90 532 466 67 67 — I answer my messages myself.
Thinking about a mini gastric bypass in Turkey? Ask the surgeon first.
Send your height, weight, age, diabetes medication and any reflux. You get an honest first assessment: mini gastric bypass, sleeve, Roux-en-Y — or not yet.
WhatsApp: +90 532 466 67 67This page is for information and does not replace a consultation. Results are individual and no outcome is guaranteed. Patient photos published with consent. Updated 20 October 2026.
Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı
Specialist in Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery · Izmir, Turkey
This article was written and medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı. Dr. Arayıcı has been exclusively specialising in bariatric surgery since 2014 and has performed over 5,000 procedures at a JCI- and TEMOS-accredited hospital in Izmir.
✍ Published: August 21, 2024 · 🔄 Updated: November 6, 2026 · About the author →
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