Below are the most frequently asked questions by our previous patients. This list is by no means exhaustive, therefore you are encouraged to contact your case manager if your question is not covered on here.
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Clinic
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Company
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Istanbul
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Medical Tourism
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Payment
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Surgeons
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Turkey
What is the post operative infection rate at the clinic?
We did not experience any infections during the recovery phase of our patients at the clinics in Turkey. No infections were reported by our patients after their return to home countries.
Do the supporting medical staff such as nurses and care professionals speak English?
Most of the nurses and patient care staff at the clinics speak English. Some staff members working during the night shift get help from visual aids in the form of patient cards that have pictures and basic needs to help communication. You have 24/7 access to your Longevita personal host in case of emergency.
Can I get a medical report in English after my surgery?
Yes, the clinics may provide you with a medical report in English upon your request.
What type of quality certifications do your clinics hold?
All the clinics are certified by the Ministry of Health in Turkey representing the gold standards in quality and hygiene. Also some are accredited by the Joint International Commission (JCI), Technischer Überwachungsverein (TUV) and The International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Why are your prices very low?
Our activities are subsidised by the Ministry of Economy in Turkey for promoting the country as a popular medical tourism destination. Therefore we reflect savings on marketing costs to the prices of our medical procedures.
What kind of guarantees do you provide?
We guarantee that your medical procedure will be performed according to the medical standards of the Ministry of Health in Turkey. The surgeons have malpractice insurance and they provide a free corrective procedure in an unlikely case of a malpractice. Additional guarantees are also available based on the medical procedure, for example grafts transplanted during hair transplantation are guaranteed for a lifetime. Dental implants and breast implants have different guarantees based on the brand used. You will have an opportunity to discuss these during your consultation with your surgeon.
Where are you located?
We have administrative offices in London, Istanbul and Izmir. We offer medical procedures by independent surgeons in Istanbul Turkey. We provide consultations in London. We also partner with dental imaging centres in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol and Nottingham in the UK.
How can I be sure that you are legitimate?
Our company is registered to the Companies House in the UK and the Chamber of Commerce in Turkey. The surgeons are qualified by the top medical schools and the clinics are are approved by the Ministry of Health in Turkey. The surgeons are also members of international medical associations and some of the clinics are certified by international accreditation bodies such as Joint International Commission (JCI), Technischer Überwachungsverein (TUV) or The International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Is alcohol available in Istanbul?
Absolutely. Alcohol is available in Istanbul. You may find different varieties of beer and wine; you may also try RAKI that is regarded as the national drink. Istanbul is also famous for its nightlife with classy bars, nightclubs and restaurants.
What are the best things to buy on a visit to Istanbul?
Many people visit Istanbul for shopping. While Turkish carpets are very popular, Turkey’s high quality ceramics, tiles, antiques and handicrafts are also famous and may be purchased at one of the city’s historic old bazaars, backstreet markets or boutique stores. Istanbul has a lot of modern shopping malls as well.
Are taxi fares expensive?
You may check taksiyle.com to get an estimate on your journey in Istanbul.
Is Istanbul easy to get around? What kinds of transport options are available?
Despite its huge size, Istanbul is reasonably easy to get around. There are many public transport options such as bus, minibus, dolmus, tram, metro, metrobus and ferry. You should keep in mind that there may be a traffic jam between 07.00 – 09.30 AM and 05:30 – 07:30 PM so plan your journey accordingly.
Why do medical procedures cost less abroad?
According to the World Health Organisation, more than two thirds of the cost of a medical procedure is labor related. The salary of a surgeon abroad which constitute the majority of the cost of a medical procedure is a fraction of what it would be in Western countries. In addition, other cost factors such as the rent of an operating theatre and the medical insurance premium are lower abroad.
Is it safe to travel after a surgical procedure?
95% of the complications after a medical procedure arise during the first week after surgery. You will be staying in the destination of your treatment during this time when you’ll be having check up appointments with the medical team. You will be advised to schedule your return flights after your recuperation at the destination. Our aftercare team will also follow you up after 1-3-6-9-12 months to make sure your recovery is going well.
Is medical tourism safe?
This is the first and probably the most important question that comes to mind when talking about medical tourism. Any medical procedure, no matter where it’s carried out, entails some risk. In order to reduce this risk, the following are some of the important things that should be considered to check:
- Qualifications of the medical team
- Certifications and accreditations of the clinic
- Patient reviews
- Credentials of the facilitator
What is medical tourism?
Medical tourism describes the rapidly growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care. Services typically sought by travellers include elective procedures such as hair transplant, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, eye surgery, bariatric surgery, orthopaedics and infertility treatments.
Why do patients travel to another country for medical tourism?
Patients travel to other destinations generally for higher quality of healthcare, affordability, access of care and availability.
What kind of procedures do medical tourists usually seek?
Primarily, medical tourists seek elective procedures such as hair transplant, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, eye surgery, bariatric surgery, orthopaedics and infertility treatments; any procedure that is usually not covered by their private health insurance schemes or has a long waiting time in their home countries.
What is a medical tourism facilitator?
A medical tourism facilitator is an independent company that helps coordinate a patient’s trip to another country for medical care.
How much do I need to pay in order to secure a booking?
We generally ask a small percentage of the package price upfront as a deposit payment to secure your bookings.
Can I make a booking without a deposit?
We require a deposit payment in order to reserve your hotel, transfer and operating theatre bookings as well as your appointments with your surgeon(s). If you just want to meet the surgeon(s) without a medical procedure booking, we’d be happy to arrange a consultation appointment.
Can I pay in instalments?
Absolutely! Please visit our Finance page for details.
Which currencies do you accept?
You may make your payments in GBP, USD or EUR.
What payment methods do you accept?
You may make your payments via credit card, debit card or bank transfer to our UK bank account.
Can my surgeon speak fluent English?
Most of the surgeons speak fluent English as they are trained in the USA, UK or Europe. For those who aren’t as much fluent, you’ll have an English speaking interpreter with you who will accompany you for translation during all appointments.
What qualifications do your surgeons have?
The surgeons are qualified by the top medical schools in Turkey. They have memberships to the local and international medical associations in their specialities. They also have malpractice insurance protecting international patients in unlikely cases of corrective procedures.
What are your success rates?
We had no failures in any of the medical procedures we offered in the last five years. Over 95% of our patients reported that they were very happy with the results. The remaining 5% reported that they were less than satisfied with respect to their expectations however they recognised that their procedures were successful from a medical stand point.
Can I speak to the doctor in Turkey before going on my trip?
Absolutely, we’d be happy to arrange a free no obligation online consultation with the surgeon prior to your trip to Turkey. You may also watch your surgeon’s video profile on our YouTube Channel.
Can I drive in Turkey?
Vehicles in Turkey are left hand drive as driving is on the right-hand side of the road. You may drive with an international driving licence. You should have your driving licence, your passport and insurance documents of the vehicle with you all the time while driving. Major international car rental companies have offices at airports and all major city centres.
Can I use my credit card?
International credit and debit cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants throughout Turkey. However we advise you to have cash with you for the smaller shops and cafes.
Can I withdraw money from ATMs?
Cash machines (ATMs) are available throughout Turkey, accepting major European credit and debit cards. You may use most of the ATM’s in English as well. You may withdraw cash in USD, EUR and TRY (Turkish Lira).
We recommend you to inform your bank in advance that yo’d be travelling to Turkey as some banks may automatically block your card after the first use in an attempt to combat fraud.
What is the local currency?
The local currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (TRY) available in the following denominations: Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 & 200 TRY; Coins: 5, 10, 25, 50 Kurus and 1 TRY. You may easily change your currency to the New Turkish Lira at exchange offices, banks or hotels.
Do general public or staff speak English in Turkey?
English is Turkey’s second most spoken language. You may easily find English speakers in major cities. Restaurant menus and other information for tourists are usually available in English.
Which time zone is Turkey in?
Turkey is on UTC+3, three hours ahead of the UK and two hours ahead of Central Europe in winters, two hours ahead of the UK and one hour ahead of Central Europe in summers.
Do I need a visa to enter Turkey?
Visa requirements change based on nationality and therefore the type of passport you hold. Please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website on http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa and https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ for your exact requirements. You may also contact the Turkish Consulate in your country for the latest visa updates.
