Gastric sleeve is one of the most well-known bariatric procedures when a large part of the stomach is surgically removed and its size reduced by 75-80%.
In this article, we will try and answer some popular questions concerning gastric sleeve surgery in the UK, with a necessary peek abroad.
Gastric sleeve has the highest success rate
When it comes to weight loss surgeries, gastric sleeve success rate is the highest, 80-90%, with people losing 60-70% of their excess weight within the first year post-op.
No wonder gastric sleeve surgery in the UK is the most sought-after weight loss procedure.
Gastric sleeve surgery costs in the UK
In private clinics, the medium price of gastric sleeve surgery is £10000, with the lowest at £8000 and the highest at £13 000, whereas gastric sleeve cost in Scotland is around £12 500 and often higher.
On NHS, gastric sleeve surgery in the UK is free for the patient but over £6000 for the service, making the lines very long and the qualification sieve tight.
Gastric sleeve celebrities
Yes, they actually do it, and several also speak of it openly. Just a few names:
- Sally Morgan aka „Psychic Sally“;
- Tina Malone
- Paul Jonathan Mason
- Anne Diamond
- Fern Britton etc.
Gastric sleeve surgery price in Europe
Belgium – £6000 (extras may include: taxi, hotel, preop analysis, etc)
Poland – £2100 (+ possible extras)
Gastric sleeve in Latvia generally costs around £5500, with Weight Loss Riga offering an all-inclusive package for £4980
Cost of gastric sleeve surgery outside Europe
A few numbers:
Mexico £4000 (+ flight to San Diego and back, average £760)
Turkey £3500 (+ possible extras)
In comparison, the UK’s medium gastric sleeve surgery price falls between £8000-10 000.
Three main components that make the cost
The general three most important components that sum up the gastric sleeve surgery prices for private clinics are:
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- Location of the facility (country and city)
- The reputation of the facility and staff
- Qualifications and experience of the surgeon and their success rate
Bariatric tourism – why do people seek help abroad?
- The price of bariatric surgeries, as mentioned above.
- The time. More countries with many professional private clinics mean cutting down on waiting for lines which unfortunately keeps piling up in the UK.
- The excellent reputation of several private bariatric clinics with customer feedback makes them stand out and draw in more people.
Bariatric tourism as a life rope
While gastric sleeve on NHS is definitely a possibility, especially with NICE vouching for more bariatric surgeries for Type 2 diabetes patients, it is also a long and hesitant wait. To those who cannot afford to wait but may be able to afford some self-funding, the all-inclusive bariatric surgery packages in Europe and especially in Latvia are the life rope.
In conclusion, while the cost of a gastric sleeve surgery in the UK is sadly still on the rise, along with every other price, it pays off to be aware of the facts and the changes, and also of the options on the broader world. Remember – you are the most important person in your life!
