Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG)
ESG in Istanbul: is endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty the right option to discuss?
Unimed Editorial Team · · 3 min read
How ESG differs from surgical sleeve gastrectomy, who may be assessed, alternatives, risks and follow-up questions for care in Istanbul.
What is ESG—and what is it not?
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty uses stitches placed through a flexible endoscope passed through the mouth to reduce the stomach's capacity. It does not remove part of the stomach, unlike surgical sleeve gastrectomy. Johns Hopkins Medicine
Ask the clinician to write down the exact procedure being proposed. “Gastric sleeve” is not a sufficiently precise description when comparing offers.
Sources: [1]
Who might be considered?
The 2024 ASGE–ESGE guideline conditionally suggests endoscopic weight-management therapies alongside lifestyle care for adults with BMI at least 30, or 27–29.9 with an obesity-related condition. This broad recommendation is not automatic eligibility for ESG. ASGE–ESGE guideline
NICE recommends multidisciplinary selection, assessment and monitoring, with trained clinicians in specialist weight-management centres. This is UK guidance, not proof that a particular Turkish provider meets those standards. NICE HTG711
Bring your treatment history and questions. Ask which health conditions, medicines or previous operations might change the recommendation. A consultation may lead to a different treatment—or no procedure.
What alternatives belong in the conversation?
Ask the team to compare ESG with structured weight-management support, appropriate prescription medicines, other endoscopic options and bariatric surgery. Compare the evidence, risks, ongoing care and practical demands of each—not simply whether there is an abdominal incision. These options form part of the wider obesity-treatment landscape discussed in the ASGE–ESGE guideline.
A useful question is: “Why does this option fit my health needs better than the alternatives?”
Sources: [4]
Does less invasive mean risk-free?
No. Nausea and abdominal discomfort can occur. Important potential complications include bleeding, infection and injury or leakage involving the stomach. Ask how complications would be recognised and treated. Johns Hopkins Medicine
Your discussion should include anaesthesia and your individual risk profile. “No skin incision” should not replace a proper consent discussion or emergency plan.
Sources: [1]
What happens after ESG?
Recovery includes a staged eating plan, medical review and ongoing support. Do not copy a timetable from another patient's experience: ask for your team's written instructions. Weight loss can be insufficient, and weight regain can happen. Mayo Clinic
Before leaving, confirm whom to contact for persistent vomiting, worsening pain, bleeding or other warning symptoms. An emergency needs local urgent care, not a delayed response from a travel coordinator.
Ask how progress will be reviewed beyond the first appointment. ESGE's 2025 technical review highlights the need for further high-quality trials and longer-term outcome data across endoscopic obesity therapies. That is a reason to discuss uncertainty, not to promise a particular number of kilograms lost. ESGE review
How can you plan an assessment in Istanbul, Turkey?
Unimed's supplied profile lists ESG among Prof. Dr. Barış Yılmaz's applications. The treating team must confirm current availability, suitability and the facility.
Before booking flights, request:
• A clear assessment plan and confidential route for sharing records.
• A written estimate separating clinical care and travel services.
• A nutrition and follow-up plan that remains workable after returning home.
• Individual advice on the length of stay and fitness to fly.
Contact Unimed on WhatsApp, +90 555 234 63 64, for coordination. This is not an emergency service.
Frequently asked questions
Is ESG the same as having part of my stomach removed?
No. ESG uses endoscopic stitches; sleeve gastrectomy removes stomach tissue.
Can I decide based on my weight alone?
No. Ask for an individual assessment and comparison of options.
Is a specific weight-loss result guaranteed?
No. This guide makes no individual result or success-rate promise.
Has the doctor reviewed this article?
No doctor review is claimed. It is educational editorial content, not personal medical advice.
References
General education, not an individual diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Suitability and treatment decisions require assessment by the treating clinician.
Have reports for this procedure?
Send them for a confidential specialist review. A coordinator confirms what is missing and when the doctor's view will be ready.