Plastic surgery in Istanbul
Plastic surgery includes procedures for the nose, face, breasts and body. Before surgery, the treating surgeon discusses your goals, the available options and your recovery and follow-up plan with you.
≈ 4 h direct flight from London (≈ 10 h from New York) · Airport welcome · VIP transfer · Hotel · Interpreter in your language
Body contouring options
Liposuction, tummy tuck, BBL and six-pack surgery each address a different concern, and none of them is a weight-loss treatment. You can compare what each option addresses, and when it is usually not the first choice, on our Body contouring page.
What your plastic surgery package includes
Your plastic surgery package includes an airport welcome, VIP transfers, hotel accommodation, support from an interpreter who speaks your language, the medicines prescribed by the treating professional and contact after you return home.
- Airport welcome: Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
- VIP transfers between the airport, hotel and healthcare facility
- Hotel accommodation during your treatment days
- An interpreter who speaks your language at the consultation, treatment and check-ups
- Prescribed medication
- Contact and follow-up after treatment, including once you are back home
Your dates and length of stay depend on your treatment plan; confirm them in writing before you book.
How long do you need to stay in Istanbul after plastic surgery?
For most plastic surgery procedures, plan for about 7–10 days in Istanbul: consultation and tests, the surgery day, a possible night in hospital and check-ups before the surgeon approves your flight home. The exact length is in your written plan.
- Day 1 – arrival: airport welcome, transfer, consultation with the surgeon, blood tests and a pre-anaesthetic assessment.
- Day 2 – surgery: the procedure according to your plan. After many procedures you stay one night in hospital.
- Days 3–6 – rest and check-ups: recovery at the hotel and checks of wounds, dressings and any drains.
- Days 7–10 – final check: the surgeon reviews your healing, gives written aftercare advice and assesses when you can fly home.
Comparison: common procedures and length of stay
How long you stay depends on the procedure and on how you heal. The table shows common guide values; your surgeon decides what applies to you.
| Procedure | Typical stay in Istanbul | Keep in mind afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Rhinoplasty | About 7–10 days | The splint and tape are often removed at a check-up; swelling goes down gradually over months |
| Liposuction | About 7–10 days | Compression garment as advised by the surgeon |
| Tummy tuck | About 7–10 days | Avoid heavy lifting; compression garment as advised |
| Breast surgery | About 7–10 days | Support bra and wound care as advised |
| Facelift | About 7–10 days | Check of wounds and swelling before you fly home |
Considering a nose job? You can read more about the procedure and recovery on our Rhinoplasty page.
Checklist: how to choose safely
Don’t let quick replies or tempting offers decide for you. Find out who operates on you, where the surgery takes place and what happens if something unexpected occurs – and get the answers in writing.
- You know who will operate on you and have had a consultation with the surgeon before the day of surgery.
- You know where the surgery takes place and how any complications would be handled locally.
- Blood tests and a pre-anaesthetic assessment are part of the plan.
- You have shared your full medical history, all medicines, any smoking and previous operations.
- The written plan states the procedure, nights in hospital, check-ups, compression garments and the earliest date you may fly.
- You do not combine several procedures just to save a trip; ask the surgeon what is reasonable for your health.
- You know whom to contact after you return home, and you seek emergency care if you have a fever, increasing pain, swelling in one leg or shortness of breath.
When do we say “no” in cosmetic surgery?
- Heart disease and diabetes
These can increase the risks of surgery, anaesthesia and recovery. In these cases we do not take on the coordination; we refer you to a fully equipped hospital where the relevant specialists can assess you directly. - Risky procedures or procedures that would give an insufficient result
If the surgeon believes the risk is not acceptable or that the expected benefit cannot be achieved, surgery is not planned.
Not every applicant is a suitable candidate for cosmetic surgery. Your general health, the medicines you take, smoking, previous operations, the extent of the planned procedure and whether your expectations are realistic are all assessed. At AVAN AESTH we do not support carrying out a procedure that the healthcare professional does not consider suitable. Surgery is not planned simply because a patient wants it: if expectations are not realistic, the risk of surgery or anaesthesia is judged to be high, or the expected benefit is too small, the surgeon may decline the operation.
Updated: 14.10.2026 · Source: NHS – Cosmetic surgery abroad
Patient safety always comes before cosmetic expectations.
Want to know where you stand? Fill in the form or message us on WhatsApp. We will tell you honestly what the surgeon’s assessment shows and what the alternatives are.
If you are travelling from the UK or the US
A direct flight from London Heathrow to Istanbul takes about 4 hours, and from New York JFK about 10 hours. Turkey is 2 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 3 hours ahead in winter, and 7–8 hours ahead of New York.
- Entry: GOV.UK says British citizens can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism, and the US Department of State says no visa is needed for tourist stays of 90 days or less. Both also say that travelling for medical purposes may need a visa: GOV.UK asks anyone entering for medical purposes to check the information on applying for a visa, and the State Department says a proper medical visa is required for some medical procedures. Check the current FCDO entry requirements or the US Department of State page for Türkiye before booking. We do not issue visas or give visa advice; we can help you understand the steps in your plan.
- Insurance: planned treatment abroad is usually not covered by standard travel insurance, so ask your insurer what applies to your trip. The UK GHIC and UK EHIC are not valid in Turkey.
- Follow-up at home: bring your surgical report and aftercare advice, and ask the surgeon what to consider before the flight, for example protection against blood clots.
- Communication: you can ask questions in your own language before, during and after your trip.
Planning from the UK, the US or Canada? Read our guides for UK patients, US patients and Canadian patients.
Interpreter support in your language
From your first contact to follow-up after you return home, you are supported by an interpreter who speaks your language; interpreter support is available in all 15 languages of this website. The interpreter is with you at the examination, on the treatment day and during your stay in Istanbul, so that you can ask your questions and understand the answers in your own language.
More frequently asked questions about plastic surgery
Is plastic surgery in Turkey safe?
It can be, when the operation takes place in a licensed hospital after a proper pre-operative assessment and with a clear aftercare plan. We work with licensed hospitals and surgeons; you receive a written plan, stay in Istanbul for the check-ups after surgery, and we follow up with you for 2 years. Every operation carries risks, which the surgeon explains before you decide; no one can promise a risk-free operation or a specific result. Updated: 14.10.2026 · Source: NHS – Cosmetic surgery abroad
How much time off work should I plan for?
It depends on the procedure, your job and how you heal, and the surgeon will advise you. Plan for your stay in Istanbul plus a recovery period at home, and ask for the recommended time off in writing.
Can I have surgery if I have asthma, diabetes or heart disease?
For patients with heart disease or diabetes we do not take on the coordination; we refer you directly to a fully equipped hospital for assessment. For other chronic conditions such as asthma, suitability is decided by the surgeon and the anaesthetist after an individual assessment; share your full medical history and all medicines in advance.
Can I plan an operation if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Whether and when a procedure can be planned is decided by the treating doctor after an individual assessment. Mention pregnancy, breastfeeding or a planned pregnancy at your very first contact, together with your medical history and all medicines.
How long do I need to wear a compression garment?
The surgeon decides this based on the procedure and your healing. Follow the written aftercare advice and ask at your check-up before you stop wearing the garment.
When will I know the surgeon and the hospital?
We work with many licensed hospitals and surgeons. After you contact us on WhatsApp, the surgeon and hospital are chosen on the basis of the preliminary assessment and stated in your written plan. You meet the surgeon in Istanbul at the examination, and the decision to operate is confirmed after it. No advance payment is taken. Updated: 14.10.2026 · Source: NHS – Cosmetic surgery abroad
Which tests are needed before surgery?
Blood tests and an anaesthetic assessment are usually done before surgery; further tests may be needed depending on your age, medical history and the operation. These pre-operative tests are done in Istanbul and are included in the package. Share your existing results and the medicines you take in advance; the surgeon and the anaesthetist decide which tests are needed. Updated: 14.10.2026 · Source: NHS – Cosmetic surgery abroad
When can I fly after surgery?
You fly home after the surgeon’s check-up. After surgery you stay in Istanbul for 7 days for the check-ups (including the consultation and the day of surgery, the total stay is usually 7–10 days); because flying soon after major surgery can increase the risk of blood clots, the surgeon decides your return date. Book your flight after you have confirmed your plan. Updated: 14.10.2026 · Source: NHS – Cosmetic surgery abroad
Do I need to come back to Istanbul for check-ups?
Usually not. After surgery you stay in Istanbul for 7 days for the check-ups (including the consultation and the day of surgery, the total stay is usually 7–10 days); after that, follow-up continues on WhatsApp for 2 years, and we get in touch with you. If an in-person check-up is needed later, the travel and accommodation costs are your own; if the problem is caused by the procedure, only the fee for the corrective procedure is covered (conditions: “Who pays for any additional costs?”). Updated: 14.10.2026 · Source: AVAN AESTH follow-up terms; NHS – Cosmetic surgery abroad
What is included in the plastic surgery package?
The full package contents are listed under “What your plastic surgery package includes”, and how the 2-year follow-up works is explained in “How does the 2-year follow-up work?” on this page. We do not coordinate plastic surgery for patients with heart disease or diabetes; they are referred to a fully equipped hospital. No advance payment is taken. Updated: 14.10.2026 · Source: AVAN AESTH package and acceptance terms
How does the 2-year follow-up work?
Channel: Follow-up takes place on WhatsApp; you send your photos and questions there. Schedule: AVAN AESTH gets in touch with you. We follow you closely in the first week, then once a month until month 6 and every 3 months until the end of the second year. If you have a question or concern in between, you can write to us at any time. Who you are in contact with: your patient coordinator, who speaks your language. All follow-up messages are checked one by one every day by the founder of AVAN AESTH. Additional costs: for the conditions of a correction when a problem is caused by the procedure, see the question “Who pays for any additional costs?”.
Will I have an interpreter in my own language during treatment?
Yes. An interpreter who speaks your language supports you from your first contact, at the examination, on the treatment day, during your stay in Istanbul and at follow-up after you return home.
Who pays for any additional costs?
For hair transplant, dental and plastic surgery treatments: if a problem that appears within 2 years after your treatment is caused by the procedure itself (by the healthcare facility or the doctor), AVAN AESTH covers only the fee for the corrective procedure (the surgery itself). Flights, hotel, transfers, medication, tests and all other costs for the correction are your own. Whether the problem is caused by the procedure is decided on the basis of the treating doctor’s assessment. You pay all costs in these cases: the rules, aftercare instructions or doctor’s recommendations given to you are not followed; problems that arise after the 2-year period in which the result develops has ended, from reasons on your side, such as aftercare not being continued; other health problems unrelated to the procedure; a request for a new and different procedure.
Planning plastic surgery in Turkey
Choose a consultation around the specific concern: nose shape or breathing, breast volume or position, facial changes, or body contour. Rhinoplasty, breast surgery and body procedures need different assessments and recovery plans. Discuss previous operations, medical history, expectations and alternatives with the treating surgeon.
Ask for the surgeon’s identity, the proposed healthcare facility, anaesthesia arrangements and the follow-up plan before booking. Confirm the required stay and whether an accompanying person is advisable. Combining procedures needs a separate clinical decision. Agree who to contact for unexpected symptoms and how any further treatment would be organised.
AVAN AESTH coordinates treatment journeys in Istanbul through partner healthcare facilities. We are not a hospital or clinic; the treating healthcare professional assesses suitability and makes clinical decisions.
Your package includes hotel accommodation, airport welcome, VIP transfers, interpreter support and the medicines prescribed by the treating professional. Before booking, confirm in writing your dates, how long you need to stay in Istanbul and how follow-up after you return home will work.
Request information →Plan your consultation
Tell us which treatment you are considering, your country and your preferred contact time. We will help you understand what information is needed for an initial assessment.
Before & after
Browse the before-and-after photographs. Results vary between individuals; these images do not predict your outcome. Ask which examples relate to the treatment you are considering.
Planning your treatment
Before booking, discuss your goals, suitability, alternatives and risks with the treating professional. Request a written treatment plan and realistic expectations. The plan should be based on your individual assessment.
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