The most-performed bariatric surgery worldwide, available in Bogotá with US-trained surgeons, top-tier private hospitals, and a full multidisciplinary team that follows you for 12 months after the operation.
Gastric sleeve60–70% excess weight loss
Your procedure is performed with minimally invasive technique — and, when your case calls for it, the Da Vinci robotic system with only three incisions. Less scarring, less pain and a faster recovery, so most international patients are cleared to fly home in as little as 8 days.
Vertical sleeve gastrectomy — most people just say "the sleeve" — is a laparoscopic procedure that removes about 75–80% of your stomach. What is left behind is a narrow tube the size of a banana. You will still feel hungry, but you will fill up on a fraction of what you ate before.
The sleeve is restrictive: it limits how much you can eat in a sitting. It does not reroute your intestines (that is the bypass), and it does not block calorie absorption (your gut still works normally). The weight loss comes from a smaller stomach plus a measurable drop in the hunger hormone ghrelin, which is largely produced by the part of the stomach that gets removed.
BMI is the starting point, not the answer. Final candidacy is determined in your first consultation by a board-certified bariatric surgeon.
Class I obesity with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or other metabolic conditions. Early surgical intervention is now standard for this group.
Standard surgical threshold. Comorbidities not required for candidacy in this range.
From 16 with parental consent (adolescent bariatric programs are increasingly standard). Patients above 65 are routinely evaluated individually — fitness for surgery depends on overall health, not on the number itself.
Documented unsuccessful attempts with diet, exercise, or medications.
All-inclusive package. No hidden fees. Quote confirmed within 24 hours of your virtual consultation.
How GOG self-pay pricing compares to the major bariatric destinations.
| Country | Sleeve cost (USD) | Bypass cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| USA (self-pay) | $20,000–25,000 | $25,000–35,000 |
| Mexico (Tijuana) | $4,500–6,000 | $6,500–8,000 |
| Turkey (Istanbul) | $4,000–5,500 | $5,500–7,500 |
| Colombia (GOG) | $7,800–10,300 | $7,800–12,000 |
What happens, when, and how long you need to be in Bogotá.
Free 45–50 minute video call with one of our surgeons. We review your medical history and prior weight-loss attempts.
Within 24 hours we send your USD quote and the pre-op test checklist.
Labs, EKG, anesthesia clearance, nutrition consult, psychology evaluation.
Laparoscopic procedure, 60–90 minutes. Country, Shaio, or Cobos — all private top-tier private hospitals.
Bilingual coordinator, prescribed nutrition plan, daily check-ins. Hotel cost not included in the surgical package — booked separately.
Monthly video visits with the medical team. Labs at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.
Weight loss is the headline, but for most international patients the real goal is getting their health back. Here is what the gastric sleeve changes — beyond the number on the scale.
Every surgery carries risk — we don't hide that. The difference at GOG is what happens around the procedure: a multidisciplinary team that stays with you from pre-op through 12 months after surgery. You are not discharged into silence.
All three of our bariatric surgeons perform this procedure. Each has 10+ years of experience. You will be matched based on availability and personal fit during your first consultation.
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). 15+ years in minimally invasive bariatric surgery. Trained at Universidad de la Sabana and FUCS, where she serves as an associate professor.
View full profile →Co-founder of GOG. Da Vinci certified robotic bariatric surgeon. 10+ years and 1,000+ patients. Associate professor at Universidad El Bosque, leading the GICS minimally invasive surgery research line.
View full profile →Co-founder of GOG. 18+ years and 2,000+ bariatric procedures. Head of General Surgery and Renal Transplant at Clínica Shaio. Pioneer of 3-incision Da Vinci robotic bariatric surgery in Colombia.
View full profile →A side-by-side view of the four bariatric options we offer at GOG.
| Procedure | Type | How it works | Peak loss timeline | Avg excess weight loss | Stay in Bogotá |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric Sleeve | Restrictive | 75–80% stomach removed | 12–18 months | 60–70% | 7–10 days |
| Gastric Bypass | Restrictive + Malabsorptive | Stomach pouch + intestinal rerouting | 12–24 months | 65–80% | 7–10 days |
| Gastric Balloon | Non-surgical (Restrictive) | Temporary device — 16w (Allurion) / 6m (Intragastric) | 4–6 months | 10–15% | 2–3 days |
| Revision Surgery | Variable | Conversion/repair of prior procedure | 6–18 months | Variable | 7–14 days |
Real Global Obesity Group patients, published with their written consent. Bariatric surgery results vary from person to person and depend on individual adherence to the post-operative plan — these images do not guarantee a specific outcome.
If yours is not here, a 45–50 minute virtual consultation is the fastest way to a personalized answer.
Private 45–50 minute virtual consultation. English-speaking team. You leave with a written assessment and your USD quote within 24 hours.
