Reviewed by Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya — a qualified physician and specialist plastic surgeon (ISAPS, TPRECD). Surgery is carried out at Acıbadem, an accredited private hospital in Istanbul. General information, not medical advice.
Plastic surgery in Turkey: what to know before you travel
Plastic surgery covers a wide family of operations, from reshaping the nose to lifting the face, adjusting the breasts or contouring the body. What they share is permanence: these are real surgical procedures with real recovery periods, and the results stay with you. That is exactly why the decision deserves more care than a price comparison.
Turkey has become one of the world’s busiest destinations for aesthetic surgery, and Istanbul sits at the centre of it. The savings compared with the UK, Europe or North America are genuine. So is the expertise at the top clinics. But quality varies enormously, and the difference between a good outcome and a disappointing one usually comes down to one thing: who plans and performs your surgery.
At Clinic Elia, every plastic surgery patient is planned and operated on by a specialist surgeon — not assessed by a salesperson and passed down a production line. This page explains how we work, which procedures we offer, and how to make a safe decision wherever you choose to be treated.
Meet your surgeon
Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya
Aesthetic, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Specialist
Plastic surgery at Clinic Elia is led by Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya, who completed his specialist training in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University of Health Sciences, Ankara Training and Research Hospital (2012–2017), and undertook international microsurgery training in Monza, Italy. His practice focuses on facial aesthetics — particularly the deep plane facelift — alongside breast surgery, body contouring and reconstructive microsurgery.
He is a member of ISAPS (the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), the Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (TPRECD), the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Association (EPCD) and the Turkish Medical Association (TTB).
Why does this matter? In aesthetic surgery, the qualification behind the scalpel is the single most reliable predictor of a safe, natural result. Ask any clinic you are considering for exactly this — if they hesitate, keep looking.
From Dr Çetinkaya’s channel. Read his full profile.
The procedures we offer
A full range of facial, breast and body procedures, each planned and performed by a specialist surgeon. Explore any procedure for an honest overview of what it involves, who it suits, and what to expect.
Face
Breast
Body
Wondering if you are a candidate?
Send photos and a short note about what bothers you. Dr. Çetinkaya assesses them personally and gives you a realistic surgical opinion.
Am I a good candidate?
The honest answer is that candidacy is procedure-specific, but a few principles apply across all of them. Surgery tends to go well when you are in good general health, at a stable weight, a non-smoker (or genuinely willing to stop around surgery), and clear-eyed about what an operation can and cannot change. It tends to go badly when it is rushed, when expectations are shaped by filtered photographs, or when a patient is talked into more surgery than they came for.
Two things we will always tell you directly: if a procedure is not right for your anatomy, and if the result you are hoping for is not achievable. Sometimes the best surgical advice is to wait, or to do less.
How treatment works when you travel
Surgery abroad adds logistics to the medical decision, so we run the whole journey on a fixed structure.
Before you travel. You send photographs and your medical history. Dr. Çetinkaya reviews them, and you receive an honest assessment, a surgical plan and one all-inclusive price in writing. Nothing is confirmed until your consultation in person.
In Istanbul. You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Your face-to-face consultation happens before any surgery: the plan is confirmed — or adjusted — with the surgeon himself. The operation takes place at Acıbadem — an accredited private hospital in Istanbul — under appropriate anaesthesia.
Recovery and flying home. Most surgical patients stay five to seven days, depending on the procedure, so that early healing and suture checks happen here. You fly home with written aftercare instructions, medications, and direct message access to the team for follow-up questions.
Aftercare. Recovery from surgery takes weeks, not days, and questions come up after you get home. Our follow-up runs for twelve months, remotely, with photo reviews at the milestones that matter.
What does plastic surgery cost in Turkey?
Prices in Turkey typically run well below UK, European and North American levels for the same procedures — not because standards are lower at good clinics, but because operating costs are. Your price depends on the procedure and the plan, and we confirm it in writing before you book. The package covers surgery, hospital, anaesthesia, nights of hotel accommodation, VIP transfers, an English-speaking coordinator and twelve months of aftercare.
Be careful with quotes that seem dramatically cheaper than everyone else’s. In surgery, the corner being cut is usually one you cannot see until it matters.
How to avoid a botched result
The horror stories you read — a “botched” nose, an over-tightened facelift, implants that look done — almost always trace back to the same causes: an unqualified or unsupervised operator, a rushed high-volume mill, unrealistic expectations, or a plan built to sell rather than to suit. They are largely avoidable.
- Choose the surgeon, not the price — a board-certified specialist (ISAPS / TPRECD) is the single best predictor of a safe, natural result.
- Insist on meeting your surgeon before surgery — not just a salesperson or coordinator.
- Be realistic — the safest results come from natural, proportionate goals, not a celebrity template.
- Check the hospital — accredited facilities (we operate at Acıbadem) and proper anaesthesia matter as much as the surgery.
Safety, honestly
All surgery carries risk — anaesthesia, infection, bleeding, scarring, asymmetry, the need for revision. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling, not advising. What changes the odds decisively in your favour is a qualified specialist surgeon, a properly equipped hospital, honest patient selection and structured aftercare.
When you compare clinics, ask: Who exactly operates on me, and what are their qualifications? Will I meet them before surgery? Which hospital is used? What happens if something needs attention after I fly home? Clear answers to those four questions filter out most of the risk.
| Ask any surgeon | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who exactly operates on me, and their qualifications? | The surgeon is the biggest predictor of a safe result |
| Will I meet them before surgery? | The plan should be confirmed face-to-face, not sold remotely |
| Which hospital is used? | Accredited facilities and proper anaesthesia reduce risk |
| What happens if I need attention after I fly home? | Structured aftercare catches problems early |
Read next: Is Turkey safe for surgery? An honest guide
Get a surgeon’s honest opinion
Send photos from the front and in profile on WhatsApp. Dr. Çetinkaya assesses them personally and you get a realistic opinion and one clear, all-inclusive quote — with no pressure and no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Who performs the surgery at Clinic Elia?
Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya, a specialist aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over ten years of practice and memberships including ISAPS and TPRECD. You meet him in person before any operation.
How long do I need to stay in Turkey?
Usually five to seven days for surgical procedures, so early healing and check-ups happen before you fly. Your exact plan is confirmed in advance.
Can I combine procedures in one trip?
Sometimes, within safe limits. Combining operations is a surgical decision made on your health and anatomy, never a package upsell.
Will my results look natural?
That is the goal of every plan we make. Natural, proportionate results that fit your face and body — not a template look.
What if I need a revision?
Revision policies are agreed transparently before surgery. Ask any clinic you consider to put theirs in writing.
Is the price really all-inclusive?
Yes — surgery, hospital, hotel, transfers, coordinator and twelve months of follow-up, confirmed in writing before you commit.
How do I start?
Send photographs and a short description of what you would like to change. You will get an honest surgical opinion and a clear price, with no pressure to book.
How do I avoid a botched plastic surgery?
Choose a board-certified specialist surgeon (ISAPS/TPRECD), meet them before surgery, keep your goals realistic and natural, and use an accredited hospital. Price should never be the deciding factor.
Is Turkey or Korea better for plastic surgery?
Both are major destinations with excellent surgeons. The honest rule is the same everywhere: judge the individual surgeon’s qualifications and your rapport with them, not the country’s reputation.
Is Dr. Çetinkaya board-certified?
He completed specialist training in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and is a member of ISAPS and TPRECD. You meet him in person before any operation.
Are the before-and-after photos real?
We show only genuine, consented results — and you should be sceptical of any clinic’s gallery. Learn what to check in our honest before & after guide.
Ready for an honest surgical opinion?
Send us your photos on WhatsApp. Dr. Çetinkaya’s team will review them and come back with a realistic assessment and one clear, all-inclusive price — and if surgery is not the right step for you, we will say so.
