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Bariatric & metabolic · 2026

Sleeve, bypass & SADI-S
at half the US cost.

Sleeve gastrectomy from $9,500. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass from $12,000. SADI-S from $14,500. Performed at IFSO-recognised programs in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou with MDT pre-op workup and bilingual long-term follow-up package.

Check eligibility & quote Top bariatric hospitals

50–70%

Cost savings

All-in bariatric vs US list pricing

Industry data 2024

200+

Cases / yr at partners

Minimum at IFSO-recognised programs

CSMBS / IFSO

14–18

Days typical stay

Surgery + recovery + safe-to-fly clearance

Industry guidance

MDT

Diabetes + nutrition + psych

Multi-disciplinary workup standard

IFSO guidelines

Class A

Tertiary centres

All recommended hospitals are top-tier teaching

NHC ratings

Lifelong

Follow-up required

Home-team coordination is mandatory

IFSO guidelines

Procedures

Six options, all-in pricing.

Most common

Sleeve gastrectomy

Laparoscopic vertical sleeve. Single-stage. ~25–30% TWL at 1 year. Lower reoperation than bypass.

$9,500–13,500

Reference

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Gold-standard for severe T2D and significant GERD. ~30–35% TWL at 1 year. Strict supplementation.

$12,000–16,500

Single anastomosis

OAGB / mini-bypass

One-anastomosis gastric bypass. Shorter operative time, similar weight loss to RYGB.

$11,000–15,000

Metabolic

SADI-S

Single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve. Strongest T2D remission profile. Specialist centres only.

$14,500–19,000

Complex

Revision surgery

Sleeve-to-bypass / sleeve-to-SADI-S revision for inadequate weight loss, weight regain or refractory GERD.

$14,000–22,000

Non-surgical

Endoscopic options

Intragastric balloon, ESG (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty) — for BMI 27–35 not meeting surgical criteria.

$5,500–9,500

Top bariatric hospitals

Six bariatric centres
open to international patients.

Shanghai

Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital 上海第六人民医院

National reference for diabetes and obesity surgery · MDT metabolic program

Beijing

Peking University People's Hospital 北京大学人民医院

Class A teaching · high-volume sleeve and bypass · CSMBS-recognised

Shanghai

Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University 中山医院

Class A · academic centre · revision surgery experience

Guangzhou

First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University 中山一院

Class A · regional reference for metabolic and bariatric surgery

Beijing

Beijing Friendship Hospital 北京友谊医院

Class A · strong metabolic surgery program · MDT obesity clinic

Chengdu

West China Hospital 华西医院

Class A · regional reference centre · large-volume bariatric program

Cost comparison

China vs US vs UK,
real bariatric pricing.

China
United States
United Kingdom
Sleeve gastrectomy
$9,500–$13,500
$15,000–$25,000
£9,500–£13,500
Gastric bypass (RYGB)
$12,000–$16,500
$22,000–$32,000
£11,500–£16,000
OAGB / mini-bypass
$11,000–$15,000
$18,000–$28,000
£10,500–£15,000
SADI-S
$14,500–$19,000
$28,000–$40,000
£15,000–£22,000
Revision surgery
$14,000–$22,000
$25,000–$45,000
£14,000–£22,000

Sources: ASMBS / Healthcare Bluebook 2024, NHS / Bupa UK 2024, partner-hospital itemized quotes 2024–2025. Pricing is indicative and excludes airfare, accommodation and complications. Educational only — not medical advice.

FAQ

Bariatric surgery in China — answered.

Who is a candidate for bariatric surgery in China?
Eligibility follows the IFSO Asia-Pacific (and increasingly the IFSO 2022 international) criteria: BMI ≥ 32.5 with metabolic disease (type 2 diabetes, severe sleep apnea, fatty liver disease) or BMI ≥ 37.5 without comorbidity. Patients must be 18–65 (some centres extend to 70 with screening), able to commit to lifelong follow-up, and free of untreated psychiatric illness, active substance abuse, or end-stage organ disease. International patients should obtain home-team clearance and confirm willingness to manage long-term follow-up before travelling.
What does bariatric surgery cost in China?
Indicative all-in international-patient pricing at top centres: laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy $9,500–$13,500; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) $12,000–$16,500; one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB / mini-bypass) $11,000–$15,000; SADI-S (single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve) $14,500–$19,000; laparoscopic revision surgery $14,000–$22,000. Quotes include surgeon, anesthesia, ICU/HDU, 4–6 day ward stay, standard staplers/clips and pre-op workup. Excludes long-haul travel, accommodation and complications cover.
Which Chinese hospitals are credible for bariatric surgery?
China's metabolic and bariatric surgery societies (CSMBS) accredit centres by case volume and outcomes. Top international-patient programs include: (1) Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital — national reference, MDT diabetes-and-obesity program; (2) Peking University People's Hospital — Class A teaching, high-volume sleeve and bypass program; (3) Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (Shanghai) — academic centre with strong revision surgery experience; (4) The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou) — Class A; (5) Beijing Friendship Hospital — strong metabolic surgery program. All recommended programs perform 200+ bariatric cases per year and are members of CSMBS or IFSO.
How long do I need to stay in China?
Plan for 14–18 days total: pre-operative workup and dietitian + psychology assessment 3–4 days; surgery + ICU/HDU 1 day; ward stay 4–6 days (including upper-GI swallow study on day 1–2 post-op); discharge nutrition counseling and review 2–3 days; outpatient review before flying home 2–3 days post-discharge. Long-haul flights are generally cleared at 10–14 days post-op for sleeve / bypass. Revision surgery may require longer.
What is the typical post-op course and follow-up requirement?
Bariatric surgery requires lifelong follow-up: 30-day, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month visits then annual. Critical labs include vitamin B12, iron, vitamin D, calcium, PTH, zinc and folate. Lifelong supplementation (multivitamin, B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron) is required after RYGB/SADI-S. Before booking surgery in China, you must confirm a home-country physician or registered dietitian who will manage your long-term follow-up. We provide a bilingual operative note, discharge instructions, nutrition plan and lab schedule for your home team.
What about complications and reoperation?
Major complications are uncommon at high-volume centres: leak rate after sleeve gastrectomy 0.5–2.0%, after RYGB 1.0–3.0%; bleed rate 1–2%; venous thromboembolism < 1% with chemoprophylaxis. Long-term issues include reflux (post-sleeve, ~20% requiring PPIs), marginal ulcer (post-RYGB, < 5%), nutritional deficiencies, and weight regain. We strongly recommend medical-travel insurance with bariatric complications cover and confirm a home-team for any post-op emergencies after return.
Is bariatric surgery a substitute for GLP-1 medication?
No. They are complementary tools. Bariatric surgery typically achieves 25–35% total weight loss at 1–2 years, sustained at 5+ years for most patients, with strong remission of type 2 diabetes (50–80% at 1 year for RYGB / SADI-S in T2D < 10 years' duration) and improvement of obstructive sleep apnea, NAFLD and hypertension. GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) achieve 15–22% weight loss while taken but most patients regain weight after stopping. The choice between medication, surgery, or sequential use is individual; we encourage you to discuss with your endocrinologist and the operating surgeon.
What documentation should I bring?
(1) M-visa (medical visa) — invitation letter provided by us; (2) recent labs (HbA1c, lipid panel, LFTs, TSH, vitamin levels); (3) sleep study results if known OSA; (4) upper-GI endoscopy report (mandatory pre-op for most centres); (5) ultrasound or CT abdomen if available; (6) cardiac assessment for patients > 50 or with cardiac risk factors; (7) psychological clearance letter from your home physician; (8) current medication list. The hospital will repeat pre-op workup as required by Chinese MOH protocol.

Related guides

Medical Tourism in China

End-to-end overview of travel logistics, visa and coordination.

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M-Visa Guide

Bariatric surgery requires an M-visa. We provide the invitation letter.

Visa guide

Travel Insurance

Bariatric complications cover and trip-interruption coverage.

Insurance

Pre-op Health Check

Optional combined executive physical with pre-bariatric workup.

Read more

Medical Companion

Bilingual companions experienced in surgical wards and dietitian visits.

Meet the team

Cost Calculator

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Eligibility check
+ quote in 5 days.

Share your BMI, comorbidities, recent labs and any prior abdominal surgery. We confirm eligibility against IFSO criteria and return two written quotes from CSMBS / IFSO-recognised centres — including procedure recommendation, indicative cost and follow-up plan.

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This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Bariatric surgery requires lifelong follow-up and supplementation. All clinical decisions are made by the treating physician at the partner hospital after multi-disciplinary assessment.