For patients in South Africa

Hourglass Enhancement Package in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

This package pairs a tummy tuck with breast augmentation in one operation. The aim is proportion: a flatter abdomen with more volume above it, so the waist looks narrower. This page is for patients travelling from South Africa.

What the package combines

• Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) — removes loose abdominal skin, tightens weakened or separated muscles and can reposition the belly button. See tummy tuck in Turkey from South Africa.
• Breast augmentation — adds volume or improves shape, usually with silicone or saline implants, or in some cases your own fat. See breast augmentation in Turkey.

If your breasts have dropped as well as lost volume, augmentation alone may not give the shape you are picturing; the Body and Breast Lift Package may fit better. Settle this at consultation, not afterwards. Full details are on the treatment page.

Who it suits

• People with loose abdominal skin or weakened muscles, often after pregnancy or weight loss
• People who want more breast volume, a better shape or less asymmetry
• People at a stable weight and in good general health
• Non-smokers, or people able to stop well before surgery

How the operation is done

Both procedures are usually done in the same session under general anaesthesia, and the whole operation can take several hours. The implants are placed through planned incisions, the loose abdominal skin is removed and the muscles tightened, and then the wounds are closed. Both leave scars, which surgeons place where they are less visible when possible. Bring your implant details home: you will want them for any future care in South Africa.

How long to stay, and the flight home

The surgeon gives you a stay length at consultation. For a tummy tuck alone, most patients are cleared to fly after five to seven days, and a combined operation can need longer. Abdominal surgery followed by a ten-hour flight raises the risk of blood clots (DVT), so the surgeon decides when it is safe to fly and what precautions you need.

• Direct flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, then a short hop to İzmir; you need an e-Visa (see the e-Visa guide)
• Wear your compression garment on the flight, walk when you can and drink water
• Tell us about any history of blood clots, smoking or hormone medication
• Book a return ticket you can change

Recovery at home

Expect swelling, bruising and tightness at first; wear compression garments and a supportive bra as advised, walk gently and avoid heavy lifting until cleared. Most people return to normal daily activities within several weeks.

Follow-up continues by photograph, message and video call with the same team; Turkey is only one hour ahead of South Africa. Keep your GP informed. Other combinations are in the body contouring guide for South African patients. Our treatment guarantee covers medical complications and clinically necessary revisions for one year from treatment; flights and accommodation for a return visit are your own cost. See also clinic facts and our complaints process.

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

Can a tummy tuck and breast augmentation be done in the same operation?

Often, yes, depending on your health and surgical plan. The surgeon decides whether both are safe in one session.

Does the Hourglass Enhancement Package include a breast lift?

No. It adds volume but does not lift. If your breasts have dropped, ask at consultation whether a lift is needed instead or as well.

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

The surgeon decides, based on how you are healing. A combined operation can need a longer stay than a tummy tuck alone, so book a return ticket you can change.

Will the operation leave scars?

Yes. Both procedures need incisions, and the surgeon places them where they are less visible when possible.

Will my medical aid pay for the Hourglass Enhancement Package?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective cosmetic surgery abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned surgery. Check with both before you book; we cannot promise either will pay.

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