Why Turkey?
Why Turkey has become a leading choice for treatment abroad
Experienced specialists, internationally accredited hospitals and transparent all-inclusive packages, a short flight from the UK and Europe.
1.8 million+
health tourists in 2023
USHAŞ, Turkish Ministry of Health affiliate
40+
internationally accredited facilities
Turkish Directorate of Communications
≈ 4 h
direct flight from London
about 3 hours from Stuttgart or Frankfurt
90 days
visa-free for British tourists
per 180 days (see the visa note below)
Six reasons patients choose Turkey
And the questions that tell a good provider apart from the rest.
Experienced specialists
High patient numbers mean many surgeons perform the same operations every week. Ask how often your surgeon does your procedure.
Accredited hospitals
Istanbul has a large number of modern private hospitals, many with international accreditation such as JCI and full intensive-care backup.
Transparent, all-inclusive packages
Lower operating and living costs, not lower standards, shape prices in Turkey. Packages usually include the hotel, transfers and support.
Everything organised for you
One coordinator arranges hospital, hotel, transfers and appointments, so you can focus on your recovery.
A short flight away
Direct flights from most UK and European cities, often several a day, make it easy to plan your stay.
A city worth recovering in
Istanbul combines comfortable hotels, Turkish hospitality and history, once your surgeon says you are ready for short walks.
Why do prices differ, and what is included?
Treatment prices in Turkey differ from those in the UK or Western Europe mainly because of lower operating costs (staff, rent and hospital running costs) and exchange rates, not because of cheaper materials or shorter safety checks.
Be careful with prices that seem far below the market. A reputable provider gives you a written, itemised quote before you travel, so the price you agree is the price you pay.
Getting to Istanbul
Istanbul has two international airports with direct connections to most European cities.
- London → Istanbul≈ 4 h
- Manchester → Istanbul≈ 4 h
- Stuttgart / Frankfurt → Istanbul≈ 3 h
- Paris → Istanbul≈ 3.5 h
- Amsterdam → Istanbul≈ 3.5 h
Approximate direct flight times.
What to consider before you travel
Treatment abroad is a big decision. These are the points official travel-health advice asks you to think about, and how we handle them.
Talk to your doctor at home
Discuss your plans with your GP or dentist before you book, especially if you have a medical condition.
Check the provider and the surgeon
Choose a provider licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health and know the name and qualifications of your surgeon.
Get everything in writing
Your treatment plan and all costs, including aftercare and any extra nights, should be agreed in writing.
Allow time before flying
Flying soon after surgery increases the risk of blood clots. Your surgeon should check you before you fly home.
Have the right insurance
The EHIC and GHIC are not valid in Turkey. Make sure you have travel insurance that suits your trip.
Plan your aftercare
Know who to contact once you are home. Follow-up care for surgery abroad may not be covered by the NHS.
The MAYCLINIK Standard
Four commitments that cover your care from the first video call to long after you fly home.
MAYContour
Before surgery
Surgeons are not interchangeable. Each of ours performs certain operations far more often than others, so you are matched to the one whose routine work is your operation. You meet on video before you travel, and the plan is agreed there, not on arrival.
MAYContourMAYCare+
In Istanbul
From the moment you land to the moment you fly home, one team is responsible for you: airport transfers, your hotel stay, hospital admission, a doctor and nurse who visit you at the hotel, and a check on how you are every day, in your own language.
MAYCare+MAYCheck
Back home
The hardest part of recovery happens after you get home. For twelve months your aftercare nurse stays with you, reviewing how you are healing, telling you what is normal and what is not, and answering questions through our London and Stuttgart offices.
MAYCheckMAYCover
If anything changes
Healing is not always a straight line, and a final result can take up to a year to settle. MAYCover is how we handle it, with your surgeon, if something does need revisiting. Ask your coordinator what it covers, before you book, rather than after.
MAYCover
Treatment in Turkey: frequently asked questions
It can be, if you choose a provider licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health, a named and qualified surgeon and an accredited hospital, allow enough time before flying and follow your aftercare plan. Like any surgery, it carries risks wherever it is performed.
Mainly because of lower operating costs and exchange rates, not lower standards. A reputable provider gives you a written, all-inclusive quote before you travel.
British citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism. The UK government advises checking the visa rules for medical travel, so confirm the current requirements for your nationality before you book.
It depends on the treatment: from a few days for dental or hair treatment to around a week for body surgery such as a tummy tuck. Your surgeon decides when you are fit to fly.
MAYCLINIK patients are followed by an aftercare nurse for twelve months through our London and Stuttgart offices, and your surgeon is involved in any review.
Contact
Get Consultation
Fill the form and we’ll get back to you within 5 minutes
Get Consultation
Fill the form and we’ll get back to you within 5 minutes
