For patients in South Africa

Endoscopic weight loss treatment in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

Minimally invasive endoscopic weight loss treatment is a short, non-surgical procedure. Using an endoscope passed through the mouth, the doctor injects an agent into the muscles of the stomach. This slows digestion and the release of ghrelin, a hormone that drives appetite, so you feel full for longer after meals and less hungry. The effect is temporary, and this page is honest about what that means for a trip from South Africa.

Who it suits

• People with a BMI between 30 and 40
• People who have not been able to lose weight by dieting
• People preparing for a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, as a step before surgery

Losing weight can reduce the risk of weight-related problems such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, heart disease, high blood pressure, reflux and fatty liver disease, but this treatment does not guarantee weight loss. It also works much less well for people whose diet relies on small amounts of high-calorie food. If you use Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy or another weight-loss injection, tell the doctor at the start so it can be planned for. More detail is on the endoscopic weight loss treatment page; for a temporary option that works differently, see the gastric balloon, and all options are compared in our weight loss surgery guide for South African patients.

How it is done

You fast for 12 hours beforehand. Under sedation, the doctor passes an endoscope into the stomach and injects the agent into the stomach muscles. There are no incisions, the procedure takes 15–20 minutes, and patients can usually be discharged around 30 minutes later.

What to expect from the result

Our main treatment page says the effect lasts around four to six months and can help patients lose up to 20 kg. Treat that as an upper figure, not a target: results vary and are not guaranteed. Once the effect wears off, keeping weight off depends entirely on your diet and activity, so the months while it works are the time to build new habits.

If you are having it before a sleeve or bypass, the surgeon will explain how it fits into the timing of that operation. Read the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass guides first.

Planning the trip from South Africa

The procedure is short; the journey is not. A ten-hour flight each way for a treatment whose effect lasts a few months deserves honest thought, and you should ask what is available near home too. If you do travel, ask the doctor when you can fly, and plan at least one night in İzmir after sedation rather than flying on the same day.

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir
• Visa: South Africans apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Repeat treatment: if you are thinking of having it more than once, ask about that before booking; each round would mean another trip
• Cover and cost: medical schemes generally do not cover planned treatment abroad and travel insurance usually excludes it, so check both. Pricing is transparent and written; it depends mainly on the procedure and the length of stay

Follow-up at home

Arrange a GP and, ideally, a dietitian at home to support the diet and activity changes that decide the long-term result. Our team follows you up by message and video call; Turkey is one hour ahead of South Africa. Under our treatment guarantee, complications and clinically necessary revisions within a year are treated in İzmir at no charge for that treatment; flights and accommodation are your own. See our clinic facts and complaints process.

What we will not do

We will not promise a weight loss figure, present a temporary treatment as a permanent solution, or treat you if your health makes it unsafe.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the effect last?

Around four to six months. After that, keeping the weight off depends on your diet and activity.

How much weight will I lose?

It varies and is not guaranteed. Our main treatment page gives up to 20 kg as the upper figure, and the result depends heavily on what and how you eat.

Is endoscopic weight loss treatment surgery?

No. It is an endoscopic procedure under sedation with no incisions, and it takes 15 to 20 minutes.

Can it be used before weight loss surgery?

Yes. It can be used as a preparation step before a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. The surgeon decides whether that suits you.

Will my medical aid cover endoscopic weight loss treatment in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover planned treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes it. Ask your scheme before booking; we cannot promise cover.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.