Traveling from the United States for treatment in Istanbul takes more planning than a vacation: longer trips, a big time difference and aftercare that continues once you’re home. This guide covers what American patients usually ask us before they decide.
AVAN AESTH is a patient coordination company in Istanbul. We’re not a clinic or hospital and we don’t provide medical care. We work only with licensed healthcare providers, who make all medical decisions; we organize the trip around their written plan.
Passport, entry and insurance
- Passport: the U.S. Department of State says your passport must have six months’ validity beyond your arrival date and at least one blank page, and that you can be denied entry if there isn’t enough space for entry and exit stamps.
- Visa: the State Department says no visa is required for stays of 90 days or less on a tourist passport, but that “you must have a proper ‘medical’ visa for some medical procedures.” Check the current State Department page for Türkiye before you book. We can walk you through your plan, but we don’t issue visas or give immigration advice.
- Insurance: the State Department notes that most hospitals and doctors abroad don’t accept U.S. health insurance and strongly recommends supplemental insurance that covers medical evacuation. The CDC adds that care for complications after you return may not be covered by your health plan.
- Medications: the State Department advises carrying a prescription and a letter from your doctor, keeping medicines in their original packaging, and warns that opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines and ADHD stimulants carry a high risk of arrest. Check before you pack anything in those groups.
- Talk to your doctor: “Before you travel for medical reasons, talk to your doctor,” the State Department says.
Official sources (checked October 7, 2026):
What your trip looks like, start to finish
- Send photos (or recent dental X-rays) and your medical history via WhatsApp; the form is only for us to contact you.
- A licensed provider reviews them and, if appropriate, prepares a written plan with the treatment, dates and what’s included.
- Book your flights only after you approve the plan. You’ll arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW).
- In Istanbul: consultation and exam, treatment, then check-ups. An English-speaking coordinator joins you at appointments.
- Fly home once the treating team confirms you’re fit to travel.
How long to plan for in Istanbul (your plan sets the exact dates):
- Hair transplant: about three days.
- Veneers or crowns: about 5–7 days. Dental implants: usually two trips, 3–6 months apart.
- Plastic surgery: about 7–10 days for most procedures; liposuction or breast surgery about 5–7 days.
Because of the long trip home, ask the treating team when it’s safe to fly; the CDC advises delaying air travel after major surgery to minimize risks. Hair transplant, dental and plastic surgery packages include hotel, airport pickup, VIP transfers, interpreter support and prescribed medication; your dates and length of stay are set in your written plan. Details: Hair transplant, dental treatment, Plastic surgery.
Aftercare with your doctor back home
- Take your written treatment report, aftercare instructions and, for dental work, X-rays and material details to your own doctor or dentist.
- You get two years of follow-up through AVAN AESTH after you return: send photos at the times your treating team recommends, and we’ll pass along your questions and the answers.
- Warning signs such as fever, worsening pain, swelling in one leg or shortness of breath need urgent care where you are—don’t wait for a reply from Istanbul.
Time difference and staying in touch
Türkiye doesn’t change its clocks. Istanbul is 7 hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast during daylight saving time and 8 hours ahead in winter (10 and 11 hours ahead of the West Coast). Our call center answers 24/7 by phone and WhatsApp: +90 554 228 20 26, so you can call after work in the U.S. Office hours: 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Istanbul time, daily.
Payment
No deposits or 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 charge you separately. Costs are set out in writing in your personal plan.
When we say “no”
We’d rather tell you no than sell you something that won’t work. If the doctor’s assessment shows a hair transplant can’t deliver the result you expect, we say so. 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; we refer them to a fully equipped hospital. We also turn down risky corrections and procedures that would give a poor result.
Send photos on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you honestly what the treating team thinks; the form is only for us to contact you.
FAQs for patients from the United States
Do U.S. citizens need a visa for medical treatment in Türkiye?
The State Department says no visa is needed for 90 days or less on a tourist passport, but that a proper medical visa is required for some medical procedures. Check its current Türkiye page before booking; we don’t give immigration advice.
Will my U.S. health insurance cover treatment in Istanbul?
Usually not. The State Department notes that most hospitals and doctors abroad don’t accept U.S. health insurance, and it recommends supplemental insurance that covers medical evacuation.
How long should I stay before flying back to the U.S.?
It depends on the treatment: about three days for a hair transplant, 5–7 days for veneers or crowns, and 7–10 days for most plastic surgery. The treating team confirms when you’re fit to fly.
Can I bring my prescription medications?
Yes, with care. Carry a prescription and a letter from your doctor and keep medicines in their original packaging. Opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines and ADHD stimulants carry a high risk of arrest in Türkiye, according to the State Department.
Who handles follow-up after I get home?
You have two years of follow-up through AVAN AESTH. Your own doctor sees you in person; we connect you with the treating team in Istanbul for questions and photo check-ins.
Do I have to pay a deposit?
No. You pay AVAN AESTH in Istanbul on treatment day, in cash or by credit or debit card.
Is AVAN AESTH a hospital or clinic?
No. We coordinate your care with licensed healthcare providers in Istanbul; they examine, diagnose and treat.
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.