For patients in South Africa

Penile enlargement with fat transfer in Turkey from South Africa: realistic expectations

Penile fat transfer moves a small amount of your own fat into the penis. It is a cosmetic procedure with real limits: some of the fat is reabsorbed and results vary. This page sets out what the procedure involves, what it cannot promise, and what South African men need to know about the seven-night stay in Turkey.

What the procedure involves

Fat transfer (also called fat grafting, and nano fat grafting on our penile augmentation treatment page) takes a small amount of your own fat, typically from the abdomen or thighs, prepares it and injects it into the penis. It is a cosmetic procedure carried out by a plastic surgeon in a registered private hospital.

Be clear about the limits before you consider it:

• Part of the transferred fat is reabsorbed by the body in the months after treatment, and how much varies from person to person
• The result is therefore not guaranteed to be permanent, and a further procedure is sometimes discussed
• What change is realistic in your case is decided by the surgeon at assessment, not promised in advance
• Any effect on confidence or satisfaction is individual and cannot be predicted

Assessment comes first

The process starts with photographs of the area, sent privately, so the surgeon can advise whether the procedure is appropriate. Before treatment you have blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a physical examination, and a face-to-face consultation with the surgeon, with a member of our team guiding you through each step.

Worry about size is common, and for many men the size is within the normal range. If an erection or other sexual health concern sits behind the question, a medical assessment of that comes first; some of these problems have medical causes, such as heart and blood-vessel disease, that your own doctor should check. The men’s health guide and the sexual health guide cover the wider options.

Your stay in Turkey

There are direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul of around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir, where treatment takes place. South Africans need an e-Visa, explained in the e-Visa guide. Turkey is only one hour ahead of South Africa, so follow-up calls are easy to arrange.

• You are collected from the airport and taken to Mandarin Grove, our recovery retreat near İzmir
• The total stay is seven nights, including one night in hospital after the procedure, when the surgeon checks on you
• A bilingual chaperone stays with you during the hospital stay, and support is available around the clock
• After you return home we stay in touch to follow your recovery and pass any questions to the surgeon

Expect swelling and bruising for some weeks, and no sexual activity until the surgeon clears you. Follow the written aftercare closely, and keep your GP informed.

Before you book from South Africa

• South African medical schemes do not normally cover cosmetic procedures, and generally not elective treatment abroad; travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad
• Allow for the possibility that a further procedure may be discussed later, which would mean another trip
• Take your treatment notes home in case a local doctor needs to see you

Follow-up and the guarantee

Medical complications and clinically necessary revisions within one year are covered by our treatment guarantee: that treatment is carried out in İzmir at no charge, though flights and accommodation remain your own cost. It is not a promise of a particular result. The clinic facts page explains how we work, and the complaints page how problems are handled. The guarantee does not cover dissatisfaction with an aesthetic result that falls within what was discussed before treatment, which matters here because some fat is expected to be reabsorbed.

Pricing is transparent and agreed in writing before you travel.

What we will not do

We will not promise any increase in size, length or girth, or any change in sexual performance. We will not treat you without a surgeon’s assessment, and if the surgeon thinks the procedure is unlikely to help, or that a medical problem should be looked at first, we will tell you.

Frequently asked questions

Is penile fat transfer permanent?

Not necessarily. Part of the transferred fat is reabsorbed in the months after treatment, the amount varies, and a further procedure is sometimes discussed.

How much bigger will my penis be?

No one can promise a figure. The surgeon explains at assessment what change is realistic for you, and results vary between patients.

How long do I need to stay in Turkey?

The stay is seven nights, including one night in hospital, with the rest at Mandarin Grove near İzmir.

Where does the fat come from?

Typically from the abdomen or thighs. The surgeon decides the donor area at assessment.

Will my medical aid cover penile enlargement in Turkey?

South African medical schemes do not normally cover cosmetic procedures, and travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad. Ask your scheme directly if in doubt.

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