For patients in South Africa

Anal fissure treatment in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

An anal fissure is a small tear in the lining of the back passage that makes bowel movements painful and can bleed. Many heal with medication and diet; when one does not, surgery is considered. This page explains what that involves in İzmir for patients from South Africa.

Try non-surgical treatment first

Your GP or specialist in South Africa will normally try medication, a high-fibre diet and fluids first. If the fissure has not healed, bring notes on what was tried and for how long. Bleeding from the back passage should be examined at home first, so other causes can be ruled out.

Who surgery suits

• People with a persistent fissure causing pain, bleeding or discomfort during bowel movements
• People whose fissure has not healed with medication or non-surgical treatment
• People fit for an anaesthetic and a long-haul flight a few days later

Tell the surgeon about any existing problems with bowel control, previous anal surgery or childbirth injuries, because these affect which technique is safest. A board-certified general surgeon reviews your records before anything is booked.

The operation

A fissure often fails to heal because the ring of muscle around the anus is tight, which reduces blood flow to the tear. Surgery aims to lower that pressure and improve blood flow so the fissure can heal. A common technique is lateral internal sphincterotomy, in which a small part of the inner muscle is divided; the surgeon may recommend another approach depending on your case. More detail is on the anal fissure treatment page.

Recovery and the flight home

• Days 1–3: pain, discomfort and swelling are normal and are treated with medication. Walk gently, keep the area clean and avoid straining
• Days 4–7: most people feel more comfortable and manage light activity. Most are cleared to fly after three to five days, if the surgeon agrees
• Weeks 2–4: pain keeps improving, and most people return to work depending on their job
• Weeks 4–6: most people resume normal activity once the surgeon clears them

Keep up the high-fibre diet and fluids to avoid hard stools. For the ten-hour flight, choose an aisle seat, take a cushion and keep your medication in your hand luggage. Where the treatment page says so, patients recover at Mandarin Grove near İzmir.

Risks

Possible problems include pain, bleeding, infection and temporary difficulty controlling wind or stools and, more rarely, lasting changes in bowel control or the fissure coming back. Ask the surgeon to explain your own risk, particularly for bowel control, before you consent.

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir
• Visa: South Africans need an e-Visa, applied for online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Records home: take the operation note and discharge summary to your GP
• Time difference: İzmir is only one hour ahead of South Africa, which makes follow-up calls easy
• Cover: South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, so check with your scheme before you book; standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad

Medical complications from the operation, and any clinically necessary revision, are covered for one year by our treatment guarantee. Covered treatment is carried out in İzmir at no charge, but flights and accommodation are yours to pay, and treatment by another provider after you return home is not covered. Read more on the clinic facts page and our complaints page, and see the general surgery guide for South African patients and the haemorrhoid surgery guide.

What we will not do

We will not recommend surgery for a fissure that has not had non-surgical treatment, we will not book before a surgeon has reviewed you, and we will not play down the risk to bowel control.

Frequently asked questions

Does every anal fissure need surgery?

No. Many heal with medication, a high-fibre diet and fluids. Surgery is considered when a fissure has not healed with non-surgical treatment.

What is a lateral internal sphincterotomy?

An operation that divides a small part of the inner anal muscle to lower the pressure, improve blood flow and let the fissure heal. The surgeon may recommend a different technique for your case.

Can fissure surgery affect bowel control?

Temporary difficulty controlling wind or stools can happen, and lasting changes are rarer. Ask the surgeon to explain your own risk before you consent.

How long after fissure surgery can I fly home to South Africa?

Most patients are cleared to fly after three to five days, if the surgeon agrees. Full recovery usually takes four to six weeks.

Will my medical aid cover fissure surgery in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment. Check with your scheme before you book.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.