Undergoing cosmetic surgery is a significant step that requires thorough consideration. Especially when opting for a procedure abroad, such as in Turkey, there are several crucial aspects you must take into account. Turkey is known for its highly skilled surgeons and modern clinics, but as with any medical procedure, preparation and careful consideration are essential.
Checklist for cosmetic surgery in Turkey
Just as in any field, complications can also occur in cosmetic surgeries. Clinics and surgeons often share only successful operations that make for good publicity on social media, rather than discussing their mistakes or unsuccessful outcomes. Such posts can be misleading. You must prepare thoroughly before the operation and consider all possibilities. We have compiled the 10 essential points you need to pay attention to before undergoing cosmetic surgery in Turkey.
- The importance of legal insurance
- Thorough research
- Verify the clinic’s qualifications and service quality
- Choose the right surgeon
- Understand the Risks
- Costs and Financing
- Aftercare and Recovery Time
- Legal Aspects and Insurance
- Language and Communication
- References and Recommendations
- Your Expectations and Goals
1. The importance of legal insurance
Before undergoing aesthetic surgery in Turkey, make sure to get legal insurance. Especially if you live in Germany or Europe, you can get health insurance for just €100.00-150.00, which can save you thousands of euros.
Make sure to find out what your health insurance covers and which countries it includes. Our experience shows that health insurance obtained in Germany covers compensation claims in case of a doctor’s mistake in Turkey. This legal insurance will be your most important ally both mentally and financially before the surgery.
Be aware that once you get legal insurance, there might be a waiting period of 3-6 months for it to become effective. So if you get the insurance today and have the surgery tomorrow, the insurance might not be valid. Get information on this from your insurance provider. Additionally, this insurance covers the cost of any legal advice you receive from us.
2. Thorough research
Before choosing a clinic or surgeon, conduct thorough research. Read reviews, and testimonials, and look for before-and-after pictures of patients. However, do not rely solely on Google reviews, as these are not always verified and authentic. It is important to consult additional sources such as specialized forums, medical review sites, and personal recommendations. Ensure that the clinic has a good reputation and that the doctors are qualified and experienced.
3. Verify the clinic’s qualifications and service quality
Your clinic must hold the appropriate qualifications and certifications.
Nowadays, since we often find and choose places for our surgeries via social media, you can look at the follower lists of clinics or the comments on their posts to find people who have had surgeries there. Contacting these individuals and asking how their surgeries went is one of the most important steps you should take before undergoing surgery. By talking to previous patients, you should learn about the quality of service the clinic provides before, during, and after the surgery, how professional they are, and how attentive they are to hygiene standards.
If you want to know how reliable, professional, or legitimate a cosmetic surgery clinic in Turkey is, you can contact the “Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery” to get information about the clinic you are considering for surgery.
4. Choose the right surgeon
You have looked at the clinic’s reviews and talked to other people who have had surgeries, and now it is time to choose a surgeon.
One of the most crucial aspects of cosmetic surgery is selecting the right surgeon. You must pay close attention to this, both for the surgery itself and to ensure you can leverage your legal rights in case of any complications during or after the procedure.
In Turkey, many surgeons work with renowned and reputable clinics. However, this should not deceive you, as many surgeons operate independently and merely rent operating rooms at these well-known clinics. Therefore, surgeons performing surgeries at a highly recognized, well-equipped, and reputable clinic does not necessarily indicate their high success rate or competence.
The best way to understand the overall success rate and patient satisfaction of a surgeon or clinic is not through internet reviews, but by speaking to patients who have had surgeries at that clinic.
Before the surgery, you must ascertain this information directly from your surgeon. Additionally, you should research how many years the surgeon has been performing surgeries and where they received their education. For more detailed information on this topic, be sure to check out our article “How to choose the right surgeon in Turkey?”
5. Understand the Risks
Before undergoing cosmetic surgery, one of the most crucial aspects to pay utmost attention to is being thoroughly informed by the clinic or surgeon about potential post-operative issues so that you can avail yourself of your legal rights in case of any complications. Unfortunately, many patients are not adequately informed about the surgery and potential complications before traveling to Turkey. Typically, on the day of hospital admission, just a few hours before the surgery, you are provided with this information. This leaves patients with little time to consider the details, risks, and complications of the surgery before making a decision.
Before finalizing any agreement with the clinic and before traveling to Turkey, be sure to request and thoroughly review the documents you need to sign before the surgery.
So, why is it so important for you to receive these documents before going to Turkey for your legal rights?
According to Turkish health law, before performing cosmetic surgery, the patient must have read and understood all these documents and been informed about the surgery by the surgeon. Unlike many surgeries where this happens just a few hours before, the patient must receive this information well in advance. The patient needs to have had enough time to consider the surgery, understand all the risks, and accept them.
Doing so will help prevent disappointment in case of any complications post-surgery and will assist you in analyzing your legal rights more comprehensively.
Every surgery carries risks, including cosmetic procedures. Educate yourself about potential complications and side effects. Make sure you have been fully informed about the risks and know how the clinic handles complications.
6. Costs and Financing
Before traveling to Turkey for surgery, you must obtain written approval from the clinic regarding all expenses you need to cover. Discovering unforeseen expenses upon arrival in Turkey can dampen your morale before the surgery. You wouldn’t want to enter surgery with low morale.
After obtaining written approval for expenses, inquire about any additional charges and obtain confirmation. Besides the surgery and clinic expenses, there may be additional costs for vitamins, medications, supplies, and clothing items post-surgery. Obtain detailed information about these as well.
The cost of cosmetic procedures can vary significantly. Understand the entire cost structure, including aftercare and any additional treatments. Also, review financing options and be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
7. Aftercare and Recovery Time
The interest in cosmetic surgeries performed in Turkey is increasing day by day, leading to competition among clinics in terms of pricing and services. Before traveling to Turkey, the clinic you have an agreement with will offer you a hotel for pre-operative and post-operative accommodation.
You should obtain detailed information about the hotel you will stay in. Since you are likely to experience discomfort and limited mobility after the surgery, pay attention to the quality of service provided by this hotel. More importantly, learn from the clinic what the post-operative rest process will be like and find out how many days of hotel rest they provide you with post-surgery, and whether this is sufficient for your recovery and readiness for travel.
Inquire in detail about aftercare and recovery time. Ensure you have enough time and support to recover after the surgery. The quality of aftercare can be crucial to the success of the procedure.
8. Legal Aspects and Insurance
Having considered all the steps mentioned above in sequence, you have found the right surgeon and clinic and decided to go to Turkey. Now, there is an important question on your mind: What if the surgery goes wrong?
As we mentioned earlier, when we examine cosmetic surgery clinics on social media, we always come across successful surgeries and happy individuals. Almost no clinic wants to talk about surgeries that end poorly and risk losing “customers.” However, you must not allow yourself to be deceived and take precautions.
Firstly, you should document all correspondence with the clinic or surgeon. Prepare a file print out all communications, including WhatsApp messages, and create a surgery file. Secondly, avoid making agreements over the phone and address important questions in writing. Ensure that all agreements are in writing. Thirdly, ask the following question to the clinic you have an agreement with and obtain a written answer: If the surgery goes wrong, who will cover the cost of corrective surgery and all associated expenses? This question is crucial for you. Never skip this and be sure to ask it!
Inform yourself about the legal regulations and your rights as a patient in Turkey. Check if your insurance covers any complications or return trips. It is important to be protected in case of an emergency.
9. Language and Communication
Communication is a key factor for a successful treatment. Ensure that you and the medical staff speak a common language or that a qualified translator is available. Misunderstandings can have serious consequences.
It is possible to find staff fluent in English or German at almost all cosmetic surgery clinics in Turkey. Pay close attention to ensuring that all documents sent to you about the surgery or those you need to sign at the clinic are in your native language or at least in a language you understand. Never sign documents you do not understand. Either bring a friend who knows Turkish with you or make sure that your surgeon or the clinic staff speaks your language.
10. References and Recommendations
Ask for references and speak with former patients if possible. Recommendations from trustworthy sources can give you a better picture of the quality and reliability of the clinic and the surgeon.
No matter how much research you do, there is always a possibility of complications with these types of surgeries. It is not possible to eliminate this risk, but it is possible to minimize it.
11. Your Expectations and Goals
Be clear about your expectations and goals. Discuss them openly with your surgeon and ensure that they are realistic. Clear communication of your wishes and needs can significantly contribute to the success of the surgery.
Whether it is gastric sleeve surgery or a hair transplant, think carefully about why you want to undergo this surgery, and do not rush into it. To avoid regret, discuss with your surgeon exactly what you expect from the cosmetic surgery. Will the surgery meet your expectations? Get detailed answers to these questions and analyze them thoroughly.
Cosmetic surgery can positively change your life, but it requires careful planning and preparation. By following these tips, you increase the likelihood that your experience in Turkey will be successful and satisfactory.
You are a valuable person as you are, and you should do this surgery only for yourself, not to make someone else happy. Your health and well-being should always come first.
All the information you read in this article is based on real experiences and reliable sources. If you have any further questions or concerns, you can contact us.
