Why German patients consider Istanbul
Germany has a sophisticated cosmetic surgery sector, with high standards and high pricing. The German private body contouring market — for elective aesthetic procedures, and for the majority of post-bariatric body contouring that the statutory Krankenkassen do not fully cover — sees prices comparable to other Western European markets.
Krankenkasse coverage of post-bariatric body contouring is variable. Coverage is in principle possible for cases meeting specific medical criteria (functional impairment, recurrent skin infections, BMI within range, weight stable, time since bariatric surgery), and is decided case-by-case by the Medizinischer Dienst. In practice, coverage is partial — a panniculectomy may be approved where an aesthetic abdominoplasty would not, and the comprehensive multi-procedure post-bariatric pathway is rarely covered as a whole. Most German post-bariatric patients seeking comprehensive body contouring end up combining partial Krankenkasse-covered surgery (where available) with private out-of-pocket care, or — for the multi-procedure pathway — going entirely private.
Body contouring in Istanbul typically costs 50–65% of the equivalent German private price after travel costs are included. For combined procedures the saving is larger.
Flights from Germany
Direct flights from Germany to Istanbul are frequent and reasonably priced:
- Frankfurt (FRA): Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa — multiple daily flights, approximately 3 hours.
- Munich (MUC): Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa — multiple daily, approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.
- Berlin (BER): Turkish Airlines, Pegasus — daily flights, approximately 3 hours.
- Hamburg (HAM): Turkish Airlines, Pegasus — daily, approximately 3 hours.
- Düsseldorf (DUS): Turkish Airlines, multiple daily, approximately 3 hours.
- Cologne (CGN), Stuttgart (STR), Hanover (HAJ), Nuremberg (NUE): Turkish Airlines and Pegasus, several flights weekly.
The short flight duration (3 hours from most German cities) is comfortable post-operatively — significantly less demanding than flights from North America or the western parts of Europe. Most German patients can plan a standard 8–10 day Istanbul stay with no need for additional padding for the return flight.
Visa and entry
German passport holders enter Turkey visa-free for tourist stays of up to 90 days. EU-issued national identity cards are also accepted for entry (although a passport is generally more practical for international travel). Passport validity must be at least 6 months beyond entry.
Follow-up in Germany
Remote follow-up by Doç. Dr. Erdal continues for 12 months by WhatsApp and video. The 1-hour time difference between Germany and Istanbul makes synchronous communication straightforward.
For in-person review at home, options include:
- Hausarzt (family physician) for general post-operative assessment, dressing changes, and routine concerns.
- Plastic surgeon (Facharzt für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie) for surgery-specific review. The German Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (DGPRÄC) directory lists members nationally.
- Krankenhaus emergency department for genuine emergencies. This is appropriate care.
Krankenkasse and private insurance coverage of complications: in general, treatment of medical complications arising after the surgery is covered, separately from the elective surgery itself. The specifics depend on your Krankenkasse and the nature of the complication.
Sprachen / Language
The video consultation and all written communication is conducted in English. If English is not your preferred language for clinical discussion, this should be raised early — for some German patients, having a German-speaking family member or friend participate in the video consultation is helpful.
Next step
The starting point is a short message describing what you are considering. Doç. Dr. Erdal reviews international patient enquiries personally and replies within 24–48 hours on working days.