Istanbul or Antalya for Cosmetic Surgery or Dental Implants?

Two different cities

Antalya is a resort city on the Mediterranean coast, known for beaches and hotels, and many visitors combine it with a holiday. Istanbul is Türkiye’s largest city, with many large private hospital groups and university hospitals spread across the European and Asian sides. Both have private hospitals licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health. The city matters less than the people and the place that will actually treat you: the surgeon or dentist, the hospital and the written plan.

How to compare any offer, in either city

Ask four questions. Who is the surgeon or dentist, by name, and what is their specialty? In which hospital or clinic will the treatment be done, and is it licensed by the Ministry of Health? Is the plan written, with what is included, how many nights in hospital and hotel, and what happens if an extra check or treatment is needed? And what aftercare is there – who do you contact once you are home, and are your reports given to you in English? An offer that answers all four clearly is easier to compare than one that only shows a price.

Holiday and surgery: why the sea and sun have to wait

Combining surgery with a beach holiday sounds attractive, but the two do not sit well together. After most operations, swimming in the sea or a pool is not allowed until the incisions have fully healed – usually several weeks – because water can carry infection into a healing wound. Sun on bruised skin and fresh scars can darken them, so scars are kept out of strong sun for months. Heat also increases swelling. In practice, the days after surgery are spent resting at the hotel and walking gently, not on a sunbed. If you would like a holiday too, the safer order is holiday first, surgery at the end – and your surgeon gives you the exact timings for your case.

Concrete examples by type of procedure

Liposuction and lipo 360: compression garment for about six weeks, no swimming until the small incisions have healed and your surgeon agrees, usually a few weeks; sport after about four weeks. Tummy tuck: longer scar, no swimming or sun on the scar for at least several weeks, about 7–10 days in Türkiye. Breast surgery: supportive bra for about six weeks, about 5–7 days in Türkiye, no swimming until the wounds have healed. Rhinoplasty: a splint for the first week and no sun on the nose for weeks, about 7–10 days in Türkiye. Dental implants: no large wounds on the skin, but a soft diet and careful mouth care in the first days, as your dentist advises. These are general figures; your own surgeon or dentist sets the plan.

Lipo 360: how long to stay

A lipo 360 treats the abdomen, waist, flanks and back in one operation. It is done under general anaesthetic, usually takes about two to four hours, and you normally stay one night in hospital. Most patients stay about five to seven days in Türkiye in total, so the surgeon can check you before you fly. Desk work is usually possible after about a week, sport after about four weeks, and the compression garment is worn for about six weeks. In Istanbul with New City Clinic, the estimated package price for lipo 360 is from €3,500, including the operation, hospital stay, hotel, transfers and compression garments as set out in your quote; flights are not included and the final price is confirmed after the surgeon’s assessment.

Dental implants: how many visits are needed?

This is the same in Istanbul, Antalya or anywhere else, because it depends on how bone heals, not on the city. A titanium implant needs to fuse with the jawbone for around three to six months before the final crown or bridge is fitted. Most patients therefore come twice: a first stay of about three to five days for the examination, 3D scan, implant placement and, where possible, temporary teeth, and a second visit a few months later for the final crowns or bridge. In selected cases with enough good-quality bone, immediate loading allows fixed temporary teeth on the first trip, but the final teeth still come later. If a bone graft or sinus lift is needed, the timeline can be longer. Be cautious with offers that promise final teeth in one short trip regardless of your bone.

Dental implants: price and planning

Dental implant treatment does not have a fixed package price, because it depends on the number of implants, bone condition and the type of crowns or bridge. A dentist reviews your recent X-ray or scan and you receive a written quote. Since you will usually make two trips, plan both when you book – dates, time off work and flights – and ask what the second visit includes. You receive an implant record and reports for your dentist at home.

Getting there from the UK

Istanbul has direct flights from London and other UK cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, at around four hours, which can make two separate dental trips or a return check easier to arrange. Whichever city you choose, check flight times and connections from your nearest airport, and book flexible tickets if your surgeon may need you to stay a day longer. For entry requirements, check the current visa rules on evisa.gov.tr. Flights are never included in our packages.

Aftercare once you are home

Aftercare is the part most often forgotten when comparing cities. Ask how follow-up works after you return: whether you can send photos and questions, how quickly someone answers and what happens if you need to be seen. With New City Clinic, a coordinator stays in touch after you go home, and you receive your reports in English for your GP or dentist.

How to get a free assessment and quote

Send your photos – or, for dental implants, a recent X-ray or scan – your height, weight and any medical history on WhatsApp. The specialist reviews them free of charge, and you usually receive a written plan and quote within about 24 hours, with the surgeon or dentist and the hospital in Istanbul named. You are met at the airport, taken to your hotel and hospital, and a coordinator is with you until the day you fly home.

Istanbul or Antalya with New City Clinic

New City Clinic is an authorised health tourism intermediary registered with the Turkish Ministry of Health and HealthTürkiye. When you contact New City Clinic about Istanbul or Antalya, a physician first reviews your photos and medical information, and you then receive a written treatment plan with an itemised quote. Once you arrive in Istanbul, the New City Clinic team organises your airport welcome, accommodation, hospital appointments and interpreting. Your procedure is performed by a specialist physician at a Ministry of Health approved partner hospital, and follow-up continues after you return home.

Aftercare

Frequently asked questions