EXPERIENCE REPORT ON BREAST IMPLANTS IN ISTANBUL, Türkiye – Report from Friday, December 4, 2015

MY BREAST ENLARGEMENT IN ISTANBUL

Hello everyone

I am 24 years old and come from Switzerland.

For a long time, my greatest wish had been to have larger breasts. Every holiday or visit to the indoor swimming pool was a torment for me because I was very ashamed of my small bust.

I decided a long time ago to have surgery. But how should I tell my partner? How will my family react to my decision? What will people think of me?

I first sought a conversation with my partner. My partner is several years older than me, and as you can imagine, he has correspondingly different views on life!

As expected, the first conversation went completely wrong. He didn’t understand me at all and completely shut me down. But as he gradually realized that I was serious about the operation, he became more and more willing to talk to me. After several long and emotional conversations, he finally decided to support me.

It was clear to us that I didn’t want to have this surgery in Switzerland, as it’s simply far too expensive there. So I searched the internet for an organization that could meet my requirements and quickly came across Medical Travel.

A very important requirement was that we could communicate with doctors and staff in German or English. And we wanted the possibility of staying in contact with Switzerland despite receiving treatment abroad.

So we came across MedicalTravel and contacted them via email in January 2015.

A short time later, my cell phone rang. It was an employee of Medical Travel, who offered me an appointment. Of course, I immediately agreed. We went for this initial consultation in February. I was very nervous, as it was the beginning of a stressful and difficult time, because at that point I didn’t know how I would finance the whole thing. I hadn’t saved enough to afford the surgery. We received a warm welcome. The coordinator invited us into the meeting room, where a doctor and an interpreter were already waiting for us.

We had already thought of and written down some questions beforehand. We took this list with us. It helped us a lot, because we couldn’t remember that many questions. The attending physician found it somewhat amusing. He said we were the first people who had ever bombarded him with so many questions.

But for us, these answered questions played an important role.
After a long discussion and listening session, the doctor asked me to take a first look at my breasts to determine whether my tissue was even suitable for breast augmentation.

After this meeting, we definitely decided on breast augmentation in Turkey with MedicalTravel. So, the next step was to schedule a trip and surgery date. Since I needed some more time to save up, my partner and I decided to postpone the trip until November 2015. We thought this made sense because it allowed us to prepare thoroughly for the trip.

One month after the initial consultation, the contract for the Medical Travel Pass was already in the mailbox.

Now it was a matter of informing our families. My partner and I have very close relationships with our families and therefore felt it was important to inform them, regardless of their reactions. So, the first thing we did was invite my family over. My parents have been married for 25 years. I also have a brother (22) and a sister (19). To our surprise, they took the news very calmly. We were very happy that they accepted our decision. The subsequent conversations with my partner’s family also went much more smoothly than expected.

There were a few changes to the trip in the meantime.
We were transferred to a different Acibadem hospital and a different hotel because I decided to have my surgery performed by a different doctor (Prof. Dr.).

Time flew by and suddenly it was November 9th, 2015 – departure day. Our families wished us all the best and gave us little lucky charms to ensure everything went well.

Upon arriving in Turkey, we were warmly greeted by the airport transfer service. The drive from the airport to the hotel went smoothly. We received a friendly welcome at the hotel and were able to check into our room immediately. We spent most of the first three days in Turkey at the hotel to mentally prepare ourselves. Since we had already been to Istanbul a few years ago, we lacked the motivation to explore the city again. So we enjoyed our time at the hotel and in the surrounding area.

Thursday > Day of the operation.
We were picked up from the hotel by the shuttle service 45 minutes late.
After arriving at the hospital, we had to wait a very long time for our interpreter because his shuttle was delayed. While we waited, we were able to take care of the necessary paperwork with the hospital staff. After struggling through Istanbul, he apologized to us several times.

A short time later, we were taken to our room. There was a knock at the door, and three nurses came in. They performed several examinations to determine if my body was in good enough condition to withstand such an operation. I was also given compression stockings to prevent possible thrombosis and a sedative to calm my nerves and anxiety. After all the examinations and blood tests came back clear, my surgeon came to discuss our expectations. Following a thorough discussion, I was measured very carefully.

This measurement was later used by the surgeon during the operation. My surgeon, Prof. Dr. S. Yazar, was very friendly and personable. He could even speak some German. After a long wait, the time had finally come. It was time to say goodnight. My partner and I had tears in our eyes as I was wheeled out of the room in the hospital bed. All the staff wanted to cheer me up, which was very sweet, but I was too scared because it was my first operation. Before entering the operating room, I was asked for my personal information again. A short time later, I was fast asleep. Prof. Dr. S. Yazar operated for about three hours.

Three hours later, I woke up in excruciating pain and an incredible pulling sensation in my chest. I thought, “Finally, it’s over.” I immediately wanted to see my partner to show him that I was doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. A short time later, I was allowed to go back to my room. My partner’s relief was palpable. He was so glad that everything had gone well.

It was soon time for bed. A bed was made up for my partner so he could stay overnight in the same room. During the night, my temperature and blood pressure were checked approximately every two hours. The drains were also checked regularly. I was in a lot of pain and therefore received a little extra pain medication. After a difficult and painful night, I was soon able to get up on my own again. At eight o’clock sharp, my surgeon was already in the room to explain the next steps. He checked the fluid in the drains, as this had to be okay for me to be discharged from the hospital. Once everything was in order, they removed the drains, which was very unpleasant.

Afterwards, a pick-up service was arranged to take us back to the hotel. Unfortunately, we had to wait a very long time for it. During the same time, our interpreter obtained my medication, which I also had to pay for on the spot. I received two different painkillers and an antibiotic, which I had to take twice a day.

Back at the hotel, my movements were very limited. Breathing was also very difficult for the first two days because of the immense pressure in my chest. As a smoker, I didn’t even crave a cigarette. The remaining days were equally exhausting. I couldn’t sleep well because of the pain. Luckily, I had helpful support from my partner. I couldn’t have managed it alone.

Monday >Day of return home.
Before we could begin our journey home, I had to go for a follow-up appointment.
During the appointment, the bandages were removed and the wounds disinfected. My surgeon then explained how I should proceed over the next few months. It was very important that I follow these instructions, because if I hadn’t, the result wouldn’t have been satisfactory. I was also given three different small tasks, a kind of exercise, to help me maintain my mobility. Once the follow-up appointment was over, a pick-up service was arranged for us again. Unfortunately, there were no drivers available at the time, which meant we had to wait again. We passed the time in the cafeteria. After a considerable wait, we were finally able to continue our journey home. Upon arriving at the airport, we had to go through several security checks, which was tiring for me and took up a lot of time.

Our flight departed in the early evening. After an approximately three-hour flight, we landed back in Zurich. My father picked us up there, and after an hour’s drive, we were finally home. At my request, I was able to schedule an appointment for an additional follow-up examination in December.

Now I do my exercises every day. I’m doing very well, considering I had surgery 2 ½ weeks ago.

I can highly recommend this trip with Medical Travel. The pick-up service worked perfectly, the hospital was very hygienic, and the staff were extremely friendly. The hotel room was clean, and the hotel staff were also friendly. All the effort and pain were worth it. Today I can stand in front of the mirror with a smile again and am simply thrilled with the result. Even my partner has to admit that it looks fantastic.

To all those who are still hesitant to seek treatment in Turkey:

There’s no need to worry. Let the friendly doctors treat you and let Medical Travel organize your trip.

Thank you very much,
Ilena Fritz