For patients in South Africa

Breast and Thigh Package in Turkey from South Africa

This page explains our Breast and Thigh Package for patients travelling from South Africa. It pairs two operations for one problem, loose skin, in two places: the breasts and the thighs.

What the package combines

• Breast lift: raises and reshapes breasts that have dropped, removes excess skin and moves the nipple higher where needed. It does not change cup size much on its own. See our breast lift guide for South Africans
• Thigh lift: removes loose skin and tissue from the inner thighs, the outer thighs or, in selected cases, the front or back of the thigh. See our thigh lift guide for South Africans

Both treat skin that has lost elasticity, not weight. Combining means one anaesthetic and one recovery, but a longer operation, so the surgeon weighs your health and operating time first. For other combinations, see our body contouring guide for South Africans.

Who it suits

• Women with loose skin on both the breasts and the thighs
• People whose weight has been stable for some time and who are in good general health
• Non-smokers, or smokers willing to stop before surgery

Surgery may be postponed if your weight is still changing, a medical condition is uncontrolled, or you plan another pregnancy.

The operation

Both parts are done under general anaesthesia. For the breast lift, incisions run around the areola, often vertically down the breast and sometimes along the crease beneath it, depending on how much lift is needed. For the thigh lift, incisions are placed where they are easiest to hide, such as the groin crease or along the inner thigh. Scars are permanent; they usually fade, but they can take 12 to 18 months to mature.

Hospital stay and recovery

• Hospital: one to three nights, with pain relief and early walking
• Weeks 1–2: swelling, bruising, rest, compression garments and a supportive bra
• Weeks 3–6: light activities return; no strenuous exercise
• After 6–8 weeks: most daily activities resume; the shape keeps settling for months

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Flights: around ten hours direct from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Istanbul, then a short flight to İzmir, where treatment takes place
• Visa: South Africans need an e-Visa; see the e-Visa guide
• How long to stay: many patients stay in Turkey for 7 to 14 days, depending on how they are healing. Book a return ticket you can change
• Blood clots: body surgery followed by a long-haul flight raises the risk of DVT. The surgeon decides when you can fly and which precautions to take, usually your compression garment, moving about on the flight and drinking enough water
• Time difference: one hour, so follow-up calls are easy
• Cover: medical schemes generally do not cover elective surgery abroad, so check with yours; travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment

Follow-up at home

Follow-up continues by photo, message and video call with the same team. Find a GP at home willing to see you, and bring home your operation notes and medication list. Complications, and revisions that become clinically necessary, are covered for one year by our treatment guarantee. See also clinic facts on our board-certified surgeons, and our complaints process.

What decides the cost

We give no single figure, because plans differ. What decides the cost: the extent of the breast lift, which areas of the thigh need treatment, the number of nights in hospital and what your plan includes. Pricing is transparent: your written plan states what is included.

What we will not do

We will not confirm a plan before a surgeon has reviewed you, promise a result, or operate if your health makes it unsafe. Distance is no reason to combine more than the surgeon judges safe.

Frequently asked questions

Will a breast lift make my breasts bigger?

Not noticeably. It raises and reshapes the breasts; size changes only with implants or a reduction.

Can a breast lift and thigh lift be done in the same operation?

For suitable patients, yes, after a full medical assessment.

How long should I stay in Turkey?

Many patients stay 7 to 14 days, depending on healing. The surgeon decides when you can fly.

How do I reduce the risk of blood clots on the flight home?

Follow the surgeon’s advice on when to fly. Usually that means wearing your compression garment, moving about on the flight and drinking enough water.

Will my medical aid pay for this package?

Schemes generally do not cover elective surgery abroad, so check with yours. Travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment too.

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