Over the past decade, Türkiye has become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for medical travel. While this is already well known across Europe and the Middle East, many Canadians are only beginning to explore what the country offers.
The numbers show just how significant the sector has become. In 2024, more than 1.5 million people travelled to Türkiye to receive healthcare services, generating more than US$3 billion in health-tourism revenue, according to official data published by USHAŞ, Türkiye’s state organisation for international health services. The market is projected to reach $4.1 billion in 2026 alone according to GMI.
Cost is certainly part of the appeal, but it is not the whole story. For many patients, the combination of experienced specialists, a large private healthcare market, modern facilities, and an established international patient system is what makes Türkiye worth considering.
Here are some of the main reasons Türkiye has developed such a strong position in medical travel — and what they can mean for someone considering treatment there.
1. A Deep Pool of Experienced Specialists
One of Türkiye’s advantages is the volume of international patients its specialists see. In areas such as rhinoplasty, facelift surgery, body contouring, hair restoration, and dentistry, some doctors focus heavily on particular procedures and treat patients with a wide range of facial structures, body types, ages, and treatment goals.
That kind of focused experience is worth considering when choosing a specialist. The number of procedures performed is not the only measure of expertise, of course, but regular experience with the specific procedure you are considering is an important question to ask.
Training, communication, the consultation itself, and the specialist’s approach to your individual case all matter as well. A good consultation should give you an opportunity to understand what is being recommended, why it is being recommended, and what you can realistically expect.
2. Modern Hospitals and International Accreditation
Türkiye has a large private healthcare sector that includes major hospital groups as well as specialised surgical centres. Many facilities treating international patients hold recognised quality certifications or international accreditations, including JCI and ISO standards where applicable.
JCI — Joint Commission International — evaluates hospitals against detailed standards related to patient safety and quality of care. ISO 9001 focuses on quality-management systems and the consistency of an organisation’s operations.
These credentials do not replace the need to understand the individual surgeon or treatment plan, but they provide useful information when evaluating a medical facility.
Within Lunara’s network, providers include Orion Surgery Center, Memorial Hospitals Group — Rememore, and Acıbadem, among others. These are established healthcare organisations and surgical facilities with significant experience caring for international patients.
Orion Surgery Center is a specialised facility in Istanbul dedicated to aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. According to Orion, it is the largest aesthetic surgery hub in Europe, bringing multiple surgical specialties and international patient services together within a purpose-built centre. The facility operates with ISO 9001:2015 certification.
Memorial Hospitals Group and Acıbadem Healthcare Group operate major private hospitals and international patient services across Türkiye, with facilities in Istanbul and other cities.
3. A Significant Cost Advantage
For Canadians paying privately for elective procedures, pricing is often one of the first noticeable differences. Depending on the procedure, surgeon, facility, and treatment plan, costs in Türkiye can be considerably lower than private treatment in Canada.
There are several reasons for that difference. Operating and labour costs are lower than in Canada, Türkiye has a large and competitive private healthcare market, and exchange rates can create an additional advantage for Canadians. The country has also invested heavily in infrastructure designed to serve international patients.
Even after factoring in airfare, accommodation, and other travel expenses, the overall cost can still be significantly lower than having the same type of elective procedure privately in Canada. In many cases, accommodation and local airport and hospital transfers are arranged and included by the medical provider, which can also make the overall cost easier to understand before travelling.
Price should never be considered on its own. A meaningful comparison also needs to look at what is included in the treatment plan, who will perform the procedure, where it will take place, the expected length of stay, and what follow-up is provided.
4. Government Oversight of International Health Tourism
Government oversight provides an important foundation. From there, patients can look more closely at the factors that relate to their own treatment: the specialist’s experience, the facility, the consultation, the proposed treatment plan, and whether the overall approach aligns with their expectations.
Lunara has a separate article explaining how medical tourism is regulated in Türkiye in more detail, including the role of the Ministry of Health and international accreditation.
5. Istanbul — and Options Beyond Istanbul
Istanbul is Türkiye’s largest hub for international healthcare. Major private hospitals and surgical centres are accustomed to receiving patients from abroad and often have dedicated international patient departments, English-speaking coordinators, airport transportation, and accommodation arrangements built into their services.
For Canadians, Istanbul is also relatively straightforward to reach. Turkish Airlines operates direct flights from Toronto, Vancouver, and Montréal. Air Transat flies non-stop from Toronto and launches year-round non-stop service from Montréal in October 2026 — with convenient connections available from major cities.
But Istanbul is not the only option. Healthcare groups within Lunara’s network also have facilities in cities such as Bursa, Antalya, Izmir, Adana, and Bodrum. Depending on the treatment and provider, this can give patients a choice of location and a different overall environment for their stay and recovery.
6. A Broad Range of Treatments
Türkiye’s medical travel sector extends well beyond cosmetic surgery. The breadth of care available is one reason the country attracts such a diverse international patient population.
Some of the areas Canadians explore include:
- Aesthetic and plastic surgery — including rhinoplasty, facelift, tummy tuck, breast procedures, liposuction, and mommy makeover
- Hair restoration — including FUE, DHI, and Sapphire techniques for scalp, beard, moustache, and eyebrow restoration
- Restorative and cosmetic dentistry — including dental implants, veneers, crowns, root canal treatment, and full-mouth restoration
- Executive and preventive health check-ups — with screening programs tailored to factors such as age, sex, medical history, and individual needs
These are also the main areas in which Lunara currently facilitates care. The appropriate treatment, tests, or combination of procedures is always determined by the treating medical provider in consultation with the patient.
What This Means for Canadians
Many aesthetic and elective procedures are paid for privately in Canada. For people comparing those options, the difference in pricing, specialist availability, and international patient infrastructure can make Türkiye worth exploring alongside choices closer to home.
But planning medical treatment in another country involves more than finding a hospital or surgeon online.
There are providers to compare, consultations to arrange, treatment plans and quotations to understand, questions to ask, and logistics to coordinate before travelling. It can be a lot to navigate on your own, particularly when you are communicating with providers in another country.
That is where Lunara comes in.
Lunara is an Oakville-based, Canadian-registered and professionally insured business. We provide Canadians with a local point of contact while they explore treatment options in Türkiye.
We work with an established network of medical providers, facilitate consultations with specialists, help clients understand the options presented to them, and remain available throughout the coordination process.
Our familiarity with Türkiye, its healthcare system, and the providers within our network also allows us to help clients navigate the practical side of the experience — from the first conversation and specialist consultation through treatment planning and preparation for travel.
Our services are provided at no cost to our clients, with no obligation to proceed.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
If you are considering medical treatment in Türkiye and want to understand what the experience could realistically look like for you, a complimentary discovery call is a simple place to start.
We can discuss what you are looking for, explain how Lunara works, and outline the next steps if you choose to continue.
lunaramedicaltravel.ca | +1 (416) 428-0629
Lunara Medical Travel | Oakville, Ontario, Canada | Canadian-Registered & Professionally Insured
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
