What is a gastric sleeve?

In a sleeve gastrectomy about 75–80% of the stomach is removed through small keyhole (laparoscopic) incisions, leaving a narrow tube. You feel full sooner, and the part of the stomach that produces most of the hunger hormone ghrelin is removed. It is a permanent operation and needs lifelong changes to eating and regular vitamin checks.

It is one of several options. Others include gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y), one-anastomosis (mini) gastric bypass, and non-surgical endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. The surgeon recommends the right operation only after reviewing your health, tests and history.

Am I eligible?

Clinics follow international guidelines. As a general guide, surgery is considered for adults with a BMI of 40 or more, or 35 or more with obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea. Lower thresholds can apply in some cases. Previous attempts to lose weight, your general health, medicines and any previous abdominal surgery are all taken into account, and the final decision is the surgeon's.

Tests and preparation before you travel

Your surgical team in Poland reviews your medical information before a date is confirmed. Blood tests can be done in the UK through your GP or a private clinic, so any concern is found before you fly. The tests usually requested include blood group, full blood count, clotting, kidney and liver function, thyroid function, blood sugar and HbA1c, cholesterol, and HIV and hepatitis B and C screening; see the full list on our bariatric surgery page.

Many clinics also ask you to follow a low-calorie diet for around two weeks before surgery to shrink the liver, which makes keyhole surgery safer. Follow the instructions your clinic gives you.

What happens in Poland

At our partner KCM Clinic in Jelenia Góra, patients usually fly into Wrocław. On arrival you have the pre-operative tests and consultations, including with the anaesthetist, and the surgery is performed laparoscopically. The hospital stay is usually three days (two nights) in a private room. You leave with written instructions, prescriptions and a diet plan.

Ask your surgeon when you will be fit to fly. Long journeys after surgery carry a risk of blood clots, so follow the advice on walking, fluids and any injections or compression stockings.

Recovery and diet after a gastric sleeve

• The diet moves in stages over several weeks: clear fluids, then puréed food, then soft food, then normal textures in small portions. Your clinic gives you the exact plan.
• Most people return to desk work within one to two weeks; heavy lifting waits longer.
• You will need to take vitamin and mineral supplements for life and have regular blood tests to check for deficiencies.
• Weight loss is greatest in the first year to eighteen months. Results depend on long-term changes to eating and activity.

What to pack and who to bring

• Your passport, travel insurance documents and the clinic's contact details.
• Printed copies of your blood test results, a list of your medicines with doses, and any letters from your GP or specialists.
• Loose, comfortable clothes that do not press on your abdomen, and slip-on shoes.
• Your usual medicines in hand luggage, with enough for the whole trip.
• Protein shakes or the fluids your clinic recommends for the first days, if they advise bringing them.
• If you can, a companion for the journey home. Carrying bags and long queues are hard in the first days after surgery.

Questions to ask the clinic before you book

• Who will perform my operation, and how many sleeve gastrectomies does the team perform each year?
• Which tests do you need from the UK, and which are done on arrival?
• Which diet do I follow before surgery, and for how long?
• What happens if I have a complication after I return home, and who do I contact?
• How does follow-up work: video calls, dietitian support, and for how long?
• What does the package include, and what would be charged separately?

Risks to discuss with your surgeon

Like any operation, a sleeve gastrectomy carries risks. The most serious early risks are a leak from the staple line, bleeding and blood clots. Later issues can include acid reflux, nutritional deficiencies and weight regain. Ask your surgeon how often they see these problems, how they are treated and who you would contact in the UK.

Aftercare in the UK

Tell your GP about your plans before you go and give them your treatment summary when you return; you will need ongoing blood tests and prescriptions for supplements. Agree with the clinic how follow-up works, for example by video, and what happens if you have a complication. Our aftercare guide covers what to arrange.

How MED Travel Connect helps

We coordinate bariatric treatment with KCM Clinic's bariatric team, collect your records and test results, pass them to the surgeons, arrange dates and stay your UK-based point of contact throughout. Only the surgeon can assess whether surgery is right for you. Start with a free call.

Frequently asked questions