Surgeon and Hospital Selection
When evaluating the experience and expertise of a surgeon, it is important to seek answers to the following questions:
- Surgeon’s Experience: Find out how many years the surgeon has been working in this field, the average number of operations they perform per year, and the type of operations (gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, etc.).
- International Accreditation: Check whether the hospital has international accreditations such as JCI (Joint Commission International) or ISO. These accreditations indicate that certain quality and safety standards are met.
- Staff Communication: Confirm in advance whether the surgeon and hospital staff have sufficient English or Turkish communication skills. This is crucial to prevent misunderstandings that may arise during the treatment process.
- Patient Satisfaction and Success Stories: You can gain more information about the hospital and surgeon by looking at patient reviews on hospital websites, social media accounts, and international medical tourism platforms. Some hospitals publish their success stories.
Costs and Included Services
The costs of weight loss surgery vary greatly depending on the country and hospital. The cost generally includes the following items:
- Surgical Fee: Covers the surgeon’s service fee.
- Hospital Expenses: Includes the operating room, anesthesia, hospital room, and nursing services during the stay.
- Medications: Covers the necessary medications to be used before and after the surgery.
Typical expenses not included in the price are as follows:
- Plane tickets and visa fees.
- Accommodation (hotel or apartment expenses for the time you will stay outside the hospital).
- Airport and hospital transfers.
Some medical tourism packages may also cover these extra expenses, so it is important to ask for these details before making an agreement.
Pre- and Post-Surgery Support
- Dietitian and Psychologist Support: Dietitian and psychologist support before and after the surgery is offered by many hospitals as it increases the success rate of the treatment. Clarify whether this service is included in the package and for how long it will continue.
- Follow-up Process: The post-surgery follow-up process generally requires staying in the hospital for the first few days, and then staying in that country for a while longer for check-ups. Find out if an additional fee is charged for this process.
Complications and Emergency Management
- Potential Complications: As with any surgical operation, weight loss surgeries carry risks of complications such as bleeding, infection, and leakage. In such cases, find out what services the hospital offers (additional surgery, extended hospital stay, etc.) and their cost (whether an additional fee will be charged).
- Emergency Support: Find out if the hospital has a 24/7 accessible support line or mechanism for possible emergencies in the post-operative period.
Travel and Medical Insurance
- Visa and Duration of Stay: Find out how long you need to stay in that country for the surgery. Confirm with the relevant consulate or embassy whether a visa is required to travel to the country and how this process works.
- Medical Travel Insurance: It is of great importance to get comprehensive medical travel insurance before receiving medical treatment abroad. These insurances can cover unexpected situations such as medical emergencies, hospitalization, and even medical evacuation. Read the scope of your insurance policy carefully.
Other Important Considerations
- Cultural and Nutritional Differences: Get information from your dietitian about cultural and nutritional differences that may affect the success of the surgery.
- Country’s Reputation: Research the quality of the health system and the reputation of the country you are considering in the field of medical tourism. Knowing the country’s legal regulations and patient rights will be to your advantage in case of potential problems.
- Comparison with Your Own Country: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of having surgery abroad compared to your own country. There may be advantages such as lower costs and shorter waiting times, but there may also be disadvantages such as the difficulty of the follow-up process and communication barriers.
