Dr Murat Ustun
Bariatric surgeon with 8,000+ successful procedures, IFSO member and pioneer of ESG in Turkey.
Travel & Logistics Guide
Your Trip to Istanbul, Day by Day
From the moment you land to the moment you're home — every transfer, test, hospital night and hotel stay, planned for you. This is exactly what your week looks like.
- Nights in Istanbul (surgery)
- 4–6
- Nights in Istanbul (surgery)
- Nights for ESG / balloon
- 2–3
- Nights for ESG / balloon
- WhatsApp team access
- 24/7
- WhatsApp team access
Trip Logistics at a Glance
- Airport pick-up
- VIP, included
- Hotel
- Radisson, included
- Companion
- Stays free
- Translator
- Provided throughout
The Day-by-Day Timeline (Sleeve & Bypass)
- Day 1 — Arrival & tests. VIP driver meets you at Istanbul Airport and takes you to the hospital. Blood tests, ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, anaesthesia review and your consultation with Dr Ustun all happen the same afternoon. You sleep at the hotel (or hospital if surgery is early next morning).
- Day 2 — Surgery day. The operation takes about an hour. You wake in your private room; nurses have you walking the corridor the same evening — the single best thing for recovery.
- Days 3–4 — Hospital recovery. Leak test, transition to clear liquids, daily visits from Dr Ustun and the dietitian. Most patients describe discomfort, not pain — managed with routine medication.
- Days 4–5 — Hotel recovery. Discharge to the Radisson with your medication pack. You'll walk short distances, sip fluids on schedule, and the team checks in daily.
- Day 5–6 — Final review & fly home. Closing check-up, your take-home protocol and supplements, then a transfer to the airport. An aisle seat and regular walks during the flight are all you need.
Having ESG or a gastric balloon instead? Your version is shorter: procedure on day 1–2, discharge same day or next morning, fly home from day 2–3.
Packing List — What Patients Wish They'd Brought
- Passport valid 150+ days (UK citizens need no visa)
- Loose, front-opening clothes and slip-on shoes
- Regular medications in original packaging
- Small pillow — hugging it eases the flight home
- Chapstick and travel-size toiletries
- Entertainment for hospital downtime (charger + long cable!)
- An empty water bottle for scheduled sipping
- Comfortable expectations: this is recovery, not sightseeing
Flying Home Safely: The Return-to-Fly Rules
Air travel after bariatric surgery is safe when timed properly. Our standard clearances:
- Sleeve / bypass / revision: fly from day 4–6, after your final surgical review
- ESG: fly from day 2–3
- Gastric balloon: fly from day 1–2
On the flight: choose an aisle seat, walk every 45–60 minutes, sip fluids constantly, and wear the compression stockings we provide — standard clot prevention after any operation. Long-haul patients (US, Australia) may be advised to stay one extra night; we plan this with you before you book flights.
Coming Alone vs Bringing a Companion
Roughly half of our international patients travel alone — the package is designed for it, with every transfer arranged, English-speaking staff, a translator at every medical step, and daily hotel check-ins. If you bring a companion, they stay free in your hotel room, can stay overnight at the hospital, and Istanbul offers them plenty to do during your procedure day. Either way, you are never left to figure something out by yourself in a foreign city.
Logistics Are Part of Safety
Smooth transfers and structured recovery days aren't luxury — they're how complications get spotted early and recoveries stay on track.
JCI-Accredited Hospital
All procedures are performed at Liv Hospital, Istanbul — holding the gold-standard Joint Commission International accreditation.
Transparent All-Inclusive Pricing
No hidden fees. Packages include hospital stay, pre-operative tests, transfers, hotel and dietitian aftercare.
Award-Winning Care
WhatClinic Patient Service Award winner six times (2019–2025), with dedicated UK-based aftercare coordinators.