For patients in South Africa
Orthopaedic surgery in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide
An overview of the orthopaedic treatments we arrange in İzmir, Turkey, for patients travelling from South Africa: joint replacement, sports injuries, the spine, and the foot and ankle. It explains why a medical assessment comes before any booking and what to plan for when the flight home takes around ten hours.
In short: Nothing is booked until an orthopaedic surgeon has reviewed your scans and reports. South Africans travel with an e-Visa and a direct flight to Istanbul, then a short connection to İzmir. For major operations such as joint replacement or spinal fusion, plan your follow-up and physiotherapy at home before you travel.
Last updated: October 2026
Guides for South African patients
Each group has its own South African guide:
- Joint replacement in Turkey from South Africa
- Sports injury treatment in Turkey from South Africa
- Spine surgery in Turkey from South Africa
- Foot and ankle surgery in Turkey from South Africa
Orthopaedic treatments we arrange
Joint replacement
- Knee replacement — partial or total replacement of a worn knee
- Hip replacement — replaces a hip damaged by arthritis, injury or fracture
Sports injuries
- ACL surgery — reconstructs a torn knee ligament
- Meniscus surgery — keyhole (arthroscopic) treatment of a torn meniscus in the knee
- Rotator cuff repair — repairs torn tendons that stabilise the shoulder
- Tennis elbow treatment — non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment
Spine
- Spinal fusion — permanently joins two or more vertebrae to stabilise the spine
- Laser disc decompression — minimally invasive relief of pressure in a damaged disc
- Epidural steroid injection — reduces inflammation and nerve pain from the spine
- Spinal cord stimulation — for chronic nerve pain that other treatment has not helped
Foot and ankle
- Bunion surgery — corrects hallux valgus at the base of the big toe
- Toe shortening — for discomfort or deformities such as hammer toes
Not sure which applies? Send your scans and the surgeon will say which treatment, if any, fits. See also the orthopaedics page.
Medical assessment comes first
Before anything is booked, the surgeon needs to see:
- Recent X-rays or MRI scans, with the radiologist’s reports
- Letters from your doctor or specialist, and details of previous operations
- Your medicines, and any history of blood clots, diabetes or heart problems
Sometimes surgery is not the right next step. A recent injury with severe pain, swelling, numbness or a suspected fracture should be seen in South Africa straight away; travel is only for planned, non-urgent treatment.
Major operations and continuity of care
Joint replacement and spinal fusion are major operations, and recovery continues for months at home. Before you book, settle:
- Who will follow you up in South Africa
- A physiotherapist who can see you soon after you land
- Copies of operation notes, implant details and X-rays to take home
- Your clot risk, and when a long-haul flight is safe
The surgeon decides when you are fit to fly. A ten-hour flight soon after surgery to a leg, hip or spine raises the risk of clots, so be ready to stay longer than the minimum.
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 apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
- Recovery: after joint replacement, patients recover at Mandarin Grove, our recovery retreat near İzmir, between check-ups and physiotherapy sessions
- Time difference: Turkey 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, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment; check both before you book
Follow-up at home
Follow-up continues by message and video call with the same team. Complications and clinically necessary revisions within one year of treatment are covered by our treatment guarantee; flights and accommodation for any further treatment remain your own responsibility. Facts about the clinic and surgeons are on the clinic facts page, and if something goes wrong you can use our complaints process.
What we will not do
We will not confirm a plan before an orthopaedic surgeon has reviewed your scans, we will not promise a result, and we will not operate if your health makes it unsafe.
Frequently asked questions
What orthopaedic treatments can I have in Turkey from South Africa?
We arrange knee and hip replacement, sports injury treatment such as ACL surgery, meniscus surgery and rotator cuff repair, spine procedures including spinal fusion and injections, and foot surgery such as bunion correction. The surgeon decides which, if any, suits you after reviewing your scans.
What do I need to send before an orthopaedic consultation?
Recent X-rays or MRI scans with their reports, letters from your doctor or specialist, details of previous operations, and a list of your medicines. The surgeon cannot give a reliable plan without them.
How long do I need to stay in Turkey after orthopaedic surgery?
It depends on the operation. Most knee and hip replacement patients are cleared to fly after five to seven days, but because the flight home takes around ten hours, the surgeon may ask you to stay longer. Smaller procedures usually need a shorter stay.
Who looks after me when I get home to South Africa?
Our team continues follow-up by message and video call, but you also need a local doctor and a physiotherapist. Arrange them before you travel, and take your operation notes, implant details and X-rays home.
Will my medical aid pay for orthopaedic surgery in Turkey?
South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment. Ask your scheme directly before you book.
Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.