Gastric sleeve surgery Singapore is a common bariatric option for people struggling with severe obesity and related health risks. This article explains costs, Medisave rules, eligibility, outcomes, recovery, and how it compares with less invasive options like ESG and GLP‑1 drugs.
TL;DR
- Expect public subsidised bills around SGD 3,711–9,113 (Ward C median, 2025 MOH SF703S data).
- Private costs start near SGD 15,000 and average SGD 20,000–30,000.
- Medisave can apply to approved bariatric surgery but requires MOH criteria and withdrawal limits.
Costs and financing: how much will gastric sleeves cost in Singapore?
This section gives a clear cost range and financing options for gastric sleeve surgery in Singapore.
Public hospitals show subsidised ranges between SGD 3,711 and SGD 9,113 for typical cases (Ward C median, SF703S 2025 data). Private hospital packages usually start at SGD 15,000 and commonly fall between SGD 20,000 and SGD 30,000. Prices vary by surgeon, hospital class, pre-op tests, and length of stay.
| Setting | Typical cost (SGD) | Notes |
| Public hospital (subsidised) | 3,711–9,113 | Ward C median (MOH SF703S 2025). Subsidies depend on residency and ward class. |
| Private hospital | 15,000–30,000 | Includes surgeon, anaesthesia, implants, and follow-up in many packages. |
| Endoscopic options (ESG) | Typically lower | Day-procedure costs; see ESG overview. |
Medisave rules allow withdrawals for approved obesity surgeries when certain clinical and administrative criteria are met. Check the Ministry of Health (MOH) pages and your hospital’s finance office for exact withdrawal limits and eligibility.
What is gastric sleeve surgery and who qualifies?
Gastric sleeve, or sleeve gastrectomy, removes about 70–80% of the stomach to reduce intake and appetite.
Definition: Sleeve gastrectomy is a laparoscopic operation that creates a narrow stomach sleeve to treat obesity. Common qualification in Singapore follows BMI and comorbidity criteria. Typical candidates include adults with BMI ≥ 37.5, or BMI ≥ 32.5 with significant metabolic disease for Asian-specific guidelines. Pre-operative assessment includes dietician review, medical optimization, and psychology screening.
Recovery timeline and risks
Recovery usually takes 2–6 weeks with most patients back to light work in 2–4 weeks.
Early recovery focuses on pain control, wound care, and a staged diet. Common risks include leak, bleeding, infection, and nutritional deficiencies. Long-term follow-up ensures vitamin replacement and monitoring for reflux. *Most patients achieve rapid early weight loss but need lifelong follow-up.*
Providers, hospitals and outcomes in Singapore
Top centres combine experienced surgeons, multidisciplinary teams, and structured follow-up.
- Singapore General Hospital (SGH) — high surgical volume and multidisciplinary obesity services. See SGH obesity services.
- Gleneagles Hospital — known for coordinated private care and specialist teams.
- Specialist bariatric clinics — offer private packages, revision surgeries, and short waits.
Outcomes: many centres report 60% excess weight loss at six months and up to 77% at 12 months. Long-term studies show ~20–25% total body weight loss at 5 years.
Comparison: gastric sleeve vs ESG vs GLP‑1 medications
Quick comparison to help weigh invasiveness, recovery, cost, and weight loss.
- Gastric sleeve: surgical, higher initial cost, sustained weight loss (60–77% EWL), longer recovery.
- ESG (endoscopic sleeve gastroscopy): endoscopic, lower cost, shorter recovery (2–7 days), weight loss ~40–50% EWL; see ESG details.
- GLP‑1 drugs: non-surgical injections, ongoing medication cost, variable long-term maintenance, less predictable surgical-level weight loss for very high BMI.
Summary
Gastric sleeve surgery in Singapore offers robust weight loss for qualifying patients. Public options provide lower subsidised bills while private care gives faster access and packageized services. *Medisave may help when MOH criteria are met.* Speak to an accredited bariatric centre early. For minimally invasive alternatives, review ESG details at the PanAsia Surgery Group link above to compare recovery and cost.
How to choose a surgeon and hospital
Choose teams with track records, multidisciplinary follow-up, and transparent pricing.
Look for board-certified bariatric surgeons, published outcomes, and clear post-op programs with dietitians and psychologists. Ask hospitals about bundled packages and what is excluded from quotes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does gastric sleeve surgery cost in Singapore?
Typical ranges are SGD 3,711–9,113 in subsidised public wards and SGD 15,000–30,000 privately depending on scope and hospital.
Can I use Medisave for gastric sleeve?
Yes, Medisave can cover approved bariatric surgery when criteria are met; confirm limits with MOH and your hospital finance team.
How long until I recover and see weight loss?
Most return to light work in 2–4 weeks; significant weight loss appears within 3–12 months with structured follow-up.
Is gastric sleeve safer than other bariatric options?
It is well-studied and effective but carries surgical risks; less invasive options like ESG reduce surgical risk but give smaller weight loss.
