Your Journey With Us
From the moment you get in touch to 12 months of aftercare with our UK-based team, here is exactly what to expect, step by step. No surprises, no unknowns.
Choosing to have a medical procedure abroad is a significant decision. You want to know exactly what happens, when it happens, and who is looking after you at every stage. That is why we have laid out your entire journey here, from your very first message to your final aftercare appointment, 12 months after your treatment.
Over 10,000 patients have followed this same path. Every step has been refined to make the experience as smooth, safe, and stress-free as possible. You are never left wondering what comes next.
First Contact
Your journey begins the moment you reach out, whether that is filling in a form on our website, sending a WhatsApp message, calling our team, or attending one of our UK consultation days.
There is no wrong way to get in touch, and there is absolutely no pressure at this stage. Many of our patients spend weeks or even months researching before making contact, and that is perfectly fine. Your first conversation is simply about understanding your situation and exploring whether treatment abroad could be right for you.
Your patient coordinator will ask a few basic questions: what treatment you are interested in, your general health background, and what you are hoping to achieve. This is a two-way conversation. Ask as many questions as you like, about pricing, safety, what is included, or anything else on your mind. There is no such thing as a silly question.
Most first conversations take 15-20 minutes. By the end, you will have a clear idea of whether to take the next step.
Pre-Qualification
Once you have expressed interest, your patient coordinator carries out a pre-qualification assessment. This is a straightforward process designed to make sure the treatment you are considering is appropriate for you.
For weight loss procedures, this involves recording your BMI, medical history, current medications, and any previous surgeries. For dental, cosmetic, or hair procedures, you may be asked to share photographs so your coordinator can provide an accurate assessment and quote.
This step protects you. If a treatment is not suitable for your circumstances, your coordinator will tell you honestly, and may suggest an alternative that would work better. Over 10,000 patients have trusted us with their care because we give straightforward advice, not a sales pitch.
Pre-qualification is usually completed within 24-48 hours. You will receive a detailed treatment plan and pricing breakdown with no hidden costs. Everything that is included, and everything that is not, is set out clearly.
Consultation
You now have a treatment plan and a price. The next step is a proper consultation to discuss everything in detail.
You can choose how this happens. Many patients opt for a video consultation from the comfort of their own home, a face-to-face conversation with your patient coordinator where you can ask questions, discuss concerns, and go through the plan step by step. Others prefer an in-person meeting at one of our regular UK consultation days, held in cities including Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Livingston, and Letterkenny.
Our consultation days are relaxed, no-obligation events. You can meet the team, talk to other patients who have been through the process, and get answers to anything you are unsure about. Many patients tell us that meeting the team in person was the moment they felt truly confident about going ahead.
Whether virtual or in-person, every consultation covers your treatment options in full, the timeline, what to expect during recovery, and your aftercare plan. You will leave the conversation knowing exactly what your journey looks like.
Medical Review
Before your treatment is confirmed, your medical information is reviewed by the clinical team in Turkey. This is a critical safety step that ensures your treating surgeon and medical team have a complete picture of your health before you travel.
Depending on your treatment, you may be asked to provide recent blood test results, an ECG, or other diagnostic information. Your patient coordinator will tell you exactly what is needed and can arrange referrals through your GP if necessary. For weight loss procedures, you will also receive guidance on the pre-operative diet, typically a 2-week liver-shrinking programme that makes your procedure safer and more straightforward.
The medical review also determines which of our partner hospitals is the best fit for your specific procedure. The Health Store Turkey works with multiple government-licensed, JCI-accredited facilities across Izmir and Antalya. This independent model means we select the hospital with the strongest track record for your particular treatment, rather than being tied to a single facility.
Once the medical team confirms you are fit to proceed, you receive final clearance to book.
Booking and Payment
With medical clearance confirmed, your patient coordinator will guide you through the booking process. This includes confirming your travel dates, finalising your treatment schedule, and securing your hospital and hotel reservations.
Your all-inclusive package price is confirmed in writing. It covers your treatment, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, hospital stay, 5-star hotel accommodation, private VIP airport transfers, a personal translator, and 12 months of aftercare. There are no hidden extras.
Payment is made in stages. A deposit secures your dates, with the balance due before travel. Your coordinator will explain the payment schedule clearly and answer any questions about the process. All payments are made to The Health Store (Turkey) Ltd, a registered UK company.
Once booked, your coordinator sends you a comprehensive preparation guide. This covers everything from what to pack, dietary preparation, medications to stop or continue, and a day-by-day timeline of your trip. You will know exactly what to expect before you board the plane.
Travel to Turkey
Your private VIP transfer meets you at the airport the moment you land. No queuing for taxis, no navigating unfamiliar roads. Your driver takes you directly to your 5-star hotel, where you can settle in and rest before your treatment.
Many patients choose to arrive the day before their procedure, giving them time to relax and adjust. Your personal translator is available from the moment you arrive and will accompany you throughout your entire stay, at the hospital, the hotel, and during transfers. You are never left trying to communicate alone.
Your patient coordinator will check in with you on arrival to confirm your schedule for the following day and answer any last-minute questions. If you are travelling with a companion, they are welcome to stay at the hotel and visit you in hospital during your recovery.
For patients who feel anxious about travelling alone, it helps to know that many of our 10,000+ patients have made this journey solo and found the experience far smoother than they expected. You are looked after from the moment your plane touches down until the moment you board your flight home.
Treatment Day
On the morning of your treatment, your transfer takes you from your hotel to the hospital. Your translator is with you, and your care team is expecting you.
At the hospital, you will be welcomed by your nursing team and settled into your private room. Pre-operative checks are completed, blood pressure, heart rate, blood tests, and a final consultation with your surgeon. This is your opportunity to ask any remaining questions face-to-face with the person performing your treatment.
Your anaesthetist will also visit to explain exactly what will happen during the procedure and answer any concerns about the anaesthesia. Every member of your medical team speaks English, and your personal translator provides additional support throughout.
The procedure itself is performed in a fully equipped, government-licensed operating theatre within a JCI-accredited hospital. Every facility we work with has intensive care units on site, advanced monitoring equipment, and emergency protocols that meet international standards.
After your procedure, you are taken to the recovery room where your medical team monitors you closely as the anaesthesia wears off. Once you are stable and comfortable, you are moved back to your private room.
Hospital Recovery
Your hospital stay is an important part of your journey. It is not rushed. You remain in hospital for the number of nights appropriate to your procedure, typically 2-3 nights for weight loss treatments, 1-2 nights for cosmetic procedures, and sometimes just a few hours for dental work.
During your hospital stay, your medical team monitors your vital signs, manages any discomfort, and ensures your recovery is progressing as expected. Nursing staff are available around the clock, and your personal translator can be reached at any time if you need help communicating.
You will be encouraged to get up and walk as soon as it is safe to do so, usually within hours of your procedure. Early mobilisation is one of the most important things you can do for your recovery. It reduces the risk of blood clots, helps with healing, and gets you feeling like yourself again faster.
Before discharge, your surgeon will review your progress, provide detailed aftercare instructions, and confirm that you are safe to continue your recovery at the hotel. You will receive written guidance covering medication schedules, dietary progression, wound care, and warning signs to watch for.
Return Home
After discharge from hospital, you return to your 5-star hotel for continued recovery. Your patient coordinator checks in daily, and your translator remains available if you need anything.
When your recovery has progressed to the point where your medical team is happy for you to travel, your private VIP transfer takes you to the airport for your flight home. Most patients fly home between 4 and 8 days after their treatment, depending on the procedure.
You will not be left on your own when you land back in the UK. Your aftercare team contacts you within 24 hours of your return to check how you are feeling and answer any questions. You also receive direct contact details for your patient coordinator, available by phone or WhatsApp whenever you need them.
For weight loss patients, you will be at the liquid diet stage of your recovery when you return home. For dental patients, you may still be adjusting to temporary restorations. For cosmetic patients, swelling and initial healing will still be underway. Whatever your procedure, your aftercare team guides you through every phase of your recovery at home.
12 Months of Aftercare
This is where The Health Store Turkey is genuinely different from most medical tourism providers. Your care does not end when you leave Turkey. It continues for a full 12 months through our dedicated UK-based aftercare programme.
UK Aftercare Clinics
The Health Store Turkey operates two dedicated aftercare clinics in the UK, staffed by NHS-registered wound care specialists.
These are not just phone lines. They are real clinics where you can attend in-person aftercare appointments, receive wound care from qualified, NHS-registered specialists, and speak to your team face-to-face. Having UK-based clinical support means you are never far from professional help during your recovery.
What Your Aftercare Includes
Your 12-month aftercare programme is tailored to your specific procedure, but every patient receives:
- Regular check-ins, Your aftercare team contacts you at scheduled intervals to review your progress, answer questions, and adjust your recovery plan as needed.
- Dietary and nutritional guidance, Particularly important for weight loss patients, who follow a phased dietary programme as they transition from liquids to soft foods to normal meals.
- Wound care and monitoring, Access to NHS-registered wound care specialists at our UK aftercare clinics for in-person assessment if needed.
- Direct communication, Your patient coordinator is available by phone, WhatsApp, or email whenever you have a question or concern. You are never left waiting for a callback.
- Progress reviews, Scheduled reviews at key milestones (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months) to track your results and address any issues early.
- Free sports and fitness access, Weight loss patients receive 12 months of free sports and fitness access to support their new lifestyle.
If Something Does Not Feel Right
From January 2026, Turkish regulations require mandatory complication insurance for all medical tourism patients. This means that if a complication arises that requires further treatment, you are covered. Combined with our UK aftercare clinics and direct access to your clinical team in Turkey, you have multiple layers of protection.
If you experience any concerns at any point during your 12-month aftercare period, contact your patient coordinator immediately. They will assess the situation, arrange a consultation with the medical team if needed, and ensure you receive appropriate care, whether that is guidance over the phone, an appointment at one of our UK aftercare clinics, or a referral to your GP.
Your Journey, Your Pace
Every patient moves through these steps at their own pace. Some people go from first contact to treatment in a few weeks. Others take months to research, ask questions, and feel ready. Both approaches are completely fine.
There is no pressure at any stage. If you decide the timing is not right, or if you choose a different path, that is respected without question. Our team is here when you are ready, whether that is tomorrow or six months from now.
Over 10,000 patients have trusted The Health Store Turkey with their care, and 221+ Trustpilot reviews at 4.8 out of 5 reflect the experience they received. Your journey matters to us from the very first message to the very last aftercare appointment.
Ready to take the first step? Get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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