Medically reviewed by the Milano Clinic medical team · Last updated:
This guide helps you prepare and does not replace medical advice. Updated: November 2026.
Every year many people from the UK, Ireland, the US and the rest of the world travel to Istanbul for a hair transplant or cosmetic surgery. Whether the trip goes well depends less on the price and more on the preparation. This checklist sums up what to check before you book, what to get in writing and what to arrange for when you are back home.
1. Who operates, and where?
- Ask in writing who will perform your procedure and what their specialist qualification is. In Turkey the specialist title for plastic surgeons is «Plastik, Rekonstrüktif ve Estetik Cerrahi Uzmanı» (specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery).
- Check whether the operation takes place in a hospital and how many nights you will stay there.
- Ask whether the facility holds the Turkish Ministry of Health authorisation for international patients (Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi Yetki Belgesi).
2. Hair transplant: the specific questions
- How many grafts are planned for your case, and how is your donor area assessed?
- Which technique is proposed (FUE, DHI or sapphire FUE), and why does it suit you?
- Who actually performs the extraction and the implantation, and who designs your new hairline?
- What is included after the procedure: first wash, dressings, products, remote check-ups?
- Be wary of graft numbers promised before anyone has seen photos of your donor area.
3. The online consultation before you book
- Serious preparation starts with photos and questions about your health, medication and previous operations.
- Be honest about your expectations and ask what is realistic, including when a procedure is not right for you.
- Combining several procedures should have a medical reason, not only a commercial one.
4. The written quote
Get the final price confirmed in writing and check what is included:
- Surgery and anaesthesia
- Hospital nights (for cosmetic surgery)
- Pre-operative tests and blood work
- Compression garments
- Transfers between airport, hotel and hospital or clinic
- Check-ups in Istanbul and aftercare once you are home
- What is not included, for example flights and hotel
5. Length of stay and your flight home
- Ask how many days you need to stay in Istanbul in total and from when flying home is medically fine.
- Plan some buffer instead of booking your return flight right after the operation.
- Check that an English-speaking interpreter or coordinator is with you during the consultation, the hospital stay and the check-ups.
6. Insurance and costs if something needs follow-up
- UK: the NHS does not pay for purely cosmetic procedures, at home or abroad, and your GHIC or EHIC card is not valid in Turkey.
- US: health insurance plans generally do not cover elective cosmetic surgery; ask your insurer what applies to follow-up care after a procedure abroad.
- Standard travel insurance usually excludes planned medical treatment. A specialist medical travel or cosmetic surgery policy can help; read the exclusions carefully.
7. Aftercare at home
- Before you leave, ask for a medical report in English (procedure, medication, recommendations).
- Ask who you can contact once you are home and how quickly you will get an answer.
- Let your GP or family doctor know in advance in case you need stitches removed or a local check-up.
8. Warning signs
- Time pressure (“offer valid today only”, “last available date”)
- No written quote, or unclear extra costs
- No questions about your health before booking
- It is unclear where and by whom you will be operated on
- Many procedures at once, without a medical reason
9. Travel documents
- A passport valid for your trip (check the current Turkish entry rules for your nationality)
- List of your medication and allergies
- Test results and reports from previous operations
- Your written quote and the contact details of your coordinator
How it works at Milano Clinic in Istanbul
At Milano Clinic every treatment starts with a free online consultation based on your photos. The final price is then confirmed in writing. Transfers, the hospital stay, pre-operative tests, compression garments and WhatsApp aftercare are included; hotel and flights are not. English-speaking interpreters are with you throughout your stay.
Some starting prices: FUE or DHI hair transplant from €1,600, liposuction from €1,700, rhinoplasty from €2,250, breast augmentation with implants from €2,900, facelift from €3,000. You will find all prices on our price list, and the details on our pages about hair transplant, liposuction, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation and facelift in Turkey.
Free online consultation on WhatsApp
Frequently asked questions
Will the NHS pay for a hair transplant or cosmetic surgery in Turkey?
No. Purely cosmetic procedures are not covered, at home or abroad. Before you book, also check with your insurer what applies to follow-up care.
How long do I need to stay in Istanbul?
It depends on the procedure. Before you book, ask how long you should stay and from when flying home is medically fine.
How can I recognise a serious offer?
By a medical consultation before booking, a written final price with a list of what is included, and a named contact for your aftercare once you are home.