If you’re in Canada and comparing treatment options in Istanbul, this page sets out what Canadian travellers need to check, how a typical trip works and how aftercare continues with your family doctor once you’re home.
AVAN AESTH is a patient coordination service in Istanbul. We are not a clinic or hospital and we do not provide medical care. We work only with licensed healthcare providers; they make all medical decisions, and we organize your trip around their written plan.
Passport, visa and coverage
- Passport: travel.gc.ca says a regular Canadian passport must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you enter Türkiye, and that you may be denied entry if there isn’t enough space for entry and exit stamps.
- Visa: travel.gc.ca lists “Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period” but “Medical visa: required”, and advises that if you are travelling to Türkiye to seek medical services, you apply for a medical visa through the HealthTürkiye online portal. Check the current Government of Canada page before booking. We can explain the steps in your plan, but we don’t issue visas or give immigration advice.
- Provincial coverage and insurance: the Government of Canada warns that your provincial or territorial health plan may not cover expenses if you develop complications, and that most travel insurance won’t cover planned medical procedures abroad.
- Medication: travel.gc.ca says you’re responsible for checking that your medicines are legal before you leave, and recommends carrying a doctor’s note explaining why you take them.
- Before you go: travel.gc.ca recommends discussing your plans with your primary healthcare provider in Canada and getting a written agreement that details the proposed treatment. Your written plan from the treating team is that document; ask any questions before you approve it.
Official sources (checked October 7, 2026):
Your trip, step by step
- Send photos (or recent dental X-rays) and your medical history through WhatsApp; the form is only for us to contact you.
- A licensed provider reviews them and, where appropriate, prepares a written plan: treatment, dates and what’s included.
- Book flights once you’ve approved the plan. You’ll land at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW).
- In Istanbul: consultation and examination, treatment and check-ups, with an English-speaking coordinator at your appointments.
- Travel home when the treating team confirms you’re fit to fly.
Typical length of stay (exact dates are in your plan):
- Hair transplant: about three days.
- Veneers or crowns: about 5–7 days; dental implants usually take two trips, 3–6 months apart.
- Plastic surgery: about 7–10 days for most procedures, about 5–7 days for liposuction or breast surgery.
Hair transplant, dental and plastic surgery packages include hotel accommodation, airport welcome, VIP transfers, interpreter support and prescribed medication; your dates and length of stay are set in your written plan. See our Hair transplant, dental treatment and Plastic surgery pages.
Aftercare with your family doctor
- Bring home your treatment report, aftercare instructions and, for dental work, X-rays and material details for your family doctor or dentist.
- The Government of Canada advises telling any health care provider you see for at least 12 months after you return that you’ve had medical treatment outside Canada.
- AVAN AESTH provides two years of follow-up after you return: you send photos when the treating team asks, and we relay your questions and their answers.
- If you notice fever, increasing pain, swelling in one leg or shortness of breath, get urgent care in Canada right away and let us know afterwards.
Time difference and contact
Türkiye stays on UTC+3 all year. Istanbul is 7 hours ahead of Toronto and Montréal in summer and 8 hours ahead in winter, and 10–11 hours ahead of Vancouver. Our call centre is available 24/7 by phone and WhatsApp at +90 554 228 20 26, with office hours from 08:00 to 19:00 Istanbul time every day.
Payment
We don’t take advance payments. You pay AVAN AESTH in Istanbul on the day of your treatment, in cash or by credit or debit card; the healthcare provider doesn’t ask you for a separate payment. Costs are confirmed in writing in your personal plan.
When we say “no”
If the doctor’s assessment shows that a hair transplant won’t give the result you’re hoping for, we tell you so clearly. We don’t coordinate any dental treatment for patients with diabetes (implants, crowns, veneers, whitening or any other), or cosmetic surgery for patients with heart disease or diabetes; instead we refer them to a fully equipped hospital. Risky corrections and procedures that would give an insufficient result are also declined.
Send us your photos on WhatsApp and we’ll share the treating team’s honest assessment; the form is only for us to contact you.
Questions Canadian patients ask
Do Canadians need a medical visa for treatment in Türkiye?
The Government of Canada lists a medical visa as required and advises applying through the HealthTürkiye online portal if you’re travelling to seek medical services; tourist stays of up to 90 days in 180 don’t need a visa. Check travel.gc.ca before booking. We don’t give immigration advice.
Will my provincial health plan cover complications?
It may not. The Government of Canada says provincial and territorial plans may not cover expenses if you develop complications, and most travel insurance won’t cover planned procedures abroad.
How long must my passport be valid?
travel.gc.ca says at least 150 days from the date you enter Türkiye, with enough space for entry and exit stamps.
What should I tell my family doctor?
Discuss your plans before you go, and afterwards tell any health care provider you see for at least 12 months that you were treated outside Canada. Bring your treatment report to appointments.
What does follow-up look like once I’m home?
Two years of follow-up through AVAN AESTH: photo check-ins at the times the treating team recommends, with your questions relayed in English. Urgent problems should be seen in Canada first.
Do I pay before travelling?
No. Payment is made to AVAN AESTH in Istanbul on treatment day, in cash or by credit or debit card.
Is AVAN AESTH the clinic that treats me?
No. We’re a coordination service; licensed healthcare providers examine, diagnose and treat you.
Plan your consultation
Tell us which treatment you are considering and your preferred contact time. We will help you understand what information is needed for an initial assessment.