Flying into Istanbul
Istanbul has two airports. The relevant one for almost all international body contouring patients is Istanbul Airport (IST), the main hub on the European side of the city. It is served by direct flights from most major cities in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, North America, and parts of East Asia. Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, and most major European carriers operate frequent direct connections.
The secondary airport, Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side, is mainly used by budget carriers from regional destinations. It is further from Nişantaşı (60–90 minutes by car). We generally recommend flying into IST for the more comfortable transfer.
Transfer from the airport
From IST, the options are:
- Private transfer arranged through the clinic — most international patients use this. We can arrange a driver to meet you in the arrivals hall. Cost is included in some package arrangements or charged separately at a fixed published rate.
- Taxi from the airport rank — straightforward but somewhat more expensive than a private transfer and without English support from the driver in many cases.
- Havaist airport bus — public bus service, inexpensive, with Şişli and Taksim stops within walking distance of Nişantaşı accommodation. Reasonable for patients arriving for consultation; less suitable for the return airport transfer post-operatively.
- Metro / metrobus combination — possible but involves transfers; not recommended with luggage post-operatively.
For your return transfer to the airport post-operatively, we strongly recommend a private transfer or taxi rather than public transport. Walking through stations and managing luggage is not appropriate at day 7–10 post-operatively.
Where to stay during recovery
The best accommodation for post-operative recovery is in Nişantaşı, Teşvikiye, or the immediate surrounding streets — within walking distance (or a 5-minute taxi) of the clinic. Recovery is significantly easier when getting to a post-operative appointment does not involve a 30-minute taxi ride across the city.
Types of accommodation to consider
- Boutique hotels in Nişantaşı — good for short stays, with English-speaking staff and reliable service. Several within walking distance of the clinic.
- Serviced apartments — often the most practical option for body contouring recovery. Having a kitchen, a separate living area, and laundry facilities is meaningfully better than a hotel room for a 7–10 day stay. Several serviced apartment buildings in Nişantaşı and Şişli accommodate this.
- Larger international chain hotels in the wider Şişli district — reliable, English-speaking, with all expected amenities. Slightly further walk but easy by taxi.
What to avoid:
- Accommodation in distant parts of Istanbul (Sultanahmet, the Princes' Islands, the Asian side) — the travel to and from clinic appointments is impractical post-operatively.
- Cheap accommodation with stairs and no lift — getting up and down stairs is difficult in the first 1–2 weeks after most body contouring procedures.
- Hostels and shared accommodation — recovery requires privacy, quiet sleep, and clean environment for wound care.
We can recommend specific accommodation options on request based on your budget, length of stay, and whether you are travelling alone or accompanied.
Length of stay we recommend
Length of stay in Istanbul depends on the procedure. The figures below are the minimum recommended stay — staying longer is always fine, but staying shorter compromises post-operative review.
- Liposuction (focused / single area): 5–6 nights total. Includes consultation day, surgery day, and 3–4 days post-operative.
- Mini abdominoplasty: 7 nights total.
- Standard abdominoplasty: 8–10 nights total. Allows for the day 5–7 review and reasonable healing before flight.
- Arm lift, thigh lift, gynecomastia, labiaplasty: 7–8 nights total.
- Lower body lift, fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, mommy makeover: 10–12 nights total. Larger procedures benefit from longer in-Istanbul recovery.
- BBL / fat transfer: 7–10 nights total. The sitting restriction makes the flight uncomfortable — patients should plan to be at the more comfortable end of the early recovery curve before flying.
For patients combining multiple procedures in one trip, the longest recommended stay among the combined procedures governs.
The total stay also includes 1–2 nights before the surgery for the in-person consultation and pre-operative day. So a typical standard abdominoplasty trip would be: arrive Sunday, consult Monday, surgery Tuesday, hospital Wednesday, return to accommodation Thursday, in-clinic reviews on day 1–2 and day 5–7, flight home day 8–10. A 9-night trip in total.
The return flight — practical advice
The return flight is part of the recovery. Things that make it more comfortable and safer:
- Aisle seat. You will need to stand up and walk around the cabin every hour or two during the flight — this significantly reduces clot risk. Booking an aisle seat in advance is worth the cost.
- Compression garments in place. Wear the post-operative compression garment during the flight — it is one of the times it matters most.
- Additional compression stockings. Standard travel-grade graduated compression stockings, in addition to the surgical compression, reduce clot risk on flights over 4 hours.
- Hydration during the flight. Cabin air is dry and dehydrating, and dehydration is a clot risk factor. Drink water consistently throughout the flight.
- Walking the cabin every hour when seatbelt signs allow — even just walking to the back and returning to your seat is sufficient.
- Anticoagulant injection — the daily anticoagulant injection regimen prescribed at discharge usually covers the return flight day. Take it as instructed before the flight.
- No alcohol on the flight or in the 24 hours either side.
- Help with luggage. Do not lift heavy luggage from carousels, into overhead lockers, or onto trolleys post-operatively. Either travel with a companion, use airport assistance services, or pack so that you have no luggage that needs lifting.
For flights longer than 6 hours, all of the above applies even more strictly. For ultra-long-haul flights (12+ hours, e.g. to North America or East Asia), we generally recommend staying 2–3 days longer in Istanbul before flying.
Practical considerations
- Visa: Many nationalities can enter Turkey visa-free for tourist stays of up to 90 days, or with an e-visa obtained online before travel. Check current visa requirements for your nationality at www.evisa.gov.tr.
- Currency: The Turkish Lira is the local currency. Most Nişantaşı businesses accept international cards. Some cash on hand (Euro or USD, exchanged locally, or Lira withdrawn at an ATM) is useful for taxis and small purchases.
- Mobile data: A local SIM card or roaming with your home carrier is needed for the daily communication with the clinic. Most international roaming packages cover Turkey adequately.
- Travel insurance: Standard travel insurance does not cover complications of elective surgery. Specialist medical tourism travel insurance is available from several providers and is worth considering.
- Companion: A travel companion is helpful but not required. Many patients travel alone and manage without difficulty.