Preparing for plastic surgery abroad: a checklist from eight weeks out to the day you fly

When surgery is in another country, the preparation that would normally be spread over several appointments has to be organised in advance. None of it is complicated, but it is much easier when it starts early. The checklist below is general; the instructions you are given for your own surgery are personal and always come first.

Six to eight weeks before

Gather your medical information. Send it before you travel, so that your plan is based on the full picture:

• reports on any long-term conditions and your most recent blood test results;
• a list of every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take, with names and doses;
• operation notes or discharge summaries from any previous surgery, especially on the same area;
• relevant imaging, for example a breast ultrasound or mammogram report before breast surgery, where it has been requested;
• details of any allergies, including to medicines, plasters or latex.

Reports in a language other than English or Turkish may need a translation.

Plan your time off. Count the whole recovery, not just the days in Istanbul. After rhinoplasty, most people return to desk work and social life after about 10–14 days; after a tummy tuck, desk work usually waits 2–3 weeks, and lifting is limited for longer. If you have young children, arrange help with lifting and carrying in advance.

Check your travel insurance. Standard travel policies often exclude trips made to obtain treatment, and complications of elective surgery. Read the exclusions in your policy, and if you want cover for complications, ask insurers specifically whether they offer it for planned surgery abroad, what it includes and for how long after the operation.

Four weeks before

Stop smoking and nicotine. Smoking, vaping and other nicotine products reduce blood flow to healing tissue and raise the risk of wound problems and blood clots. You will usually be asked to stop at least 4 weeks before surgery and to stay off nicotine during recovery.

Ask about hormone-containing medicines. The combined contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy raise the risk of blood clots. Whether to pause them, and when, is decided with your doctor; do not stop them on your own. If you are asked to pause the pill, you will need another method of contraception.

Keep your weight steady. Avoid crash diets in the run-up to surgery; a stable weight and good nutrition help healing.

Two weeks before

Review medicines and supplements that affect bleeding. Aspirin, some anti-inflammatory painkillers and supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo and garlic can increase bleeding. You will receive personal instructions about which to pause and when. Never stop a prescribed blood thinner without the agreement of the doctor who prescribed it.

Protect your skin. Avoid sunburn on the area to be operated on, and do not start new skin treatments in the area.

Tell the practice about any illness. A fever, an infection, a new health problem or a positive pregnancy test shortly before your surgery date needs to be reported before you travel, as the operation may have to be postponed.

Confirm your dates. Book travel once your examination and surgery dates are confirmed, and choose a return ticket that can be changed. One day before surgery is usually set aside for the examination and tests in Istanbul.

What to pack

• Passport, printed copies of your plan, your medical documents and the practice's contact details.
• Your regular medicines in their original packaging, in your hand luggage, with your medicine list.
• Clothes that open at the front, such as button-up shirts and zip-up tops, so nothing has to be pulled over your face or raised arms.
• Loose trousers with a soft waistband after abdominal or body surgery.
• Slip-on shoes, because bending down is uncomfortable for the first days.
• A travel pillow and something to keep your head raised in bed.
• Lip balm and a water bottle, especially after nose surgery, when you breathe through your mouth for a while.
• A wide-brimmed hat for sun protection; after rhinoplasty, glasses should not rest on your nose.
• Compression stockings, if they have been recommended. Ask in advance whether a compression garment or post-surgical bra is provided or needs to be bought.
• A long phone charging cable, headphones and something to read or watch during the quiet days.

It is easier to arrive without nail varnish or gel nails, which can interfere with the finger sensor that monitors oxygen levels during anaesthesia, and to leave jewellery at home.

The week before you fly

• Arrange a companion for the first days after surgery if you can.
• Prepare your home for your return: a clean, comfortable place to rest, food in the freezer and someone who can help with shopping and heavy tasks for the first week or two.
• Tell your family doctor that you are having surgery abroad, so that they are not hearing about it for the first time if you need them later.
• Read the consent information and your instructions again, and write down any remaining questions to ask at the examination.

On the day before surgery, the anaesthesia team will tell you when to stop eating and drinking; follow those instructions exactly.

The examination comes first

Everything above prepares you for the examination in Istanbul, which is where the plan is confirmed. If the examination shows that surgery is not right for you, or that the plan should change, that decision takes priority over the travel arrangements. The International Patients page explains how the whole process fits together, and for breast surgery the breast augmentation page describes what the consultation covers.

Questions while you prepare

If you are unsure about any item on this list, send a WhatsApp message or call +90 533 460 77 36, or use the contact page. Online contact is for information and planning; your medical assessment takes place at the examination in Istanbul.