For patients in South Africa

Sculpt and Lift Package in Turkey from South Africa

This page explains our Sculpt and Lift Package for patients travelling from South Africa. Pregnancy, weight changes and age often affect the waist and breasts together; this package treats both in one plan.

What the package combines

• 360 liposuction: removes excess fat around the whole midsection through small incisions with a thin cannula. See our 360 liposuction guide for South Africans
• Breast lift: removes excess skin, lifts and reshapes the breast tissue and moves the nipple and areola to a more natural height. If you also want more volume, implants would be needed. See our breast lift guide for South Africans

Combining means one anaesthetic and one recovery, but only after careful assessment; some patients are advised to have them separately. For other combinations, see our body contouring guide for South Africans or the breast surgery guide.

Who it suits

• Women with excess fat around the abdomen and waist
• Women whose breasts have dropped or lost firmness
• People whose weight is stable and who are in good general health

The operation

Both parts are done under general anaesthesia. Liposuction is carried out through small incisions in the abdomen, flanks and lower back. For the breast lift, incisions go around the areola and sometimes vertically down the breast; skin is removed, the tissue is reshaped and the incisions are closed with stitches. These incisions leave scars, usually placed where they are less visible and fading with time.

Recovery

Expect swelling, bruising, mild to moderate discomfort and limited movement at first. Compression garments support healing after liposuction, and light walking is usually encouraged soon after surgery. Most patients resume light activities within a few weeks; full recovery can take several weeks to months while swelling settles. Risks include infection, bleeding, fluid collection (seroma), changes in breast sensation, uneven contour after liposuction and scarring.

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: the surgeon sets this once your plan is known, based on your follow-up checks. 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: how many areas are treated with liposuction, the breast lift technique, the length of the hospital stay 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

Does a breast lift make the breasts bigger?

Not significantly. It improves breast position and firmness. If you want more volume, implants may be needed.

Can I have liposuction and a breast lift separately?

Yes. Some patients have them as two separate operations, depending on medical advice.

Will liposuction stop me putting on weight?

No. It removes fat cells from the treated areas, but keeping the result depends on a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle.

How long does recovery take?

Initial recovery takes several weeks; complete healing can take months.

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.