Dr. Cenap Dener

Dr. Cenap Dener is a senior bariatric and metabolic surgeon at Memorial Sisli Hospital in Istanbul, one of Turkey's premier private hospital networks and a leading international destination for bariatric surgery. With over 35 years of surgical experience, Dr. Dener has established himself as one of Turkey's most experienced bariatric surgeons, having performed thousands of weight-loss procedures ranging from sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass to complex revision bariatric operations.

Turkey has become one of the world's most popular destinations for bariatric surgery medical tourism, attracting patients primarily from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East. Memorial Hospital Group's international accreditation, English-speaking teams, and competitive pricing — typically 60-70% lower than in Western Europe — make Istanbul a compelling choice for patients seeking obesity surgery. Dr. Dener is at the forefront of this internationally-oriented practice.

His approach to bariatric surgery combines meticulous laparoscopic technique with a strong focus on metabolic outcomes — not just weight loss, but the resolution or improvement of obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnoea. He works with a multidisciplinary team that includes bariatric dieticians, psychologists, and endocrinologists to ensure comprehensive patient preparation and long-term follow-up.

Dr. Dener completed his medical degree at Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine — one of Turkey's oldest and most respected medical schools — and completed his General Surgery residency at the same institution. He obtained his Specialist in General Surgery certification from the Turkish Medical Specialisation Board and pursued additional training in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery both in Turkey and through advanced courses at international IFSO-affiliated centres.

He holds the FACS (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons) designation and is an active member of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) — the foremost global professional body for bariatric surgery. He has completed advanced training in revision bariatric surgery and metabolic surgery for type 2 diabetes management.

Dr. Dener's primary procedural expertise is laparoscopic bariatric surgery. His most frequently performed procedure is sleeve gastrectomy — a restrictive operation that reduces stomach volume by approximately 80% and is generally the first-choice operation for most bariatric patients. He also performs Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and mini gastric bypass (one-anastomosis gastric bypass), which combine restriction with a degree of malabsorption and are particularly effective for patients with type 2 diabetes.

For patients who have had prior bariatric procedures that have failed or caused complications, Dr. Dener performs revision bariatric surgery — converting gastric bands to sleeves, converting sleeves to bypass, or revising staple lines. Revision surgery requires advanced laparoscopic skill and comprehensive preoperative assessment. He also evaluates patients for duodenal switch procedures in severe obesity cases. All procedures are performed laparoscopically unless clinical factors require open conversion.

Dr. Dener and Memorial Sisli Hospital have extensive experience managing international bariatric patients. The hospital's International Patients Centre provides end-to-end coordination covering pre-operative online consultation, blood test and imaging review, visa invitation letters, airport transfers, hotel accommodation, and post-discharge remote follow-up with dieticians and psychologists.

Patients from the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Gulf countries represent the largest international patient groups. Dr. Dener conducts pre-operative video consultations in English to review candidacy, discuss procedure options, and answer patient questions. A detailed written pre-operative preparation plan and post-operative dietary guide are provided in English. Follow-up consultations can be conducted via video for patients who have returned home.

Dr. Dener has received recognition from the Turkish Society for Bariatric Surgery (TOBS) for his contributions to establishing bariatric surgery standards in Turkey. He is a faculty instructor at IFSO-endorsed bariatric surgery workshops and has presented clinical outcomes data at IFSO World Congress and European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) meetings.

Memorial Hospital Group has recognised his contribution to building international patient volumes in bariatric surgery and his role in quality improvement for post-operative protocols. He is a mentor for surgical trainees pursuing a subspecialty in bariatric surgery at Memorial Sisli Hospital.