MedClinics Real Patient Stories: Tanja’s Transformative Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Istanbul, Turkey

At MedClinics we bring you inspiring stories from real patients.

We recently interviewed Tanja Bekaroğlu, who underwent a life-changing sleeve gastrectomy in Istanbul in September 2022.

Tanja is from Germany, where she was born and raised. She is happily married and has 3 children. Unfortunately, with the children came a lot of weight, which she couldn’t get rid of with normal diets and exercise. Everyday life became increasingly difficult to manage, climbing stairs and tying shoes were a problem.

Things couldn’t go on like this. In June 2022, Tanja attended an event organized by MedClinics in Frankfurt called “The Fight Against Obesity”. There she received detailed information about what to look out for during gastric sleeve surgery, what to expect and what not to expect. She also met the surgeon there and her MedClinics consultant.

After that, everything happened very quickly and Tanja was already in Istanbul in September to have the surgery.

Tanja, before her gastric sleeve surgery with her patient consultant. Tanja is 152 kg at that time and has a BMI over 54 ….

We talked to Tanja about her journey to her dream weight in Istanbul, Turkey.

Hello Tanja, you are almost unrecognizable, you look really great. I hope you are doing well and are happy with your gastric sleeve surgery. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with our readers.
Let’s start with the questions:

Q1. When and why did you decide to have a gastric sleeve?

With the birth of each child, more and more kilos appeared on the scales, which were very stubborn and did not go away on their own. I had heard about the event in Frankfurt and decided to go there to find out more.

The doctor explained everything very well, the MedClinics consultant is German and assured me that she would also be there in Istanbul for the operation. So I decided to take this step.

Q2. Why did you want to have the treatment abroad?

In Germany, the procedure was too long for me, you’re sent from one doctor to another and have to try all sorts of things before you’re approved for gastric sleeve surgery. That’s not for me. Besides, my husband is Turkish and I have a lot of trust in Turkish doctors.

Q3. How did you find out about MedClinics, and what made you decide to book your treatment with us?

As I said, I came across MedClinics through the event in Frankfurt, “Fight against Adipositas” Everything was right from the start: friendly people, German-speaking staff, experienced doctor, good explanations.

That was enough for me.

Q4. Please describe your experience with your patient consultant. Were you treated well? Were all your questions answered? Was someone always available?

Yes, no problem at all. My patient consultant is German and lives in Istanbul. As promised, she was with us the whole time and translated and organized everything. I could reach her at any time, and she also helped me with other things that had nothing to do with the operation.

Q5. How did the treatment go? Can you please describe it briefly?

I had a full check-up on the first day and had to stay in hospital the night before the gastric sleeve surgery because of my high blood pressure. This was not planned and involved extra costs. After the operation, I had to spend a few hours in intensive care, which was also related to my blood pressure. MedClinics was at the hospital the whole time, talking to the doctors and nurses and taking care of my husband and my little daughter, Melek, who accompanied us on this trip. On the second day after the gastric sleeve surgery, I was discharged from the hospital after the last control was done and doctors gave the green light.

Ready to start your journey to a healthier you? Contact MedClinics today for a free, no-obligation consultation and take the first step toward transforming your life!

Q6. Was everything as you expected and as it was described to you beforehand?

The operation went well, the doctor has a lot of experience with gastric sleeve surgeries and the hospital is one of the best and most modern in Istanbul. German hospitals can’t compete with it. My husband and daughter were allowed to stay overnight in the hospital with me, which was very reassuring for me. We had a large, bright room with enough space for 3 people.

Q7. What was your experience of the hospital and the medical staff? Were there any communication problems?

The people in the hospital don’t speak German, of course, so you need someone to translate. That wasn’t a problem for me because my husband was there, who is Turkish. Apart from that, we could always contact MedClinics if we needed to clarify or organize anything.

Q8. How many kilos did you loose? Would you do it again?

Definitely! I’ve lost a proud 64 kilos to date, from 152 kg down to 88 kg, so there’s nothing to complain about. They cut off 75% of the sleeve, so you automatically will eat less than before the surgery. Of course, the change in diet is a bit difficult at first after the gastric sleeve surgery, but you get used to it. I don’t regret it at all, it’s a completely different attitude to life. Every day feels different now. I can run after my children, climb stairs without losing my breath, and enjoy activities I never thought possible again.

Q9. How was the aftercare provided by MedClinics? Did MedClinics continue to look in on you after the treatment?

Yes, they always contacted me, also after the gastric sleeve surgery, gave advises regarding nutrition, diet, food supplements and so on. MedClinics ensured a smooth recovery and sustained weight loss. We are still in contact and talk on the phone from time to time. When we are in Istanbul, we see each other for a coffee. MedClinics took fantastic care of us.

Q10. Do you have any feedback for MedClinics in general? Would you recommend MedClinics to your family and friends?

Definitely, one hundred percent. The people are very nice and helpful. At the same time, they are also professional, help immediately, and can be reached on site and by phone 24 hours a day.

Q11. What would you recommend to someone who is fighting against adiposity and would like to have gastric sleeve or any other stomach surgery?

Don’t wait to have it done. If you see that losing weight is not working, and you cannot win the fight against obesity, and you already have far too many kilos, it is better to have gastric sleeve surgery or any other weight loss surgery today than tomorrow, before other health problems arise.

Call MedClinics, you will be in the best hands.

If you don’t mind, we would like to put some pictures with your new self on this page, would this be OK for you?

Yes, of course, feel free to do so. I’m proud to show my new body shape to everybody.

To see Tanja’s amazing transformation, check out the photos she kindly allowed us to share. Her progress is a testament to the effectiveness of gastric sleeve surgery when combined with commitment and support.

Thank you, Tanja, for sharing your incredible journey with us

We wish you continued success and happiness in your new life. Enjoy the new life quality with your new body weight!

For anyone inspired by Tanja’s story, remember that your path to a healthier, happier life could be just a phone call away. All of you, who want to get further details of Tanja’s journey to her dream weight, can contact MedClinics.
You will get a free consultation and no-obligation quote now!

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