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Breast augmentation: Istanbul or Bangkok for your recovery?
The recovery rules for breast augmentation are the same in both cities, because they come from the same published guidance. What changes is the city around you: the weather, the hills, the crowds and how much there is to do on each day of your stay.
Short answer
On day 3, our Istanbul list has 16 things that fit the rules and our Bangkok list has 12. On day 10, it is 21 in Istanbul and 16 in Bangkok.
Typical stay: 7 to 14 days: most teams want to see you at the first wound check, commonly one to two weeks after surgery
Confirm with your surgeon. These are general activity limits from published aftercare guidance. Your clinic's written instructions always come first, and they may be stricter or looser for your procedure.
At a glance
| Istanbul | Bangkok | |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Hot, sunny summers (often above 28°C in July and August) and cool, wet winters. Spring and autumn are the easiest months for recovery sightseeing. | Hot all year: 30 to 35°C, very humid, with a rainy season from about May to October. |
| Getting around | Use taxis or a ride app door to door in the first days. Trams and the metro are fast but packed at rush hour. Public ferries between Europe and Asia are cheap, seated and calm. | The BTS Skytrain and MRT are air-conditioned and easy. River express boats and ride apps fill the gaps. Avoid long walks in midday heat. |
| Clinic districts | Şişli and Mecidiyeköy, Beşiktaş and Levent, Ataşehir, Sultanahmet and Beyoğlu | Sukhumvit, Silom and Sathorn, Pathum Wan and Siam, Rattanakosin (old town) |
| Emergency number | 112 for ambulance, police and fire. | 1669 for medical emergencies. Tourist Police: 1155. |
Safe things to do, day by day
Activities from our city lists that fit the published limits on each day. Tap a day for the rules and the full plan.
| Day | Istanbul | Bangkok |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 16 safe things | 11 safe things |
| Day 2 | 16 safe things | 12 safe things |
| Day 3 | 16 safe things | 12 safe things |
| Day 4 | 21 safe things | 16 safe things |
| Day 5 | 21 safe things | 16 safe things |
| Day 6 | 21 safe things | 16 safe things |
| Day 7 | 21 safe things | 16 safe things |
| Day 8 | 21 safe things | 16 safe things |
| Day 9 | 21 safe things | 16 safe things |
| Day 10 | 21 safe things | 16 safe things |
What fits, and what to skip
Istanbul
- Day 3: Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Bosphorus sightseeing cruise.
- Day 10: Guided food tour with ferry ride, Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia.
- Skip on day 3: Guided food tour with ferry ride, Turkish hammam.
Bangkok
- Day 3: Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha, Traditional Thai massage, Thai cooking class.
- Day 10: Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Chinatown street food night, Traditional Thai massage.
- Skip on day 3: Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Chinatown street food night.
Checks before you book
Istanbul
- Ask for the clinic's Ministry of Health licence and, for foreign patients, its international health tourism authorisation certificate.
- Ask who will do each step of the procedure and for that doctor's full name, so you can look them up.
- Get the price, what it includes (hotel, transfers, medicines, follow-up) and the aftercare plan in writing before you travel.
Bangkok
- Ask for the dentist's licence number from the Dental Council of Thailand and check it on the council's website.
- Ask whether the clinic or hospital holds an accreditation such as JCI.
- Get the treatment plan, implant brand, guarantee and price in writing.