For patients in South Africa

Body lift in Turkey from South Africa: skin removal after weight loss

A body lift removes loose skin and reshapes areas left slack by major weight loss or by age. It is not one fixed operation: it is planned from a set of skin-removal procedures, chosen for the areas that bother you. See also our body contouring guide for South Africans.

What a body lift can include

• Tummy tuck — skin removal from the abdomen; where loose skin runs round the whole waist, a 360 tummy tuck is used
• Back lift — skin removal from the upper or lower back (back lift guide)
• Buttock lift — skin removal from the buttock area
• Thigh lift — skin removal from the inner thighs (thigh lift guide)
• Arm lift — skin removal from the upper arms (arm lift guide)
• Breast uplift — skin removal and reshaping of the breasts

The full list is on the body lift treatment page. Which of these you need is decided from your photographs and an examination, not from a standard package.

Who it suits

• People with loose, overhanging skin after major weight loss
• People whose weight has been stable for some time, close to their target
• People in good general health who do not smoke, or can stop well before surgery

A body lift removes skin, not weight. If you are still losing weight, the surgeon will usually advise waiting, because further loss can loosen the skin again. The scars are longer than after most cosmetic operations; they are placed where clothing usually covers them, and they fade over time but do not disappear.

One operation or several

Combining areas can mean one anaesthetic and one recovery, but it also means a longer operation, more swelling and a harder first fortnight. The surgeon calculates the total operating time and decides what is safe in one sitting; the rest may be done at a second visit. Combined operations are done under general anaesthesia.

Hospital stay and the flight home

Patients usually spend one to three nights in hospital, depending on what was done, then recover at Mandarin Grove near İzmir. Drains may be used for a short time, and compression garments support healing. Many patients stay in Turkey between seven and fourteen days in total. Because the flight from Istanbul to Johannesburg or Cape Town takes around ten hours, and long periods of sitting after major body surgery raise the risk of blood clots, South African patients should expect the surgeon to keep them towards the longer end.

• South Africans need an e-Visa; see the e-Visa guide
• Book a return ticket you can change
• Wear your compression garment and any stockings you are given on the flight; take an aisle seat, walk regularly and drink water

Recovery at home

Swelling, bruising and tightness are normal in the first one to two weeks, and rest matters. From around weeks three to six most people return gradually to light daily activity while still wearing compression garments and avoiding strenuous exercise. Contours refine over several months.

The risks are those of each operation, with more swelling, slower wound healing and fluid collection (seroma) more likely when areas are combined; infection, bleeding and anaesthetic complications are possible with any surgery.

Follow-up continues by photograph, message and video call; İzmir is one hour ahead of South Africa. For one year our treatment guarantee covers medical complications and clinically necessary revisions, not a result within what was discussed; accepted cases are treated in İzmir at no charge, but flights and accommodation are your own cost. See our clinic facts and complaints procedure.

What we will not do

We will not confirm a plan before a surgeon has reviewed you, we will not promise a result, and we will not operate if your health makes it unsafe. A long journey is not a reason to add more procedures to one operation than the surgeon judges safe.

Frequently asked questions

What does a body lift include?

It is planned from skin-removal operations on the abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs, arms and breasts. Which ones you need depends on where the loose skin is.

Can all areas be done in one operation?

Sometimes, but not always. The surgeon calculates the total operating time and decides what is safe in one sitting; the rest may be staged at a second visit.

How long should I stay in Turkey after a body lift?

Patients usually spend one to three nights in hospital and many stay seven to fourteen days in total. South African patients should expect to stay towards the longer end before a ten-hour flight.

Should I finish losing weight before a body lift?

Yes. A body lift works best at a stable weight close to your target, because further weight loss can loosen the skin again.

Will my medical aid cover a body lift?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover cosmetic body surgery done abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment. Ask your scheme and your insurer specifically before you book.

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