What is kidney stone removal (RIRS) and how does it work?
Kidney stone removal (RIRS) stands for retrograde intrarenal surgery. The surgeon passes a very thin, flexible telescope (a flexible ureteroscope) through the urethra, up the bladder and along the ureter into the kidney itself, so there is no cut in the skin. Once the stone is in view, a laser fibre is passed down the scope and used to break the stone into small pieces. The pieces are either removed with a tiny basket or, in a technique called dusting, broken into fragments fine enough to pass in the urine. Hospitals in Turkey offer RIRS for stones inside the kidney and for stones that have moved into the upper ureter.
This guide explains how the operation works, what the evidence says, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, what the stent and recovery involve and how to check a hospital before you travel. Other stone options, including keyhole surgery through the back, are listed in our urology treatments in Turkey hub.
Kidney Stone Removal (RIRS) in Turkey: how it works
- 1Send your photos and questions
Free and without obligation: tell us what you want to change and send a few photos — by form or WhatsApp.
- 2Get a written plan and price
A surgeon reviews your case and you receive a personal plan with the price, usually within 24 hours. Compare hospitals; nothing is paid in advance.
- 3Travel, surgery and aftercare
Airport pick-up, examination, surgery and check-ups in Istanbul, then follow-up with your surgeon after you fly home.
- Within about 2 hours
A coordinator replies in your language by WhatsApp or e-mail.
- Within 24 hours
A surgeon reviews your photos and you receive a written plan with the surgeon's name and the price.
- You decide
Ask anything and take your time — nothing is paid in advance.
Why plan Kidney Stone Removal (RIRS) in Turkey with Treat Journey?
- Free for patients
Searching, comparing and requesting quotes costs nothing. You pay the hospital directly, at the price in your written quote — never a pre-payment to us.
- Real hospital prices, published
Every price on this page is the hospital's own price for international patients, shown live in your currency, with what the package includes.
- A named surgeon and a written plan
Your quote names the surgeon and the hospital and lists exactly what is included — no anonymous packages.
- Licensed hospitals only
We list licensed hospitals with an international patient department; accreditations such as JCI are shown on each hospital page.
- Honest reviews
We show real patient reviews, including Google reviews and critical ones, and we never invent ratings.
- Support before, during and after
A coordinator in your language answers within hours, arranges transfers and an interpreter, and stays in touch after you fly home.
Does kidney stone removal (RIRS) work, and how big a stone can it treat?
RIRS is a well-established operation and is a standard option in European Association of Urology guidance. It works best for stones inside the kidney up to about 2 cm, including stones in the lower part of the kidney that shock waves often struggle to clear. Success is judged by whether any significant fragments are left, and that depends mainly on stone size, hardness, the number of stones and the shape of the kidney. A single small stone is far more likely to be cleared in one session than several large ones.
It is not guaranteed. A larger or very hard stone may need a second session, or a different operation altogether. A good surgeon will tell you at the start whether one operation is realistic, and will check the kidney with a scan afterwards to see what remains.
Who is a good candidate for RIRS, and who is not?
RIRS suits adults whose CT scan shows a stone of roughly 2 cm or less in the kidney or upper ureter, and it is often chosen when someone cannot stop blood-thinning medication, is very overweight, has an unusual body shape or has a stone that has not responded to shock wave treatment. It is also used in pregnancy only in selected cases decided by the specialist team.
It is less suitable if you have an active urinary infection, which must be treated first, or a stone much larger than 2 cm, where keyhole surgery through the back is usually preferred. A narrow ureter may need a stent for a week or two beforehand so the scope can pass. Tell the surgeon about any clotting problem, previous kidney or bladder surgery and every medicine you take.
Kidney stone removal (RIRS) cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for one operation, not hospital quotes. The price depends on stone size and number, whether one or both kidneys are treated, the type of laser, the nights in hospital and what the package includes. Each hospital confirms its price in a written quote.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €2,000 – €5,000 |
| United Kingdom | €4,000 – €9,000 |
| United States | €8,000 – €22,000 |
| Germany | €4,500 – €10,000 |
A package normally covers the CT or ultrasound review, the operation, anaesthetist, one to two nights in hospital, the ureteral stent and its later removal, medication and airport transfers. Ask whether a second session is included if fragments remain, and whether the stent removal is done in Turkey or at home. Our free quote page asks the hospital to list these items in writing.
RIRS, shock wave lithotripsy or PCNL: which kidney stone treatment?
The three main ways of treating a kidney stone are RIRS, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), where shock waves are aimed at the stone from outside the body, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), where a small tunnel is made through the back. The right choice depends on where the stone is, how big and hard it is and your anatomy.
| Method | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| RIRS | Kidney stones up to about 2 cm, lower-pole stones, people on blood thinners | Needs general anaesthesia and usually a stent; larger stones may need two sessions |
| ESWL | Small, softer stones in a favourable position | Less effective for hard or lower-pole stones; no direct view of the stone |
| PCNL | Large stones above about 2 cm | Small cut in the back, longer stay, higher bleeding risk |
Stones lodged in the ureter rather than the kidney are treated with a shorter scope, described under ureteroscopy in the urology hub.
How is the operation done step by step?
You usually have a general anaesthetic. Lying on your back, you have a thin guide wire passed up the ureter, and the flexible scope follows it. The surgeon looks at the kidney on a screen, locates each stone and moves it to a position where the laser can reach it. The laser, most often a holmium laser and increasingly a thulium fibre laser, is used at settings chosen for the stone type. Fragments are removed or dusted, the kidney is rinsed with sterile fluid and a soft plastic ureteral stent is left in place to keep the ureter open while swelling settles. Operating time is typically one to two hours; no incision is made in the skin.
What is the stent for, and does it hurt?
The double-J stent is a thin tube between the kidney and the bladder. It prevents blockage from swelling or tiny fragments. Many people feel an urge to pass urine more often, a dull ache in the flank when passing urine and a little blood in the urine while it is in. These symptoms are common and usually settle with simple medication; they are not a sign that something has gone wrong, but fever, heavy bleeding or inability to pass urine need urgent attention. The stent is normally removed after one to two weeks, in a short outpatient procedure with a camera and local anaesthetic gel. Ask the surgeon whether it will be removed before you fly or at home.
Kidney stone removal (RIRS) recovery: how long should you stay in Turkey?
Most patients stay in hospital for one night and remain in Turkey for about three to seven days, depending on whether the stent comes out before travel. By the next day you are usually walking and drinking freely; drinking two to three litres of water a day helps the kidney rinse out fragments. Light bruising-type discomfort and blood-tinged urine are normal for a few days.
- Days 1 to 3: rest, plenty of fluids, simple painkillers as advised, stent symptoms most noticeable.
- Days 4 to 7: most people are back to light activity and desk work.
- Weeks 2 to 3: stent removed, follow-up scan or ultrasound arranged, normal activity resumes if the surgeon agrees.
Is kidney stone removal (RIRS) safe? Risks and complications
RIRS is considered low-risk compared with open surgery, but every operation carries some risk. Common effects are stent discomfort, blood in the urine and a mild urinary infection. Less common problems include a more serious infection, which is why the urine must be clear of infection beforehand, injury to the ureter that can cause a narrowing later, retained fragments that grow into new stones and, rarely, anaesthetic complications. The NHS and the European Association of Urology both advise discussing these risks with your surgeon, and following the fluid and follow-up advice carefully to lower the chance of new stones.
How do you stop kidney stones coming back?
Stones recur in a large share of people, so removing the stone is only part of the plan. Ask whether the removed fragments will be analysed, because the type of stone (calcium oxalate, uric acid, infection stones) changes the advice. Common measures include drinking enough water to keep urine pale, not cutting calcium from the diet without advice, moderating salt and animal protein and treating any metabolic cause. Some people are referred for a blood and urine stone-risk assessment after the operation.
How to choose a hospital and what to ask
Check that a urologist with endourology experience will operate, that the hospital is licensed with an anaesthetist and intensive-care back-up, and that you receive a written plan before paying a deposit. Red flags include promising one-session success for any stone, no CT review before the quote, no stent follow-up plan and pressure to book quickly. See how our process works for the steps from your scan to the operation.
- Will one operation be enough for my stone, and what happens if fragments remain?
- Which laser will you use, and will the stone be analysed?
- Is the stent included, and where will it be removed?
- Which urinary tests and scans do you need before I travel?
- Who do I contact if I develop fever or pain after I get home?
Hospitals also treat other urological problems, for example circumcision and penis enlargement, but these are separate procedures with their own plans.
Frequently asked questions
RIRS (retrograde intrarenal surgery) uses a thin flexible scope passed through the urethra, bladder and ureter into the kidney. A laser breaks the stone into fragments that are removed or passed in urine. There is no cut in the skin.
Yes, it is a standard treatment for kidney stones up to about 2 cm. Success depends on stone size, hardness, number and kidney shape, and some patients need a second session.
Approximate costs are €2,000 to €5,000 in Turkey, against about €4,000 to €9,000 in the UK. The price depends on stone size, nights in hospital and whether the stent and follow-up are included.
You are under general anaesthesia during the operation. Afterwards most people feel stent discomfort, urgency to pass urine and some blood in the urine, which is normally controlled with simple medication.
Most people leave hospital after a night and return to light activity within three to seven days. The stent is removed after about one to two weeks, and normal activity resumes after that.
Neither is right for everyone. RIRS is often chosen for lower-pole or harder stones and for people on blood thinners, while shock wave treatment is non-invasive but less effective for some stones.
It can sometimes be used in stages, but keyhole surgery through the back (PCNL) is usually preferred above about 2 cm. The surgeon decides after reviewing your CT scan.
A ureteral stent is usually left for one to two weeks and then removed with a small camera under local anaesthetic gel. Ask the hospital whether this happens before you fly home.
They can, as the operation removes the stone but not the tendency to form one. Drinking enough water, dietary advice and stone analysis help lower the chance of recurrence.
Plan for about three to seven days, including one night in hospital and a check before travel. If the stent is removed before you fly, allow the longer end.