Gastric Balloon in Trabzon

Trabzon: The Health and Commerce Hub of the Eastern Black Sea

With a population of approximately 0.8 million, Trabzon is one of the provinces where the Eastern Black Sea region's healthcare, education, and commercial activity is concentrated (TÜİK ADNKS 2024). With districts such as Ortahisar and Akçaabat, the city serves as a regional center for both its local population and visitors from neighboring provinces such as Rize, Giresun, and Gümüşhane. With its vibrant port economy, trade, and service sectors, Trabzon is also an active destination for regional medical tourism.

The city's deep-rooted culinary culture, traditional regional eating habits, and the rhythm of life shaped by its rainy climate are among the local factors that influence daily nutrition and physical activity patterns. While the traditional Black Sea cuisine—centered on anchovies, corn bread, and dairy products—is culturally valuable, managing portions and frequency is important for maintaining a healthy weight. The predominantly seated work routines common in the trade and service sectors also point to a sedentary pace of life for many individuals.

Trabzon's role as a regional center also makes healthcare services easier to access for individuals from surrounding provinces. The presence of the Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) faculty of medicine makes the city one of the region's notable provinces in terms of academic medical expertise. This infrastructure provides a solid foundation for evaluating next-generation, non-surgical weight management approaches that do not disrupt daily life in a high-quality manner across the region.

Why Weight Management Matters in Trabzon and the Region

According to the TÜİK Türkiye Health Survey 2022, the obesity rate (BMI ≥ 30) among individuals aged 15 and over in Türkiye was measured at 20.2%. This rate is 23.6% among women and 16.8% among men. This national measurement shows that weight management is a prominent health priority across all of Türkiye, regardless of region.

According to WHO 2022 modeling, which relies on a different methodology, Türkiye has a high obesity prevalence (32.1%) among countries in the European Region. Because TÜİK's measurement-based data and WHO's modeling-based estimate are derived through different methods, the two figures should be read not as interchangeable, but as two separate, complementary sources.

Looking at Trabzon specifically, local factors such as the deep-rooted Black Sea culinary culture, traditional eating habits, the predominantly seated work routines common in the trade and service sectors, and the rainy climate that at times limits outdoor activity can be counted among the qualitative factors affecting weight balance. In this context, weight management is regarded not merely as an aesthetic goal, but as part of a holistic health approach aimed at reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and joint problems.

Obesity Treatment Infrastructure in and Around Trabzon

The Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) faculty of medicine makes Trabzon one of the Eastern Black Sea region's important provinces in terms of academic medical expertise. The university hospital and the city's healthcare institutions offer regional service capacity in endocrinology and metabolic diseases. This academic environment provides a favorable foundation for evidence-based, multidisciplinary weight management practices.

Obesity centers authorized under the regulations of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health are built on a multidisciplinary team standard comprising endocrinology, general surgery, psychiatry, dietitians, and physiotherapists. This holistic approach ensures that weight management is addressed not only through nutrition or physical activity, but together with behavior change and regular follow-up.

The Allurion Smart Capsule program is offered across Türkiye through a network of more than 60 authorized centers. While there is no clinic administering this program in Trabzon itself, the program can be considered an accessible option at specialized clinics in and around Trabzon. For individuals coming from neighboring provinces, regional transportation connections are among the factors that make this access practical.

The Allurion Program Step by Step

Before starting the Allurion Smart Capsule program, a preliminary evaluation consultation is held at an authorized clinic. During this consultation, body mass index (BMI), overall health status, and personal goals are assessed to determine suitability for the program. Eligibility generally applies to individuals aged 18 and over with a BMI typically of 27 or higher; the final eligibility decision is made through a physician's evaluation.

On the day of the procedure, a capsule containing a deflated balloon is swallowed with a glass of water. After the clinical team confirms the capsule's position in the stomach, the balloon is filled to give it volume. The entire procedure is completed in approximately 15 minutes; it requires no anesthesia, endoscopy, or surgery. You can return to your daily routine the same day after the procedure.

The program combines the Allurion Smart Capsule, the smart scale, a mobile app, and 6 months of nutrition and behavior change support. Nutrition, weight, and activity data are tracked through the smart scale and mobile app, and regular follow-up consultations with the expert team are scheduled. The balloon naturally deflates around week 16 and passes out of the body through the digestive system; no separate removal procedure is required.

In clinical studies, an average of 14.9% total body weight loss has been reported with the Allurion program (Ienca et al., Obes Surg 2020, N=1,770, PMID 32279182). Results vary from person to person. The Allurion program received full FDA PMA Class III approval on February 23, 2026 (approval no. P250023); this approval was granted following the completion of comprehensive clinical review processes evaluating effectiveness and safety.

Getting to Trabzon and Planning Your Procedure Day

Trabzon Airport makes the city accessible via direct flight connections from other provinces across Türkiye. Because the Allurion procedure is completed in approximately 15 minutes and involves no anesthesia, traveling from the airport to the clinic and returning home the same day is possible in most cases. Within the city, connections between the central Ortahisar district and districts such as Akçaabat make access easier.

For individuals coming from neighboring provinces such as Rize, Giresun, and Gümüşhane, highway connections make it practical to consider Trabzon as a regional procedure destination. The procedure's structure, which does not disrupt daily life, and the option of same-day return are factors that make the program easier to access for participants from outside the region.

Throughout the program, follow-up can be conducted remotely via the smart scale and mobile app, so there is no requirement for frequent clinic visits. Those who would like to learn more can get in touch with specialized clinics in Trabzon and the surrounding region through the free evaluation form.