This year Turkey is not only Europe’s hottest destination for low cost holidays in the sun. With superb private health care facilities it is leading the way in the new wave of medical tourism. Turkey now houses some chic, high-tech private clinics staffed by highly qualified medical professionals who are fluent in a variety of European languages. This coupled with competitively low prices and an agreeable climate has fuelled the growth in this niche sector.
Cosmetic Tourism is Set to Grow
A recent study by research company RNCOS, entitled “Emerging Medical Tourism in Turkey”, forecasts that the medical tourism market is set to grow at a compound aggregate growth rate of more than 50% between 2009 and 2013. The motivating factors are the low cost of treatment and the quality of health care. Turkey’s reputation is outstanding in the fields of cosmetic and plastic surgery, cardiac procedures, optics and dentistry as well as orthopaedics. A Senior Research Analyst at RNCOS puts the country’s popularity down to the continuously improving its health care infrastructure; Turkey has the highest number of Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospitals in the world, making it one of the most promising medical tourism markets worldwide. There are huge savings to be made on medical costs, generally amount to as much as 50 to 75 percent of costs for the same surgeries and procedures in the USA and developed European countries.
Easy Access
There is a wide range of charter and scheduled flights to locations all over Turkey and this further enhances the country’s popularity. Airlines are now so familiar with the hoards of medical tourists that Turkish Airlines have recently announced 25% discount on listed fares for a medical patient and companion in possession of a note from a doctor or an acceptance letter to a Turkish medical facility, which is sure to boost numbers. There are also several tour companies offering to arrange everything from flights and accommodation as well as relevant medical treatment. Love Tour based in Didim is just one example of a company branching out into the lucrative medical tourism market with their launch of Medical Holidays Turkey. They are offering affordable dental and eye surgery to clients from the UK. Stays are combined with relaxing spa holidays. General coordinator Eren Gönül said, “Different accommodation options and tour packages are provided by our medical tour specialists. Private airport transfers from any airports in Turkey to hotels and from and to the hotels to clinics and hospitals can be easily.”
A Nip and Tuck Followed by a Dip in the Pool
Cosmetic surgery is now “de rigueur” with Britain’s middle classes. What was once the domain of movie stars and the idle rich is now attracting ordinary people who want to indulge themselves whilst undergoing treatment. The procedure may be a simple matter of a few Botox injections or could involve full surgery and a short stay at a specialised clinic. Moreover, it's not desperate housewives who are turning to surgery to improve their looks and postpone the ageing process; there are plenty of men checking in for a variety of cosmetic procedures too. The sheer volume of treatments available here are overwhelming as are the prices; a boob job in Turkey will save you 53% compared to the UK cost of 2,300 Euros, a face-lift will save you 70% on the current UK costs and liposuction in the region of 58%.. All you have to do is think of a body part you would love to change and there is a corresponding operation available. Treatment in a plush private hospital in some of the most beautiful parts of the country enables you to tailor your recovery with a walk in a pine forest, a swim in the turquoise sea or a Cosmopolitan by the pool.
A Smile Makeover Followed by a Gentle Massage
Years ago a trip to the dentist was perceived as a necessary evil, but today it ranks along with trips to the manicurist and beauty consultant, in fact the Turkish dental industry is rebranding many of the treatment names to co-inside with the demand for image centered dentistry and work like tissue re-contouring is now known as a “smile makeover”. An even white smile rates high on the list of personal “must-haves” to the point where children are now fitted with braces as early as nine years old now in order to achieve this. Moreover, the cutbacks in NHS dental services has lead to high prices in British dentistry and this in turn, is encouraging people to seek treatment abroad for costly treatments like dental implants and porcelain crowns. You can save around 72% of the UK costs of treatment by having your implants done in Turkey.
Tina’s Story
Tina Iovene from Staten Island, New York went to Turkey for breast augmentation and corrections to a nose job she had done four years ago in the U.S. Tina explains, ‘When I smiled, my nose was crooked, and it was hard to breathe on one side. My doctor in the U.S. wasn’t interested in redoing the surgery—he said I was too picky, and my nose was fine. But it didn’t feel right, and it didn’t look right and I wanted it corrected. Her surgery was conducted by Dr. Emekli at the Anadolu Medical Centre in Istanbul. Tina booked her treatment through the WorldMed Assist medical tourism website that made the whole process very easy. Tina had researched the possibility of having the treatment done at home only to find that it would cost $18,000 for both treatments. She found that by using WorldMed Assist her medical costs combined with her travel expenses were less than half of what she had been quoted in the U.S. Tina felt completely secure about travelling to Turkey for treatment, she says, “During the conference call with my surgeon before I left, I was impressed with how observant and thorough he was. He was confident that everything I wanted to accomplish was achievable. “Throughout her stay in Turkey she received excellent standards of care and attention and the language barrier was never a problem – the medical staff spoke fluent English. As for the facilities, Tina enthuses, “The hospital was brand new, incredibly clean, and beautiful—it didn’t look at all like a U.S. hospital. The inside was very modern, with lots of art and wide hallways. My room looked out onto the sea. One of the managers at the hospital toured me around the city, and one day I walked from my hotel to a church built in the 4th century.” She was also happy with her recovery after her treatment. After only two weeks the scar on her nose was invisible and the scars under her breasts were fading rapidly.
Clearly, Turkey is leading the way in an area of tourism that is gaining momentum. This new niche in the tourist market is bringing a great deal of revenue into the country, which benefits anyone with an interest here.
