Aesthetic treatment in Istanbul: how the process works, step by step

Why the process should be planned

When you travel for treatment, time is limited. The most common mistake I see is trying to fit too many treatments into a short visit. In medical aesthetics, a sound plan starts with an assessment of your face and skin; your travel dates should follow that plan, not the other way round. The steps below summarise how we strike that balance.

1. Online consultation

First contact usually happens through our contact page or by message, after which a video consultation can be arranged. In it, we discuss your goals, previous treatments and health. To make the most of it, I suggest preparing the following in advance:

• Clear photos taken in daylight, without make-up, from the front and both sides
• Any medication and supplements you take, especially blood thinners
• Known medical conditions, allergies, and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Previous fillers, toxin or other treatments — ideally with dates and product details

2. Physician assessment and preliminary plan

By the end of the online consultation, we discuss which treatments might be considered, whether they need more than one session, and which dates would suit. For example, skin-quality treatments such as a skin booster need several sessions a few weeks apart in most plans; on a short visit, that may mean doing the first session now and scheduling the rest for your next trip. For single-session treatments such as botulinum toxin, the time the effect needs to settle is taken into account — we explain this timing in when Botox starts working.

3. Travel coordination

Once the dates are set, a travel schedule is built around your appointments. Support available for patients travelling from abroad includes:

• Appointment coordination: scheduling your examination, treatment and review around your flight times
• Airport transfer: arranging transport between the airport and your accommodation on arrival and departure
• Accommodation assistance: help finding options that suit the length of your stay and are convenient for your appointments
• Local transport: coordinating transport between your accommodation and appointments
• Interpreter support: arranging an interpreter so that nothing is lost in communication during your examination and treatment

You can find details of these services and how to request them on our international patients page.

The week before you travel

• If you develop a fever, a cold sore in the treatment area or a skin infection, let us know before your appointment; treatment may need to be postponed.
• Avoid intense sun exposure and sunburn — especially important if a peel or microneedling is planned.
• Do not stop prescription medication on your own; any change to your medication should be made with the doctor who prescribed it.
• Send your flight and accommodation details, along with a phone number you can be reached on, to the person coordinating your appointment.

4. Treatment day

Treatment day starts with an in-person examination. The plan discussed online is confirmed — or changed if needed — based on what the examination shows. Risks, what to expect and possible side effects are discussed, and your consent is taken. After treatment, you are given written aftercare advice for that day and the days that follow. If you are using interpreter support, it is important that all of this is conveyed to you fully in your own language; no point should be left unclear.

5. How long should you stay in Istanbul?

The exact length depends on the treatment and on you, but a general framework is possible:

• Rather than flying home straight after treatment, staying at least a day or two is usually more comfortable, so that any early swelling or bruising can be assessed.
• With fillers, some swelling is expected in the first days, so staying a few days may be advised to allow early signs to be checked. Our lip filler page describes these first days in detail.
• If you would like to see the effect settle and have your review in person, a longer stay can be planned; if that is not possible, the review is done remotely.

If your trip is short, scheduling treatment on the first day of your visit leaves time to see early swelling and tenderness before you fly home. For multi-session treatments, putting the session dates in the calendar from the start makes it much easier to plan return visits.

If you are curious about which options might suit you, a short preliminary consultation is all it takes to begin. It does not commit you to any treatment; its purpose is to give you accurate information before you decide.

6. Follow-up after you return home

Contact does not end when you fly home. Remote reviews with photos are carried out on agreed days, and your questions are answered. If a touch-up or further session is needed, your next visit is planned around that assessment. If an unexpected symptom appears — particularly severe pain or a change in skin colour after filler — contact your physician without delay and, if necessary, seek care at a local medical facility.

At every step, the aim is that travel never takes priority over the treatment itself, and that decisions are made without rushing and with the right information.