Bariatric surgery abroad: what you should know

Facing a long wait for bariatric or metabolic surgery? What to understand about having it done abroad — waiting times, cost, quality, and how the process works.

Bariatric and metabolic surgery is one of the most effective treatments for severe obesity and related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, but in much of Western Europe, eligibility assessment and surgery waiting lists can stretch out for a long time. Having it done abroad is an option worth understanding.

Why the wait can be so long

In the Netherlands, the officially agreed maximum acceptable waiting time — the "Treeknorm" — is around four weeks for a first specialist appointment and six to seven weeks for treatment. For bariatric surgery, which typically also involves a multi-step eligibility and preparation pathway, actual waits frequently run considerably longer than that norm, and they vary from one hospital to another. It is worth checking the current published pathway and waiting time at your own hospital.

What bariatric and metabolic surgery involves

Bariatric surgery covers several procedures — such as gastric sleeve and gastric bypass — that reduce stomach size or change digestion to support significant, sustained weight loss. Whether surgery is right for you, which procedure suits your case, and what your recovery and follow-up will look like are decisions only your treating surgeon and metabolic team can make after a full assessment. Saluvia does not give medical advice — this is general background, not a recommendation.

Why people consider having it done abroad

• Speed — being assessed and treated in weeks rather than months.
• Cost— you pay the hospital directly, the same price as going direct, and Saluvia's coordination is free to you. International patients are not charged Turkish VAT, so the total can be considerably lower than comparable private care in Western Europe. We do not publish per-treatment prices; the hospital confirms costs for your specific case after assessment.
• Quality — in Istanbul, the American Hospital and Koç University Hospital are members of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and hold JCI accreditation.

How it works with Saluvia

The process is the same as for any treatment we coordinate: you share your situation and medical history, the hospital's metabolic surgery team reviews it and advises, and — if you decide to go ahead — we help you plan. Read the full walkthrough in How treatment abroad works, step by step, and if safety is on your mind, see how to judge a hospital abroad.

How to prepare

• Gather your relevant medical records in English — weight history, any prior eligibility assessments, existing conditions such as diabetes, and a current medication list.
• Write down the questions you want to ask the hospital's metabolic surgery team, including about post-operative follow-up and diet support.
• Note your availability, so planning is straightforward once the hospital advises.

Every clinical decision about your suitability for surgery, the procedure itself, and your follow-up care is made by the hospital's own doctors. Our job is to get you to the right specialists quickly and support you through the process.

Request a free assessment to find out what treatment could look like for you.

Saluvia provides coordination, guidance, and information only — not medical advice. All medical assessment is carried out by the doctors at our partner hospitals.