For patients in South Africa

Stomach surgery in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

This page is an overview of the stomach operations we arrange in İzmir, Turkey, for patients travelling from South Africa: what each is for, what must be in place before you travel, and what to plan for when the flight home takes around ten hours. Everything starts with your records and an assessment by a surgeon.

Guides for South African patients

Several stomach and abdominal operations have their own South African guide:

• Hernia repair in Turkey from South Africa
• Hiatal hernia repair in Turkey from South Africa
• Gallbladder removal in Turkey from South Africa
• Intestinal surgery in Turkey from South Africa
• Pancreas surgery in Turkey from South Africa

For all general surgery, including the operations listed above, see the general surgery guide for South African patients.

Stomach operations we arrange

Each operation is described in more detail on the stomach surgery treatment page.

Hernia repair

Repair closes a weak spot in the abdominal wall that lets tissue push through.

Hiatus hernia repair

Part of the stomach slides up through the diaphragm; repair returns it and aims to reduce acid reflux and discomfort.

Ulcer surgery

Most ulcers are treated with medication; surgery is considered for long-standing or serious ulcers.

Stomach obstruction and cancer surgery

Surgery can relieve a blockage, and removing the affected part of the stomach is a main treatment for stomach cancer. These are major operations. A sudden blockage is an emergency for a hospital at home, and cancer surgery belongs inside a plan that includes your oncology team in South Africa.

Urgent symptoms are treated at home

Severe or sudden abdominal pain, vomiting blood, black stools, repeated vomiting or a hernia that becomes hard and painful need a doctor or emergency unit in South Africa immediately. Travel to Turkey is only for planned, non-urgent operations once the diagnosis is clear.

Before you travel: records and assessment

The surgeon needs to see your history before any plan is made. Send:

• Reports from your GP or specialist, including gastroscopy and biopsy results if you have had them
• Recent scans and the radiologist’s reports
• Recent blood tests and a list of all your medication
• Details of other conditions, previous operations and any history of blood clots

Tests are completed in İzmir as needed, and the surgeon explains the operation and its risks before you consent. Patients usually stay in hospital for a few days.

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 need an e-Visa, applied for online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Stay: allow for the hospital stay plus checks before a long-haul flight, and book a return ticket you can change
• Clots: ask the surgeon about clot risk and when it is safe to make a ten-hour flight; walk the aisle and drink water on board
• Time difference: İzmir 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, so check with your scheme before you book; standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad

Follow-up at home

Follow-up is usually planned at about one week, one month and three months. Agree before you book which checks happen in Turkey, which by video call, and who will see you in South Africa. Take the discharge notes, operation details and any pathology results home for your GP.

Medical complications from the operation, and any clinically necessary revision, are covered for one year by our treatment guarantee. Covered treatment is carried out in İzmir at no charge, but flights and accommodation are yours to pay, and treatment by another provider after you return home is not covered. Facts about the clinic and surgeons are on the clinic facts page, and our complaints page explains how problems after treatment are handled.

What we will not do

We will not confirm an operation before a surgeon has reviewed your records, we will not promise a result, and we will not arrange travel for a problem that needs urgent care at home. We will not suggest that cancer surgery can be planned without your oncology team.

Frequently asked questions

Which stomach operations can be planned in Turkey?

Planned, non-urgent operations such as hernia repair, hiatus hernia repair and surgery for long-standing ulcers. A surgeon reviews your records first and decides whether an operation is suitable for you.

Can I travel to Turkey for an urgent stomach problem?

No. Severe or sudden abdominal pain, vomiting blood, black stools or a hernia that becomes hard and painful must be treated in South Africa immediately. Travel is only for planned care.

What should I send before my consultation?

Specialist reports, gastroscopy and biopsy results, recent scans and blood tests, a list of your medication and details of previous operations or blood clots.

How long should I stay in Turkey after stomach surgery?

Patients usually spend a few days in hospital and are checked again before they fly. The surgeon decides when a ten-hour flight is safe, so book a return ticket you can change.

Will my medical aid pay for stomach surgery in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment. Check with both before you book.

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