For patients in South Africa

Upper Body Sculpt Package in Turkey from South Africa

This page explains our Upper Body Sculpt Package for patients travelling from South Africa. It treats two problems at once: fat around the waist and back, and loose skin on the upper arms.

What the package combines

• 360 liposuction: removes local fat all the way around the midsection: abdomen, waist, flanks and lower back, through small incisions. See our 360 liposuction guide for South Africans
• Arm lift: removes loose skin and tissue from the upper arms, tightens what lies beneath and reshapes the arm. See our arm lift guide for South Africans

The two are paired because liposuction alone rarely helps where the skin has already lost its elasticity. The trade-off is a permanent arm scar; if your skin is good, liposuction alone may be enough. For other combinations, see our body contouring guide for South Africans.

Who it suits

• People with fat deposits around the waist and upper torso
• People with loose or sagging skin on the upper arms, often after significant weight loss or with age
• Anyone in stable general health whose weight has settled

Before surgery you will usually be asked to stop smoking, avoid medicines that increase bleeding and keep your weight steady.

The operation

Both procedures are normally done in the same session under general anaesthesia. Fat is removed from the torso, then excess arm skin, and the areas are smoothed before closing.

Recovery

Expect swelling, bruising, tightness and some discomfort, with limited movement at first. You will wear compression garments, walk gently to help your circulation, avoid strenuous activity and attend follow-up checks. Most people return to normal daily life gradually over several weeks. Risks include infection, bleeding, scarring, fluid build-up, temporary numbness and slow wound healing.

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 how you are healing after the 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, how much arm skin needs removing, 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

Is liposuction a way to lose weight?

No. It removes local fat to improve shape, not weight.

Can liposuction and an arm lift be done in one operation?

Often, yes, depending on your health and treatment plan. The surgeon decides what is safe to combine.

Will the arm lift leave a scar?

Yes. The arm lift leaves a permanent scar in exchange for a firmer arm contour. Ask the surgeon to show you where it will sit before you decide.

How long is the recovery?

Most people gradually return to normal activities over several weeks.

How do I reduce the risk of blood clots on the flight home?

Follow the surgeon’s advice on when to fly. Usually that means wearing your compression garment, moving about on the flight and drinking enough water.

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