Surgery in Türkiye: the 10 things to check first
Planning surgery in Türkiye? The 10 checks UK patients should make first – clinic, surgeon, contract, payment, flights, aftercare, complications and records.
Thinking about an operation in Antalya or elsewhere in Türkiye? This page is a short overview: the ten things UK patients should check first, each with a practical answer and a link to a detailed guide on this site. Most risks of surgery abroad depend far more on the specific clinic, surgeon, procedure, your own health and the aftercare than on the country itself. If you want the bigger picture first, read Is surgery in Türkiye safe? and How good is Turkish healthcare?. None of this replaces advice from your own GP or surgeon.
1. Do I really need this operation – and what can it realistically achieve?
Start with the why, not the price. Be clear about what bothers you, what you hope will change and what the operation can and cannot do – a good surgeon will tell you honestly if your expectations are unrealistic, or if surgery is not the right answer for you. Talk your plans through with your GP first, especially if you have a health condition, take regular medication, smoke or have a high BMI, as these can raise the risk of complications. GOV.UK also advises discussing plans with your UK doctor before booking treatment abroad. If the main reason for choosing Türkiye is the price, read why surgery is cheaper in Türkiye so you understand what you are – and are not – saving on.
2. Is the clinic authorised to treat international patients?
Ask for proof before you pay anything. Under Türkiye’s International Health Tourism and Tourist Health Regulation, published in April 2025, health facilities and facilitators working with international patients must hold a health tourism authorisation certificate (yetki belgesi). The Ministry of Health lists approved providers on the HealthTürkiye website, and GOV.UK points patients to that list. Check that the business name on the certificate matches the one on your contract and invoice. For major surgery, also ask which hospital you will be operated in and whether it has an intensive care unit. Full checklist: How to choose a reputable clinic in Türkiye.
3. Who will actually operate – and are they a specialist?
Ask for the full name and specialism of your surgeon in writing. The specialism should match your procedure: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery for most cosmetic operations, general surgery for obesity surgery, ophthalmology for lens replacement. Ask who does each step of the operation and who gives the anaesthetic. A UK specialist register will not list a surgeon who practises only in Türkiye, so ask for proof of their Turkish specialist training. More detail, including what titles such as “Op. Dr.” mean: How to check a surgeon in Türkiye.
4. Have I spoken to the surgeon and given myself time to think?
You should have at least one real consultation with the surgeon who will operate – not only with a sales coordinator. The NHS recommends two consultations with the surgeon, which also gives you a cooling-off period (normally two weeks in the UK). BAPRAS advises asking for at least one consultation with the person who will actually carry out the procedure, and checking that you can discuss it in a language you understand. Use the time to ask about risks, recovery and what happens if you are not happy. Pressure to book “today” or a discount that expires tomorrow is a red flag.
Tip: Write your questions down before the video call and ask the surgeon to send the key answers – procedure, risks, recovery plan – in writing afterwards.
5. What is in writing – the contract, deposit and cancellation?
Do not pay a deposit until you have the terms in writing. The contract or written offer should name the clinic, the surgeon and the procedure, give a full price breakdown, and say what is included: hospital nights, tests, anaesthesia, medication, compression garments, hotel, transfers and follow-up. It should also state what happens to your deposit if you cancel, if the clinic cancels, or if pre-operative tests show you cannot have surgery. Under Turkish law a deposit is not automatically lost. Read: The treatment contract with a Turkish clinic and Deposit refund and cancellation of a clinic package.
6. Who am I paying – the clinic or an agent?
Find out exactly who receives your money and who issues the invoice. That decides who you can claim against if something goes wrong, and can affect card protection such as Section 75. Agents (facilitators) also need a health tourism authorisation certificate, and under the 2025 regulation hotels, transport and transfers have to be arranged through licensed travel agencies. A good agent names the clinic and surgeon up front and puts everything in writing. Pros, cons and red flags: Agent or clinic direct?.
7. How long do I stay, and when can I fly home?
Plan the trip around your recovery, not the other way round. BAPRAS and the NHS advise waiting 5 to 7 days before flying after breast surgery or liposuction, and 7 to 10 days after facial surgery or a tummy tuck; larger or combined operations may need longer. Surgery and flying both raise the risk of blood clots, which can be life-threatening. Book a flexible return ticket and let your surgeon confirm the date after your final check. Details: Flying after cosmetic surgery and Blood clots after surgery and flying.
Tip: Avoid turning the trip into a beach holiday. The NHS advises rest after surgery and avoiding sun, swimming, alcohol and sightseeing.
8. How does aftercare work – in Antalya and back home?
Ask for the aftercare plan in writing before you book. BAPRAS notes that most overseas clinics provide only limited or no aftercare once you are back in the UK. Agree who checks your wounds before you fly, who you contact at home (ideally a named person, with a phone number answered out of hours), whether video follow-ups are included, and who pays if you need to return. Tell your GP about the operation once you are home. Full guide: Aftercare after surgery in Türkiye.
9. What happens if there are complications?
Ask this before you book, not after. Under the 2025 regulation, health facilities must take out complication insurance for surgical procedures performed on international health tourists in an operating room – ask what the policy covers, for how long and how you would claim. Standard travel insurance usually does not cover planned surgery or its complications. At home, the NHS treats emergencies, but BAPRAS warns that NHS trusts will usually refuse treatment for less serious complications of cosmetic surgery, and you may be charged as a private patient. Read: Will the NHS help with complications? and Complication or revision – what is the difference?.
10. Which documents do I take home?
Do not leave Türkiye without your medical records. At a minimum, ask for a discharge summary, the operation report, your medication list, implant details (brand, type, size and serial numbers) if you had implants, and direct contact details for your surgeon or the aftercare team. Ideally get them in English. These papers help your GP, a UK surgeon or A&E understand what was done – and they matter if you later need to make a claim. If the clinic does not provide them, you have a right to request them: How to get your medical records from Türkiye.
Your printable checklist
| # | Check | Done? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I know why I want surgery, my expectations are realistic, and I have spoken to my GP | ☐ |
| 2 | The clinic’s health tourism authorisation certificate is checked and the name matches my contract | ☐ |
| 3 | I have the operating surgeon’s name and specialism in writing, and know the hospital | ☐ |
| 4 | I have had a consultation with that surgeon and taken time to think | ☐ |
| 5 | Price, inclusions, deposit and cancellation terms are in writing | ☐ |
| 6 | I know who I am paying and who issues the invoice | ☐ |
| 7 | My stay is long enough for my procedure and my return flight is flexible | ☐ |
| 8 | The aftercare plan, including at home, is in writing with a named contact | ☐ |
| 9 | I know what the complication insurance covers and have checked my travel insurance | ☐ |
| 10 | I will bring home the discharge summary, operation report, medication list and implant details | ☐ |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the single most important check before surgery in Türkiye?
There is no single check, but knowing the name and specialism of the surgeon who will operate – and speaking to them before you book – rules out many of the worst situations.
How do I know whether a clinic is authorised for health tourism?
Ask for its health tourism authorisation certificate and check the business name matches the one on your contract and invoice. The Turkish Ministry of Health lists approved providers on the HealthTürkiye website.
Do I have to meet the surgeon in person before travelling?
Not necessarily in person, but you should have a proper consultation – usually by video – with the surgeon who will operate, not only with a sales coordinator or translator.
How long should I stay in Antalya after surgery?
UK guidance from BAPRAS and the NHS suggests waiting 5 to 7 days before flying after breast surgery or liposuction, and 7 to 10 days after facial surgery or a tummy tuck. Your surgeon sets the final date after your last check.
Will my travel insurance cover complications?
Usually not. Standard holiday insurance rarely covers planned surgery or its complications. Ask the clinic about its complication insurance and check what it covers in writing.
Will the NHS treat me if something goes wrong at home?
The NHS treats emergencies. For less serious complications of cosmetic surgery, BAPRAS warns that NHS trusts will usually refuse treatment, so agree your aftercare with the clinic before you travel.
Is it safer to book through an agent or directly with the clinic?
Either can work. What matters is that you know the clinic and surgeon by name, that the facilitator is authorised and that you know who you pay and who issues the invoice.
Which documents should I bring home?
At least a discharge summary, the operation report, a medication list, implant details if relevant, and a direct contact for your surgeon or the clinic's aftercare team.
Questions about treatment in Türkiye?
Would you like personal advice before or after treatment in Türkiye – for example about the process, choosing a clinic, your contract, aftercare or your rights? Message us on WhatsApp or call.
Note: this number belongs to Av. Yakup Oral Kulaksız, who writes the legal content on this website; he is also active in the health tourism sector himself. Contacting us is without obligation. Only send medical documents if you wish to. In a medical emergency, call 999 (UK) or 112.