Your route to Istanbul
Bristol Airport's routes change from season to season, so check current schedules when you plan. In practice, patients from the South West usually choose between:
- Bristol with one stop, connecting through a European hub, or a direct flight if one is operating on your dates;
- London Heathrow or Gatwick, around two hours by road or rail, with several direct flights a day to Istanbul of about four hours;
- Birmingham, about an hour and a half up the M5, with direct flights including Turkish Airlines.
In Istanbul you may land at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW); either way, a driver meets you and transfers are included. Istanbul is on UTC+3 all year, two hours ahead of the UK in summer and three in winter. See our Birmingham page and London page for more about those airports.
What it costs locally and in Istanbul
As an approximate guide only, private clinics in Bristol and the wider South West commonly quote somewhere around £5,500–£11,000 for liposuction of the abdomen, flanks and back. The figure depends heavily on the clinic, the surgeon and what is included, so treat it as a rough range rather than a quote.
The illustrative Lipo 360 package with New City Clinic in Istanbul is €3,500. It includes the operation at a licensed partner hospital, one hospital night, hotel, all transfers in Istanbul, pre-operative tests where specified, an English-speaking coordinator, compression garments and complication insurance. Flights are extra. Our price guide explains how to compare quotes like for like.
Is it the right procedure for you?
Lipo 360 suits people at or near a stable weight who have stubborn fat around the whole midsection and skin with good elasticity. It is not a weight-loss treatment and cannot tighten loose skin. Women who have had children sometimes find that a mommy makeover or a mini tummy tuck deals better with their concerns; our guide Your body after pregnancy explains the difference. A surgeon will tell you honestly what is appropriate after looking at your photos.
How the trip is organised
Everything starts with a few photos and a short medical questionnaire sent to New City Clinic. A surgeon reviews them free of charge and you usually receive a written plan and itemised quote within 24 hours. Once you have chosen dates, you book your flights and the coordinator arranges the hotel, transfers and hospital appointments.
| Stage | Typical length |
|---|---|
| Stay in Istanbul | 5–7 days |
| Hospital stay | 1 night |
| Return to desk work | About 7 days after surgery |
| Return to sport | About 4 weeks |
| Compression garment | About 6 weeks |
| Final result | Around 6 months |
The journey home to the South West
If you fly into London or Birmingham, the last leg home can be the most tiring part of the trip. A few suggestions from experience: arrange for someone to collect you rather than taking the coach or train with luggage; stop every hour or so for a short walk to keep your circulation moving; keep your garment on, drink water and carry your medication in your hand luggage. Patients from Devon or Cornwall may prefer a night near the airport before driving on.
Aftercare at home
During the first weeks at home, wear the garment as instructed, walk every day and avoid lifting. Some surgeons recommend lymphatic drainage massage; our garment and drainage guide explains when it helps and how to find a qualified therapist. Tell your GP about your operation before travelling.
Follow-up continues with your New City Clinic coordinator and surgeon by photos and video calls. If you develop a fever, worsening pain, a swollen calf or breathlessness, seek urgent local medical care first and then inform your coordinator. Complication insurance is included in your package; the cover is explained on the New City Clinic insurance page.
About New City Clinic
New City Clinic is a health-tourism agency in Bakırköy, Istanbul, authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health (HealthTürkiye) and licensed by TÜRSAB (no. 17659). It does not operate itself. Your operation takes place at a licensed partner hospital, Acıbadem, Medicana, Medipol, Medical Park or Biruni, performed by a specialist surgeon such as Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç, plastic, reconstructive and oncological surgeon.
Getting back to an active Bristol lifestyle
Bristol has a strong culture of cycling, running and outdoor sport, and many patients from the city ask when they can get back to it. As a rough guide after Lipo 360, gentle walking starts the day after surgery, an easy spin on a stationary bike or a brisk walk is often fine from around four weeks, and running, climbing or contact sports return gradually after that once your surgeon agrees. Cycling to work on the Bristol hills is best left until the garment phase is over. Swimming, including in the harbour or the lido, should wait until the entry points have fully healed.
Why New City Clinic is our choice as the best clinic in Turkey for Lipo 360
There are many clinics in Istanbul, and no independent ranking that crowns one of them, so we prefer to explain our recommendation. For patients from Bristol, we consider New City Clinic one of the best clinics in Turkey for Lipo 360 because the essentials can be verified: authorisation by the Turkish Ministry of Health (HealthTürkiye), a TÜRSAB Group A licence (no. 17659) and ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 10002 and ISO 31000 certificates, all shown on our licences page and the New City Clinic licences page.
Just as important, you know before you pay where and by whom you will be treated: at a licensed partner hospital (Acıbadem, Medicana, Medipol, Medical Park or Biruni) by a named specialist such as Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç. New City Clinic puts the price in writing, includes complication insurance and gives you one coordinator who stays with you after you fly home. That is why patients looking for the best clinic in Istanbul choose New City Clinic. Visit the New City Clinic website to learn more.
Request your free quote from New City Clinic
Send New City Clinic photos of your abdomen, waist and back with your height, weight and health history. The surgeon's assessment is free and you usually receive your itemised quote within 24 hours. Read more on the New City Clinic Lipo 360 page, and use the form or WhatsApp to get started. Patients across the Severn may also like our Cardiff page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly from Bristol to Istanbul?
Routes from Bristol vary by season, and many patients take a one-stop flight or travel to London or Birmingham for a direct flight of about four hours.
How much does Lipo 360 cost in Bristol?
As an approximate guide, private clinics in the South West commonly quote around £5,500–£11,000. The New City Clinic package in Istanbul is €3,500 illustrative, excluding flights.
How long is the stay in Istanbul?
Usually five to seven days, including one night in hospital.
Can I drive home from the airport?
It is better not to drive yourself straight after the flight. Arrange a lift or taxi, and take breaks for short walks on longer journeys.
Is lymphatic drainage necessary?
Some surgeons recommend it, others do not. Follow your own surgeon's advice and choose a therapist trained in post-surgical drainage.
