If you plan to use a facilitator for treatment in Türkiye, first ask for their international health tourism authorisation certificate: a regulation in force since April 2025 makes it mandatory. Then ask, in writing, for the surgeon's name and credentials, the name of the hospital, an itemised price breakdown and the follow-up plan after you return home. Don't proceed with a company that can't answer these questions clearly.
Most patients researching cosmetic surgery, dental work or a hair transplant in Türkiye make their first contact not with a doctor but with a coordination company. A good facilitator makes the process easier: it helps you find the right specialist, arranges travel and accommodation, and removes the language barrier. A poorly chosen one can leave you unsure who is responsible after surgery.
This guide explains the facilitator's role, the rules in Türkiye and the questions to ask before you book.
What a Facilitator Does, and Doesn't Do
Turkish regulation defines a health tourism facilitator as a legal entity holding an authorisation certificate that advises international patients and organises healthcare services, accommodation, transport and transfers. In other words, a facilitator's job is organisation and communication.
Diagnosis, treatment decisions and surgical planning belong to the healthcare facility and the doctor. A coordinator telling you "this operation is right for you" is not a medical assessment. The decision should be made by a surgeon who has examined you, or at least reviewed your photos and medical history.
The Legal Framework in Türkiye
International health tourism is governed by the Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health, published in the Official Gazette on 26 April 2025. The rules that matter most to patients are:
- Authorisation is mandatory: healthcare facilities and facilitators serving international patients must hold an authorisation certificate. Facilitators receive theirs from USHAŞ (Uluslararası Sağlık Hizmetleri A.Ş.). The certificate cannot be transferred, and each branch needs its own (Article 5).
- HealthTürkiye portal: authorised facilities and facilitators are registered on the Ministry of Health's HealthTürkiye portal and must keep their details up to date (Article 8).
- Transparency online: a company's website must show information about its authorisation certificate and use the exact name on the certificate (Article 13).
- Itemised pricing: on request, a facilitator must give you a detailed breakdown of accommodation, transport, transfer, interpreting and consultancy fees (Article 12).
- Complication insurance: the regulation requires facilities to hold complication insurance for surgical procedures performed in an operating theatre (Article 6). The Council of State suspended this rule in December 2025, but the suspension was lifted on 21 May 2026. As the case is still pending, we recommend asking for the policy's coverage in writing in every case.
10 Checks Before You Book
Ask the questions below in writing and keep the answers. A good company won't mind being asked.
| Question | Why it matters | Answer to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Do you hold an authorisation certificate? | Required by regulation | Certificate details and the company's legal name |
| 2. Who will perform the surgery? | The surgeon determines the outcome | Surgeon's name, specialty and board certification |
| 3. When will I speak to the surgeon? | The plan should be made by the surgeon | An online consultation before travel and an in-person exam before surgery |
| 4. Which hospital will the surgery take place in? | Intensive care and anaesthesia facilities are part of safety | The hospital's name and branch |
| 5. What is included in the price? | Prevents hidden costs | A written, itemised breakdown |
| 6. Is there complication insurance? | Decides who pays if something unexpected happens | The policy's coverage, in writing |
| 7. When will I receive the informed consent form? | You should know the risks before deciding | Before travel, in your language |
| 8. How many days should I stay in Istanbul? | Flying home too early can increase risk | A stay set by the surgeon for your procedure |
| 9. Who handles follow-up once I'm home? | Problems often appear after you return | Direct contact with the surgeon and a check-up schedule |
| 10. If something goes wrong, who will fix it? | Responsibility for revisions and costs must be clear | A written revision and complication policy |
Red Flags
- The surgeon's name is only given after payment, or not at all.
- You're pressured with deadlines like "discount if you book this week".
- The price comes only through a social media message, with no written quote.
- Surgery is scheduled for the day you land, or straight after the examination.
- Vague terms like "partner clinic" are used instead of the hospital's name.
- Risks aren't discussed and the consent form is handed over on the morning of surgery.
- Nobody can say who will look after you once you're home.
Verifying the Surgeon and Hospital
However professional a facilitator is, the outcome of surgery depends on the surgeon and the hospital. The joint statement by the British and Turkish plastic surgery associations (BAAPS and TSPRAS) recommends that patients:
- confirm the surgeon is a plastic surgery specialist and a member of TSPRAS;
- ask to see their Turkish board certification (European board qualification, EBOPRAS, is an added plus);
- complete the informed consent process before travelling;
- get the aftercare plan and the surgeon's contact details in advance;
- insist the operation takes place in a fully equipped, recognised hospital.
You can review the training and experience of the plastic surgeon we work with on Op. Dr. Doğuş Yalçın's profile page.
Reading a Package Price
"All-inclusive" doesn't mean the same thing everywhere. When comparing two quotes, check line by line whether each of these is included:
| Item | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Surgery and anaesthesia | Are the surgeon's fee, anaesthesia and theatre fees included? |
| Hospital stay | How many nights? What's the extra charge if it has to be extended? |
| Tests | Are pre-operative blood tests and examinations included? |
| Medication and medical garments | Are discharge medicines, compression garments and supports included? |
| Accommodation and transfers | How many nights, which hotel? Are airport and hospital transfers included? |
| Interpreting | Is there an interpreter for the examination, surgery day and check-ups? |
| Check-ups and follow-up | Are check-ups in Istanbul and remote follow-up after you return charged? |
| Complications and revisions | Who covers extra costs if something unexpected happens? |
For a concrete example of what drives cost, read our guide to BBL Prices in Istanbul 2026.
Who Looks After You Once You're Home?
The UK Department of Health and Social Care suggests one key question for anyone considering treatment abroad: if it goes wrong, who will fix it? (GOV.UK, August 2025). How a facilitator answers it is one of the best indicators of its quality.
- Direct contact with the surgeon: you should be able to reach your surgeon or their team when needed, not only a sales representative.
- Remote check-up schedule: how often you'll be followed up by photos and video calls should be agreed in advance.
- Your own doctor: take your operation report and medication list home; your GP may need them.
- Travel insurance: check whether you have travel health insurance that covers planned treatment.
Details on post-operative stays and flight planning are on our Travel and Accommodation page.
How Surgicrafters Works
We apply the principles in this guide to our own process. We don't make medical decisions for you; we help you ask the right questions, speak to the right specialist and plan the journey.
Before You Travel
- The surgeon's name and credentials shared from the start
- An online consultation with the surgeon
- The hospital's name and a written, itemised quote
In Istanbul
- Examination and tests before surgery
- Transfers, accommodation and interpreting coordinated
- Check-up appointments tracked
After You Return
- Remote follow-up with the surgeon's team
- A single point of contact for your questions
You can find the doctors we work with on Our Doctors, our partner institutions on Hospitals and Clinics, and our principles on Quality and Safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a medical tourism facilitator in Türkiye need an authorisation certificate?
Yes. Under the Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health, in force since 26 April 2025, facilitators must hold an authorisation certificate. It is issued by USHAŞ and cannot be transferred.
Can a facilitator decide which operation is right for me?
No. Diagnosis and treatment decisions belong to the healthcare facility and the doctor. A facilitator's role is advice, organisation, transport and accommodation.
Is complication insurance currently mandatory?
The regulation requires facilities to hold complication insurance for surgical procedures performed in an operating theatre. The Council of State decision suspending this rule was lifted on 21 May 2026, though the case is still pending. Ask for the policy's coverage in writing in every case.
Am I entitled to an itemised price breakdown?
Yes. Under the regulation, a facilitator must provide, on request, a detailed breakdown of accommodation, transport, transfer, interpreting and consultancy fees.
Should I speak to the surgeon before travelling?
Yes. It's recommended that the surgeon reviews your photos and medical history, that you have an online consultation, and that the informed consent form is shared before you travel.
Is choosing the cheapest quote risky?
Price on its own is only one signal. A low quote is risky if it comes from leaving the surgeon, hospital, length of stay or follow-up unclear. Compare quotes item by item.
Sources
- Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health (Official Gazette, 26.04.2025 – full text, Turkish)
- Council of State decision on complication insurance in health tourism (ÜSTE, Turkish)
- Joint statement from BAAPS and TSPRAS (June 2023)
- GOV.UK – Safety advice for treatment abroad (August 2025)
