First
Start with the specialty
Türkiye has a large cosmetic surgery tourism sector, and its national society has done something useful for patients travelling there: together with the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, it published joint guidance on choosing a surgeon in Türkiye.[BAAPS & TSPRAS]
The first point in that guidance is the one to check before anything else. Both societies warn that some practitioners in Türkiye claim to be plastic surgeons when they are not, and that some surgeons work outside their own area of training.[BAAPS & TSPRAS] So confirm the specialty itself, not only that the person is a doctor.
The checks
Six checks, and where to run each one
All six come from the joint BAAPS and TSPRAS guidance.[BAAPS & TSPRAS] The first is quick, because the society publishes its member list.
| Check | How to run it |
|---|---|
| A member of TSPRASThe Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. | Search the name on the society’s member directory (opens in a new tab). |
| Turkish board certificationYou should be able to see the certificate on request. | Ask for it before booking, and check the name on it matches the surgeon named on your plan. |
| EBOPRAS membershipThe European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. Described as desirable rather than required. | Ask the surgeon whether they hold it. |
| At least five years in practiceIn plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery specifically, because training is structured differently in Türkiye. | Ask when they completed specialist training and began practising in the specialty. |
| At least three years with the clinic or companyHow long the surgeon has worked with the clinic or agency arranging your treatment. | Ask the clinic directly, and ask the surgeon the same question. |
| An aftercare plan, and a way to reach themYou should know your surgeon's name and how to contact them if there is a problem. | Ask for both in writing before you travel. |
If you are unsure about a surgeon’s qualifications or society membership, the joint guidance says TSPRAS can be contacted to confirm; its contact details are in the published statement (opens in a new tab).
Before you book
What the consultation should cover
Speak to the surgeon who will operate, not only to a coordinator or salesperson. The NHS advises against paying to see a surgeon you have not met.[NHS]
The NHS recommends two consultations with the treating surgeon before surgery, which gives you a cooling-off period (normally two weeks in the UK).[NHS] If you are travelling, holding the first before you book flights keeps that decision free of sunk costs.
By the end, the surgeon should have made sure you understand:
- what the procedure involves
- what it cannot achieve
- what the alternatives are
- its risks and possible complications
The NHS also says they should be able to show before and after pictures of their own work.[NHS]
Questions the NHS and BAAPS suggest asking:
- How long have you been practising, and how many procedures like mine have you done?[NHS]
- Which professional organisations do you belong to?[NHS]
- What are the complication rates for this procedure, and who will be present during my treatment?[BAAPS]
- Do we share a language well enough for you to explain the procedure and understand my concerns?[NHS]
In writing
Consent before you travel
According to the joint BAAPS and TSPRAS guidance, a comprehensive consent form completed before you travel is compulsory in Türkiye. If that has not happened, the guidance says it should raise concerns.[BAAPS & TSPRAS]
What a well-run provider sends you before you fly
On this site
What our surgeon profiles show
We list 1,954 surgeons, and 1,895 have at least one credential check recorded. Where a field is checked, the profile names the source that checked it and when. Where it is not, the profile says so rather than leaving a gap that looks complete.
Profiles do not yet record TSPRAS membership as a separate field, so run that check on the society’s own directory. Listings are never paid for and are not ranked by merit.
