Bariatric surgeryTürkiye4 min read
Did Elif Yalçın have bariatric surgery? She filmed her own surgery day
In August 2023, the Turkish YouTuber Elif Yalçın filmed her own gastric-sleeve surgery day and the first 48 hours of recovery for her channel. Here is exactly what she said, how the operation works today, and what recovery involves for anyone considering it.
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Medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- Elif Yalçın filmed her own 2023 gastric-sleeve surgery day for her channel.
- She said she had researched the decision for at least six months.
- Sleeve gastrectomy at City Medical Centre costs $3,600; gastric bypass $4,000.
- The final result is reached at 18–24 months, once habits stabilise.
Key facts about the procedure
- Back to work2–4 weeks
- Stay in clinic1–5 days
- Final result18–24 months
- Price
$4,800from $3,600
Profile
Elif Yalçın
- Country
- Türkiye
- Who
- YouTuber
- Year of operation
- 2023
- Quote source
- Elif Yalcin, 20 August 2023
Hi, today I'll share with you my gastric-sleeve surgery day. Since 2015 I've shared every good and bad experience in my life on this channel as transparently as possible, so I wanted to share this life-changing development firsthand too.
What did Elif Yalçın say about her surgery?
On her own YouTube channel, in a video titled “TÜP MİDE AMELİYATI OLDUM AMELİYAT SONRASI İLK 48 SAAT!” (“I had gastric-sleeve surgery — the first 48 hours after!”), published on 20 August 2023, Elif Yalçın said: “Selam bugün sizlerle mide ameliyatı tüp mide sleeve gastro ameliyatı günümü paylaşacağım. 2015 yılından beri, bu kanalda hayatımda başıma gelen iyi ve kötü her 'deneyimi' olabildiğince şeffaf şekilde paylaştığım için hayatımı etkileyecek bu gelişmeyi yine birinci ağızdan paylaşmak istedim.” (“Hi, today I'll share with you my gastric-sleeve surgery day. Since 2015 I've shared every good and bad experience in my life on this channel as transparently as possible, so I wanted to share this life-changing development firsthand too.”) She also said she had researched the decision for at least six months and made it as a legal adult, on her own.
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WhatsAppThat is the whole basis of this article. Elif Yalçın named the procedure herself — a gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy, “tüp mide”) — but did not name a clinic or surgeon, so this article does not guess at them.
Why filming the day itself matters
Elif Yalçın chose to film the surgery day and the first 48 hours rather than only the eventual result, continuing a channel built on sharing both good and difficult experiences transparently.
More on this topic: Bariatric surgery with support all the way to your result, Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy), Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y), Gastric Sleeve and Bypass in Harare, Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery in Pietermaritzburg.
She was explicit that the video contained no sponsorship and reflected only her own experience, and that she had researched the decision for months before going through with it — a useful reminder that this kind of surgery follows a considered process, not a sudden choice.
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Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
What a gastric sleeve is
A sleeve gastrectomy is a laparoscopic operation: the surgeon works through several small punctures and removes a large part of the stomach, leaving a narrow tube-shaped “sleeve”. A smaller stomach volume means people feel full sooner and eat less. It is one of several bariatric operations:
What is changed
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Most of the stomach is removed
- Gastric bypass
- A small stomach pouch is connected to the small intestine
Typical patient
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- BMI of about 35–45
- Gastric bypass
- BMI over 45–50, often with type 2 diabetes
Hospital stay
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- 1–5 days
- Gastric bypass
- 1–5 days
Price at City Medical Centre
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- $3,600
- Gastric bypass
- $4,000
Who is it for?
Bariatric surgery is usually considered when the body mass index (BMI) is above 40, or above 35 with serious weight-related conditions, and in some cases with a lower BMI if non-surgical approaches have not worked — much like the months of research Elif Yalçın described before her own decision. Before surgery, patients have blood and urine tests and consultations with several specialists, including an endocrinologist and a cardiologist.
Recovery after a gastric sleeve
Patients stay under observation at the clinic for one to five days, depending on the extent of surgery. The diet moves in stages from liquids to solids over one to two months. Office work usually resumes after two to four weeks, and physical work after about a month and a half.
The final result is reached at 18–24 months, once eating habits have stabilised and weight loss has levelled off.
How recovery after a gastric sleeve usually goes
- Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation under general anaesthesia, as Elif Yalçın filmed for her own channel.
- First 48 hoursEarly recovery in hospital — the period she documented in detail.
- 1–5 daysHospital stay, depending on the extent of surgery.
- 1–2 monthsStaged diet from liquid to soft to normal food.
- 2–4 weeksReturn to office work; physical work after about 1.5 months.
- 18–24 monthsThe final result is reached, once eating habits are stable.
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and other bariatric operations laparoscopically for international patients. The first consultation with the surgeon is free; the recommended operation and the cost are confirmed after reviewing the patient's weight history and health, and fixed in the contract. A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Elif Yalçın or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of someone who documented this kind of surgery transparently, from her own surgery day onward.
Frequently asked questions
Did Elif Yalçın have bariatric surgery?
Yes. On 20 August 2023 she posted a video on her own YouTube channel titled “I had gastric-sleeve surgery — the first 48 hours after!”, filmed on the day of her own operation.
Which procedure did she have?
She named it herself as a gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy, “tüp mide”). She did not name a clinic or surgeon, so this article does not guess at them.
Did she say how long she had considered the decision?
Yes — she said she had researched it for at least six months and made the decision as a legal adult, on her own.
How much does a gastric sleeve cost at City Medical Centre?
A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. The final price is confirmed after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.
How long is the hospital stay after a gastric sleeve?
Patients usually stay one to five days, depending on the extent of surgery, before continuing recovery at home.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- Elif Yalçın (own YouTube channel), 20 August 2023
Medical background and further reading
General information about the procedure from health authorities and medical societies. It is not advice for any individual patient.
- PubMed / NCBI — Benefits and Risks of Bariatric Surgery in Adults: A Review (JAMA, 2020)
- PubMed / NCBI — Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy vs Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: systematic review and meta-analysis (2016)
- World Health Organization — Obesity and overweight
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery — Bariatric Surgery Procedures
How we prepare and review medical content · Medical disclaimer
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