For patients in South Africa

Hip replacement in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

Hip replacement removes the damaged parts of a worn hip joint and replaces them with an artificial implant, to relieve pain and restore movement when other treatment no longer helps. For South African patients the operation is the same as for anyone else; what needs extra planning is the stay in Turkey, the ten-hour flight home and the months of rehabilitation that follow. This page covers all three.

Who it suits

• People with severe hip pain, stiffness or reduced movement from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, injury or a hip fracture
• People whose symptoms are no longer controlled by non-surgical treatment
• People healthy enough for a major operation and a long flight afterwards

Send recent X-rays, any MRI scans, letters from your doctor and a list of your medicines. A recent fall with severe hip pain or a suspected fracture needs treatment in South Africa straight away; travel is only for planned surgery. The full treatment page is hip replacement surgery.

The operation and the stay in Turkey

The damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with artificial components designed for smooth movement. The operation usually takes one to two hours, depending on how complex it is.

• Days 1–3: you stand and walk with a physiotherapist soon after surgery; pain, swelling and tiredness are managed with medication
• Days 4–7: you walk further with a walker or crutches and practise everyday movements
• Recovery: after hospital, patients recover at Mandarin Grove, our recovery retreat near İzmir, between physiotherapy sessions and check-ups

In selected patients both hips may be replaced together; the surgeon decides from your health, mobility and medical history.

How long to stay, and the flight home

Most patients are cleared to fly after five to seven days. A ten-hour flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town soon after hip surgery raises the risk of blood clots, so the surgeon may ask you to stay longer. Book a return ticket you can change.

• Ask the surgeon about your clot risk and any blood-thinning medication
• Ask for airport assistance and an aisle seat, and keep your walking aid with you
• Ask the surgeon which positions to avoid while sitting for a long time
• Tell us at the start about any history of clots, smoking or hormone medication

Recovery at home

Between two and six weeks, strength, balance and movement improve with regular exercises, and many patients move to a stick or no walking aid. Light daily activities usually return within three to six weeks; driving and work depend on your progress and your job. By three to six months the hip has largely healed. The surgeon will tell you when lower-impact sport is safe.

Physiotherapy is essential, so arrange it before you travel. Decide who will follow you up in South Africa, book a physiotherapist who can see you soon after you land, and take home your operation notes, implant details and X-rays. Follow-up continues by message and video call with the same team; Turkey is only one hour ahead of South Africa.

Risks

Hip replacement is a well-established operation, but it carries real risks: pain, swelling and stiffness, blood clots, infection, slow wound healing, a difference in leg length, dislocation of the hip and, more rarely, implant loosening, nerve or blood vessel injury or the need for revision surgery. Many modern hip implants last 15 to 20 years or longer, depending on age, activity, weight and general health.

Complications and clinically necessary revisions within one year are covered by our treatment guarantee. See the clinic facts page, the joint replacement guide, the orthopaedic surgery guide for South African patients and our complaints process.

What we will not do

We will not confirm a plan before an orthopaedic surgeon has reviewed your X-rays, 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 fly home before the surgeon is satisfied.

Frequently asked questions

How long after a hip replacement can I fly home to South Africa?

The surgeon decides. Most patients are cleared to fly after five to seven days, but because the flight home takes around ten hours and clot risk matters, South African patients may be asked to stay longer.

How long does hip replacement surgery take?

Usually between one and two hours, depending on how complex the operation is and your individual needs.

Can both hips be replaced at the same time?

In selected patients it may be possible. The surgeon decides after assessing your general health, mobility and medical history.

How long does a hip replacement last?

Many modern hip implants last 15 to 20 years or longer, depending on age, activity level, weight and general health.

Will my medical aid cover a hip replacement in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned surgery. 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.