AESTHETIC MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE IN TURKEY

Updated 11th October 2021

This article is continuously updated.

If you are considering taking an exotic holiday while at the same time altering your appearance for the better, then healthcare in Turkey might be just what you’ve been hoping to find!

Turkey is home to a gorgeous collection of beaches, perfect weather, beautiful historical buildings, intricate mosques and delicious exotic cuisine. Over and above these attractive features, healthcare in Turkey specializes in providing some of the best aesthetic medicine, dentistry and cosmetic surgery, unlike any other place in the world.

An added bonus is that several cosmetic clinics and specialty hospitals in Turkey offer hotel-like facilities and provide customers with a relaxing environment, suitable for facilitating an award-winning vacation! ^[1]

The Cost of Healthcare in Turkey

Healthcare in Turkey is much cheaper than in the US, even when looking at the private sector. You can expect to pay between 30-60% less on any cosmetic procedure, depending on which clinic you choose to attend. JCI accredited clinics are on average more expensive than other private facilities and almost compare with prices from the West. However, many private specialists and clinicians in Turkey will offer similar top expertise at cheaper rates.

For the cost of surgery alone in their home country ^{[2] [3]}tourists are often able to easily afford surgery in Turkey while comfortably getting away with a holiday.

Opting for medical insurance is still recommended for one’s stay in Turkey. This can cover for any emergencies or unexpected medical expenses.

Aesthetic Specialties and Turkish Cosmetic Procedures

As mentioned above, medical tourism in Turkey has a world-class reputation for aesthetic medicine and cosmetic surgery. Here are some of the most sought after cosmetic procedures that people look to Turkey for:

• Hair Transplant
• Face Lift
• Breast Augmentation (Implants, Breast Lifts)
• Liposuction and Laser Liposuction
• Stem Cell Therapy
• Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Augmentation/Surgery)
• Rhinoplasty (Nose Reconstruction)
• Hand Surgery

Private Healthcare in Turkey

The healthcare system in Turkey is divided into the public and the private sector. For foreigners traveling to Turkey, it is best to opt for private healthcare as the public sector may not offer the best standards.

Healthcare Providers in Turkey

A few valued healthcare providers in Turkey include:

Acibadem Healthcare Group

Acıbadem Hospitals Group is comprised of 22 hospitals and 15 outpatient clinics. Patients from around the world visit Acıbadem due to their high-quality services using the most advanced technology worldwide and with an expert team of international quality standards.

Estetik International

Estetik International is a superior aesthetic and beauty center started by renowned surgeon Dr. Bulent Cihantimur. The facility offers cosmetic surgeries such as breast enhancement, fat transfer & hair transplant procedures. 

LIFEMED MEDICAL CENTER

Lifemed Medical Center in Istanbul provides world class healthcare in Turkey.  Expertise include dietetics/ nutrition, cancer/oncology, gastroenterology, ear, nose, and throat, and much more

ENTO Hair Transplant Clinic

ENTO Hair Transplant Clinic is a reputed hair transplantation clinic in Turkey. Their hair transplant doctors are reliable professionals, targeting 100% satisfaction for all patients.

ENTO Medical Center

ENTO Medical Center is located in Turkey. The center has a team of experienced healthcare professionals such as ENT doctors, hair transplant doctors, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons.

Istanbul Aesthetic Center

Istanbul Aesthetic is a Plastic Surgery Center in Istanbul. The facility provides services such as Hair Transplantation, Fillers, Anti-Aging and Regenerative medicine and so on.

Healthcare in Turkey offers some of the most advanced techniques in aesthetic medicine^[4], such as stem cell technology and less invasive liposuction techniques. Many healthcare professionals in Turkey can allow you to walk away looking younger than ever without scarring or other complications!

COVID Travel Restrictions and Requirements for Turkey

Fortunately for those wishing to visit Turkey, the borders are open to most foreigners!

Full vaccination is recommended for tourists as it allows for access to many public facilities, including restaurants, mass social activities and tourist attractions.

Who is allowed to Enter Turkey during the Pandemic?

Turkey has banned entry for anyone traveling from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Brazil or South Africa. Travelers from these areas may still transit Turkey, however they may be required to show a negative covid test result. Furthermore, those who are not traveling directly from these countries yet have visited in the last 14 days will be required to quarantine.

 All other travelers are welcome to visit Turkey, provided they meet the travel requirements (see below).

Turkey Travel Requirements

Those allowed to travel to Turkey need to be either fully vaccinated or have a negative test result from a test taken just before travel (see below). Restrictions do not apply to children under the age of 12.

Visa: A visa is a requirement for all foreigners who wish to enter Turkey, with the exception of 15 visa-exempt countries. Of these countries, foreigners from 6 of them may enter even if they have passports that expired 5 or less years prior to entry.

There are over 30 visas that can be applied for and applications can be made either online or at your local Turkish Consulate/Embassy. More information about Turkish visas can be found here.

Mandatory Medical Insurance: All who require a visa need to have medical insurance that covers the length of their stay.

Entrance Form: All those who wish to enter Turkey need to fill out an electronic Entrance Form, within 72hours of departure. This does not apply to those transiting Turkey for another destination.

Vaccination: Vaccination is not mandatory for entering Turkey, however it is mandatory for accessing many facilities within Turkey as well as traveling to some states. Those that aren’t fully vaccinated will be required to submit a negative covid test result (see testing below).

To be considered fully vaccinated in Turkey, 14 days need to have passed since one received the final dose of a full regimen of any of the approved vaccines. Turkey approves of all WHO-approved vaccines^[5] which include:

• PfizerNBiotech
• Sinovac
• Moderna
• Astrazeneca
• Covishield
• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
• Sinopharm

A full regimen of Sputnik V will also be accepted by Turkish officials, however no other Russian vaccines will be as of yet. 

Turkish nationals will be required to follow the Turkish Ministry of Health’s instructions for vaccination and will be issued a QR code.

Foreign nationals need to have adequate proof of vaccination, such as a digital COVID Vaccination Certificate or valid documentation. Vaccine certificates should state your full name, date of birth, ID or passport number, names of vaccines received, date of vaccination, name of the organization that administered the vaccines as well as the maker of the vaccines.

One is also required to have the following non-COVID vaccines to enter Turkey^[6]:

• MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella)
• TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• Chickenpox
• Shingles
• Pneumonia
• Influenza
• Meningitis

Testing: For the majority of travelers, testing is required if one is not fully vaccinated. One may opt for either a PCR Test or rapid antigen test. PCR tests are required to be taken 72 hours before departure while rapid antigen tests are required 48hours before.^[7]

All arrivals will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and some may be subject to arbitrary PCR testing. If suspected of having covid, further testing is warranted. Confirmed cases will be sent to an institution to quarantine for 14 days. This does not apply to fully vaccinated individuals.

Those arriving from Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, the UK, Singapore, Bangladesh, India or Pakistan are required to submit a negative covid test result 72hours prior to departure, irrespective of vaccination status. This also applies to those who have visited these countries in the last 14 days, as well as travelers who have recently visited Brazil, South Africa, Nepal or Sri Lanka.

Testing is available at Ankara and Istanbul airports and will cost roughly 250 TL (35 USD). A list of facilities that offer testing in Turkey can be found here.

Quarantine: Those who are not traveling directly from Brazil, South Africa, Sri Lanka or Nepal, but who have a recent history of visiting any of these countries will be subject to a quarantine of 14 days. ^[8]

Travelers who visited Bangladesh, India or Pakistan 14 days prior to entering Turkey and who are not fully vaccinated are required to quarantine for 10 days.

Those arriving from Afghanistan are required to quarantine for 10 days, irrespective of vaccination status. Quarantine may be lifted after 7 days if tested negative for COVID-19.

The quarantine needs to be booked in advance of departure at a Turkish government-approved hotel (ask your local Embassy for details). If tested negative, one may leave quarantine after the allocated timeframe. If positive, one will need to extend the quarantine at one’s own expense until testing displays a negative result.

Interstate Travel: Some regions of Turkey may be off limits to travelers, particularly those who aren’t fully vaccinated. Additionally, one may require an HES code to use public transportation in some areas, travel between select cities in Turkey, or to board domestic flights (this is not a requirement for foreign tourists).

Restrictions may vary from area to area in Turkey and may change with little notice. Disobeying restrictions may result in fines of up to 900 TL (102 USD). It is advisable to check with your local Turkish Embassy for up-to-date information before planning your trip.

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