Op. Dr. Fikret Düşünceli
General SurgeryVerified
- 36+years exp.
English · Turkish
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General surgery in Turkey
A guide to general surgery in Turkey: thyroid and parathyroid surgery, gallbladder removal, hernia repair, adrenal surgery, lipoma and pilonidal sinus treatment, approximate costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, what packages include, how to choose a hospital, how long to stay and aftercare at home.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
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General surgery in Turkey: what you should know
General surgery covers operations on the abdomen and its organs, the thyroid and other endocrine glands, the skin and soft tissue, and hernias. International patients travel to Turkey mainly for planned, non-urgent operations: removal of the thyroid or a parathyroid gland, gallbladder removal for gallstones, hernia repair, adrenal surgery, and smaller procedures such as lipoma removal or laser treatment of a pilonidal sinus.
The main reasons are waiting times and cost. In the UK and several other European countries, non-urgent operations can wait many months on public lists, and private prices are high. Large private hospitals in Turkey have general surgery departments that use laparoscopic (keyhole) techniques routinely, with endocrine surgeons for thyroid and adrenal work. General surgeons in Turkey complete a specialist training of several years after medical school and are registered with the Ministry of Health.
Not every operation should be planned abroad. Acute appendicitis, a trapped (strangulated) hernia or an inflamed gallbladder with fever are emergencies that need treatment in the nearest hospital, and appendectomy is almost never a planned trip. This guide explains costs, packages, the operations patients travel for, how to check a hospital, how long to stay and aftercare at home; hospitals, surgeons and real patient reviews are shown on this page, and a plan is free.
All General Surgery treatments
Browse every General Surgery treatment available at our partner hospitals in Turkey, grouped by category.
How much does general surgery cost in Turkey?
The hospitals on our site do not publish fixed prices for these operations yet, because the price depends on the diagnosis, the technique and the length of stay. The Turkey column gives approximate ranges for international patients; your exact price is confirmed in a written quote. Prices in other countries are approximate private totals and vary widely.
| Procedure | Turkey | United Kingdom | United States | Germany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thyroidectomy | about €3,500–€6,000 (approximate, confirmed in a written quote) | about £6,000–£10,000 | about $10,000–$25,000 | about €5,000–€9,000 |
| Parathyroidectomy | about €3,500–€6,000 (approximate, confirmed in a written quote) | about £6,000–£10,000 | about $10,000–$20,000 | about €5,000–€9,000 |
| Laparoscopic gallbladder removal | about €2,500–€4,500 (approximate, confirmed in a written quote) | about £6,000–£9,000 | about $10,000–$20,000 | about €4,000–€7,000 |
| Inguinal hernia repair | about €2,000–€4,000 (approximate, confirmed in a written quote) | about £3,000–£6,000 | about $5,000–$12,000 | about €3,000–€6,000 |
| Laparoscopic adrenalectomy | on request | about £10,000–£15,000 | about $15,000–$30,000 | about €8,000–€14,000 |
| Pilonidal sinus laser surgery | about €1,000–€2,500 (approximate, confirmed in a written quote) | about £2,000–£4,000 | about $3,000–$8,000 | about €1,500–€3,500 |
| Lipoma removal | about €500–€1,500 (approximate, confirmed in a written quote) | about £800–£2,500 | about $1,000–$4,000 | about €500–€2,000 |
What changes the price: open or laparoscopic surgery, the size and number of lumps or stones, whether a nerve monitor is used during thyroid surgery, the number of nights in hospital, and tests needed first such as ultrasound, CT, hormone tests or a fine-needle biopsy. For treatments marked "on request", the surgeon needs your reports before giving a price.
What a package includes
A package for international patients usually includes the surgeon's and anaesthesiologist's fees, the operating theatre, the hospital stay, blood tests, an ECG and an anaesthetic check before surgery, medication for the first days, the pathology examination of removed tissue, check-ups during your stay, transfers and a coordinator or interpreter; some include hotel nights. Flights, extra nights, a companion's costs, extra imaging the surgeon orders after examining you, and treatment of problems after you fly home are usually not included. Ask for the list in writing, with the name of the hospital and the surgeon.
Thyroid and parathyroid surgery in Turkey
Thyroidectomy removes all or part of the thyroid gland — for a large goitre, nodules that are suspicious or confirmed as cancer, or an overactive thyroid that medicines or radioactive iodine have not controlled. Thyroidectomy in Turkey is done by general or endocrine surgeons, often with a nerve monitor that protects the nerves to the voice box; a subtotal thyroidectomy leaves part of the gland. After a total thyroidectomy you take thyroid hormone tablets for life, and calcium levels are checked because the small parathyroid glands sit next to the thyroid.
Parathyroidectomy removes an overactive parathyroid gland, the usual cause of a high calcium level (primary hyperparathyroidism). A scan beforehand usually finds the gland, so the operation can be done through a small cut. Before thyroid surgery in Turkey, send your ultrasound, blood tests (TSH, thyroid hormones, calcium, parathyroid hormone) and any biopsy result; if cancer is found, further treatment is planned with an endocrinologist and oncologist.
Gallbladder and hernia surgery
Gallbladder surgery in Turkey means laparoscopic gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) for gallstones that cause pain, inflammation or pancreatitis. It is one of the most common planned operations and usually needs one night in hospital. After gallbladder removal in Turkey, most people eat normally within a few weeks; fatty meals may cause loose stools at first.
Hernia surgery in Turkey covers inguinal, umbilical and incisional hernia repair, usually with a mesh and often laparoscopically. A hernia that becomes hard, very painful and cannot be pushed back is an emergency and should be treated where you are, not on a planned trip.
Adrenal surgery and smaller procedures
- Adrenalectomy — laparoscopic removal of an adrenal gland for a hormone-producing tumour or a large adrenal mass. Hormone tests and, for some tumours, several days of medication are needed first, so this is planned together with an endocrinologist.
- Pilonidal sinus laser surgery — closes the sinus tract at the top of the buttock crease with a laser probe through small openings, with less wound care than open excision; recurrence is still possible.
- Lipoma removal — removal of a fatty lump under the skin, usually under local anaesthesia. Lipoma removal in Turkey is quick, but a lump that is large, deep, painful or growing should be scanned first.
- Diagnostic laparoscopy — keyhole examination of the abdomen when scans have not explained pain or another finding; samples can be taken at the same time.
Is general surgery in Turkey safe?
Every hospital in Turkey needs a Ministry of Health licence, and hospitals that treat international patients need an additional health tourism authorisation; many large private hospitals are also accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI). For any operation under general anaesthesia, choose a hospital with an anaesthesiologist, an intensive-care unit and a laboratory on site. The risks of general surgery — bleeding, infection, blood clots, injury to nearby organs, a changed voice or low calcium after thyroid surgery, recurrence after hernia or pilonidal sinus treatment — are the same in every country; your surgeon should explain those specific to your operation in writing.
How to choose a hospital and surgeon
- A licensed hospital with the health tourism authorisation, ideally JCI-accredited.
- A surgeon experienced in your operation — for thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal surgery, a surgeon who does endocrine surgery regularly.
- A plan based on your reports: scans, blood tests, biopsy results and a list of your medicines — not a price after a single message.
- Everything in writing: the surgeon's name, the technique, the price, the package contents and the follow-up plan, including how you receive the pathology result.
Red flags: a price far below every other quote, no named surgeon or hospital, pressure to add procedures, a plan that ignores your scans, and no answer about who helps you after you return. Read our checklist on how to choose a safe surgeon in Turkey and compare the hospitals on our site.
How long do you need to stay in Turkey?
| Procedure | Time in Turkey | Back to desk work |
|---|---|---|
| Lipoma removal | 2–3 days | 1–3 days |
| Pilonidal sinus laser surgery | 3–4 days | About 1 week |
| Hernia repair (laparoscopic) | 4–5 days | 1–2 weeks |
| Gallbladder removal (laparoscopic) | 5–6 days | 1–2 weeks |
| Thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy | 5–7 days | 1–2 weeks |
| Laparoscopic adrenalectomy | 7–10 days | 2–3 weeks |
These are typical times; your surgeon decides when you are fit to fly. Read our advice on flying after surgery abroad.
Aftercare after you fly home
Take home your operation report, discharge summary and medication list, and give copies to your GP; the pathology result usually follows after a week or two and should be sent to you and your doctor. After thyroid surgery, you need blood tests for thyroid hormone and calcium at home, so arrange them with your GP before you travel. After abdominal and hernia surgery, avoid heavy lifting for several weeks. Ask how remote follow-up works and who to contact for fever, a red or leaking wound, increasing pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or tingling around the mouth after thyroid surgery; in these cases seek urgent care where you are. Ordinary travel insurance does not cover planned treatment; specialist medical-travel insurance can cover complications and a longer stay.
Hospitals with General Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
The hospitals on our site do not publish a fixed price yet. A thyroidectomy in Turkey usually costs about €3,500–€6,000 including the hospital stay, compared with about £6,000–£10,000 privately in the UK. The exact price is confirmed in a written quote after the surgeon reviews your reports.
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal usually costs about €2,500–€4,500 in Turkey, compared with about £6,000–£9,000 privately in the UK. The exact price is confirmed in a written quote.
Yes, when it is done in a licensed hospital by an experienced general surgeon. Possible complications include bleeding, infection, ongoing groin pain and recurrence; a hernia that becomes trapped and painful is an emergency to treat where you are.
Appendectomy is almost always an emergency operation for appendicitis and should be done in the nearest hospital. A planned removal is only considered in special cases after an earlier episode, on your doctor's advice.
After a total thyroidectomy, yes: you take thyroid hormone tablets for life. After removal of one lobe, many people do not need them, but blood tests decide.
A hoarse or weak voice is possible if the nerves to the voice box are irritated; it is usually temporary. Many surgeons use a nerve monitor to lower the risk.
Laser treatment uses small openings, causes less pain and needs less wound care, but the sinus can come back more often than after some open techniques. The surgeon recommends a method based on the size and number of tracts.
For a single small lipoma, treatment at home is often simpler. Patients usually combine lipoma removal with other treatment or travel for several lumps; a large or growing lump should be scanned first.
About 2–3 days for lipoma removal, 4–6 days for hernia or gallbladder surgery, 5–7 days for thyroid surgery and 7–10 days after adrenalectomy. Your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly.
Your symptoms, scan reports (ultrasound, CT or MRI), blood tests, any biopsy result, previous operations, other health conditions and a list of your medicines, especially blood thinners.