Turkey
Recovering in Turkey: day-by-day guides
Turkey is the world's busiest destination for hair transplants and one of the biggest for veneers, implants, nose surgery and gastric sleeves. These guides cover the days after: what you can safely do in Istanbul and Antalya, day by day.
Treatments and cities
| Treatment | Istanbul | Antalya |
|---|---|---|
| Hair transplant | Day-by-day guide9 safe things to do on day 3 | Not covered yet |
| Dental implants | Day-by-day guide13 safe things to do on day 3 | Day-by-day guide7 safe things to do on day 3 |
| LASIK | Day-by-day guide9 safe things to do on day 3 | Not covered yet |
| Rhinoplasty | Day-by-day guide10 safe things to do on day 3 | Not covered yet |
| Veneers | Day-by-day guide22 safe things to do on day 3 | Day-by-day guide16 safe things to do on day 3 |
| Bariatric surgery | Day-by-day guide13 safe things to do on day 3 | Not covered yet |
What to know
- Istanbul suits hair, eye, nose and weight-loss surgery: big hospitals, short taxi rides, and seated sights like the Bosphorus ferries.
- Antalya suits dental trips: the beach and boats are there for the days your treatment allows them.
- Both cities are hot and sunny from May to October. That matters most after a hair transplant or rhinoplasty, when the sun is off-limits.
- Clinics treating foreign patients should hold a Ministry of Health licence and a health tourism authorisation certificate. Ask for both.
Istanbul
Istanbul is the world capital of hair transplants and a big centre for eye and nose surgery. It is also a city of hills, cobbles, crowds and strong sun from May to October, so a recovery plan here is mostly about choosing seated, covered and shaded sights.
Hair transplant
Istanbul
10 days, day by day. Grafts are fragile for the first 7 to 10 days.
Open the guideLASIK
Istanbul
7 days, day by day. Vision clears fast, but the corneal flap needs protecting.
Open the guideRhinoplasty
Istanbul
10 days, day by day. You wear a splint for 1 to 2 weeks and swelling lasts 4 to 6 weeks.
Open the guideVeneers
Istanbul
7 days, day by day. Veneers have almost no downtime.
Open the guideDental implants
Istanbul
7 days, day by day. The first 72 hours bring swelling and some bruising.
Open the guideBariatric surgery
Istanbul
7 days, day by day. This is major abdominal surgery.
Open the guide
Antalya
Antalya sells dental work as a holiday: implants or crowns in the morning, the Mediterranean in the afternoon. That works for some days of the trip and not others, and the sun is strong for most of the year.
Dental implants
Antalya
7 days, day by day. The first 72 hours bring swelling and some bruising.
Open the guideVeneers
Antalya
7 days, day by day. Veneers have almost no downtime.
Open the guide
Questions people ask
- When can I go in the sun after a hair transplant?
- When can I swim after a hair transplant?
- Can I wear a hat after a hair transplant?
- Hair transplant in Istanbul: what to pack
- What to eat after dental implants, abroad
- Can I fly after dental implants?
- Dental holiday packing list
- When can I swim after LASIK?
- How long should I stay in Turkey after rhinoplasty?
- Getting home after gastric sleeve surgery in Tijuana
- Foods to avoid with new veneers
- Make a recovery calendar with your dates