Three questions to ask before choosing surgery abroad
Before comparing prices, it helps to know what a good provider should answer clearly:
- Where exactly will I be operated on? You should be given the name of a licensed hospital, not just "our clinic".
- Who is my surgeon? A named specialist plastic surgeon, whose background you can check.
- What happens if something goes wrong? Ask about complication insurance and follow-up after you return to Leicester.
New City Clinic answers all three in writing before you book: the partner hospital, the surgeon and the insurance cover are stated in your plan. Our safety guide lists further red flags, and the best clinic guide explains the full checklist.
Flying to Istanbul from Leicester
East Midlands Airport is the nearest, around half an hour from the city, though flights to Istanbul from there usually involve a connection. Birmingham Airport, about an hour away by road, has direct flights to Istanbul including Turkish Airlines. Leicester also has fast trains to London St Pancras, from where Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are reachable for a wider choice of direct services.
A direct flight of around four hours is the most comfortable option for the journey home after surgery. In Istanbul, a New City Clinic driver meets you at IST or SAW and handles every transfer between airport, hotel and hospital. Our Birmingham page and London page cover those airports. Istanbul is two hours ahead of Leicester in summer and three in winter.
Approximate prices in Leicestershire and in Istanbul
Private cosmetic surgery prices in the Midlands differ between providers. As a rough guide only, liposuction of the abdomen, flanks and back at a private clinic is commonly quoted somewhere around £5,000–£10,000. Facial and breast procedures vary even more depending on technique.
New City Clinic publishes illustrative package prices: Lipo 360 €3,500, BBL €3,000, mommy makeover €4,850, breast augmentation €3,200, facelift €3,000, eyelid surgery €3,300 and hair transplant €1,500. Packages include the operation at a licensed hospital, hospital stay, hotel, transfers, pre-operative tests where specified, a coordinator, garments where relevant and complication insurance; flights are extra. See the New City Clinic price list and our BBL price guide.
What Leicester patients choose
Body contouring is the most frequent request: Lipo 360, Lipo 360 with BBL and tummy tucks. Many women considering surgery after pregnancy compare a Lipo 360 with a mommy makeover; our after-pregnancy guide explains the difference. Facial procedures, including rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and facelifts, and treatments such as hair transplant and smile design, are also arranged by New City Clinic.
Your coordinator speaks English and can explain each step; if family members prefer to discuss the plan in another language, just ask what support is available.
In Istanbul: what to expect
Most patients stay five to seven days. After arrival you meet your surgeon at the partner hospital for a consultation and tests. Lipo 360 is performed under general anaesthesia and usually takes two to four hours, followed by one night in hospital. Entry points are only a few millimetres long. You then rest at the hotel, walk little and often, and attend a check-up before being cleared to fly. Your coordinator is available throughout.
Recovering at home in Leicester
Plan for a quiet first fortnight. Ask someone to collect you from the airport, keep walking gently every day and wear your compression garment for about six weeks. Desk work is usually possible after a week, and sport after around four weeks if your surgeon agrees. The final shape continues to improve for around six months.
Tell your GP about the operation before you go. Your New City Clinic coordinator follows you up by WhatsApp, photos and video calls. If you experience fever, worsening pain, leg swelling or breathlessness, contact NHS 111 or 999 first, then your coordinator. The recovery guide has a week-by-week plan.
Why we recommend New City Clinic as the best plastic surgery clinic in Istanbul
Plenty of providers claim to be the best clinic in Turkey. We recommend New City Clinic because the claims can be checked. New City Clinic is authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health (HealthTürkiye), licensed by TÜRSAB (no. 17659) and certified to ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 10002 and ISO 31000; see our licences page.
Surgery is performed only in licensed partner hospitals, including Acıbadem and Medicana, by named specialists such as Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç, plastic, reconstructive and oncological surgeon. Complication insurance (details on the New City Clinic insurance page), a transparent written price and a single coordinator are standard. For us, New City Clinic is the best option in Istanbul for patients from Leicester.
Request a free quote from New City Clinic
Send New City Clinic your photos, height, weight and medical history by WhatsApp or the form. A surgeon assesses them free of charge, and you usually receive a written quote within 24 hours. You are under no obligation. Read more on the New City Clinic Lipo 360 page or the New City Clinic homepage.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to fly from Birmingham or East Midlands?
Birmingham has direct flights to Istanbul, including Turkish Airlines, so many Leicester patients prefer it. East Midlands is closer but usually involves a connection.
What does Lipo 360 cost in Leicester?
Approximately £5,000–£10,000 at private clinics in the Midlands, depending on areas and inclusions. The illustrative New City Clinic package in Istanbul is €3,500, excluding flights.
Will I know my surgeon and hospital before I travel?
Yes. New City Clinic names the licensed partner hospital and the specialist surgeon in your written plan.
Does New City Clinic arrange facial surgery too?
Yes, including rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, facelifts and neck lifts, as well as breast surgery, hair transplants and smile design.
How soon can I go back to work?
After Lipo 360, many people return to desk work after about a week. Physical work and sport take longer, usually around four weeks.
