How to recognise a reputable clinic and surgeon

BAAPS, the FCDO and the Department of Health all publish advice on surgery abroad. It's honest and it's worth reading. Here it is, translated into questions you can actually ask.

1. Communication

Can you communicate with the surgeon, not just the coordinator, without difficulty? An interpreter is fine. But you have to understand the consent conversation yourself. Question: “When does the surgeon himself speak to me, and in which language?” If there is no clear answer, walk away.

2. Qualification

In the UK, the equivalent of the right qualification is a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register with FRCS(Plast). In Turkey, look for specialist registration in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery and membership of the Turkish society (TSPRAS) or ISAPS. “Cosmetic surgeon” or “aesthetic doctor” is not a protected title anywhere. Question: “What specialist title does the surgeon hold, and where is it registered?”

3. Experience with this exact procedure

An excellent rhinoplasty surgeon isn't automatically right for a mummy makeover. Question: “How often do you do this procedure, and what's your revision rate?” An honest answer contains a number greater than zero.

4. Before and after

The first conversation should be well before surgery day. Aftercare must be settled before you fly. Question: “Who's available at night and weekends, in which language?” and “What happens if I have a problem at home?” An answer that only says “24/7” isn't an answer.

5. Price

If the price is strikingly low, someone is saving: on facilities, staff, materials or insurance. Offers with “unlimited areas” or combinations sold as discounts are warning signs. Question: “What isn't included?” If they won't answer, they plan to charge later.

And the hospital itself

• Is it a hospital with an intensive care unit or an outpatient clinic? For major procedures, the ICU matters.
• Is there verifiable accreditation (e.g. JCI)? It says something about processes, nothing about the individual surgeon.
• Are pre-op tests actually done or just claimed?
• Who looks after you after surgery, nursing staff or a hotel employee?

A UK-specific warning

A parliamentary committee reported in 2026 that some Turkish clinics run sales offices in England where staff with no medical training sign people up for surgery with discounts for quick decisions. If you're offered a “consultation” in the UK by someone who isn't a doctor, that's not a consultation. It's a sales meeting.

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This text does not replace a surgeon’s consent conversation. Timings are typical courses, not promises; yours may differ. Ivy Beside deliberately gives no prices and names no surgeons.