Patient report breast augmentation Istanbul- Turkey – Report from Friday, 4 December 2015

MY BREAST ENLARGEMENT IN ISTANBUL

Hallo zusammen

I am 24 years old and come from Switzerland.

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

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

I first had a conversation with my partner. My partner is a few years older than me, and as you can imagine, he has a different outlook on life!

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

It was clear to us that I didn’t want to have the surgery in Switzerland, as it’s just too expensive there. So, I started searching online for an organisation that could meet my requirements and soon came across Medical Travel.

An important requirement was that we could communicate with the doctors and staff in German or English. We also wanted the possibility to stay in contact with Switzerland despite the treatment abroad.

Wir waren also auf MedicalTravel gestossen und nahmen im Januar 2015 per E-Mail Kontakt auf.

Shortly afterwards, my phone rang. It was an employee from Medical Travel who offered me an appointment. Of course, I immediately agreed. We went for this first consultation in February. I was very nervous, as it marked the beginning of a tough and challenging time because, at that point, I still didn’t know how I would finance the entire procedure. I had saved too little up until then to afford the surgery. We were warmly welcomed as well. The staff member invited us into the meeting room, where a doctor and an interpreter were already waiting for us.

We had already prepared and written down questions in advance. We brought this note with us. It was very helpful because we couldn’t remember all the questions. The attending doctor found it a bit funny. We were the first ones to overwhelm him with so many questions.

For us, however, these answered questions played an important role. After a long conversation and listening, the doctor asked me for a first look at my bust to determine whether my tissue was suitable for a breast enlargement.

After this session, we finally decided on a breast enlargement in Turkey with MedicalTravel. Then, it was a matter of setting a travel and surgery date. Since I needed more time to save money, my partner and I decided to schedule the trip for November 2015. We thought it made sense, as it would give us enough time to properly prepare for the journey.

A month after the first consultation, the contract with the Medical Travel Pass was already in the mailbox.

Next, we had to inform our families. My partner and I have very close relationships with our families, so we felt it was important to inform them, no matter how they would react. So, we first invited my family over. My parents have been married for 25 years. I have a brother (22) and a sister (19). To our surprise, they took the news in a very relaxed manner. We were very glad that they accepted this decision. The following conversations with my partner’s family also went much more smoothly than expected.

In the meantime, there were a few changes regarding the trip. We were assigned to a different Acibadem hospital and a different hotel because I decided to have the surgery performed by another doctor (Prof. Dr.).

Time passed quickly, and suddenly it was 9th November 2015 – the day of departure. Our families wished us all the best and gave us small lucky charms for a smooth journey.

Upon arrival in Turkey, we were warmly welcomed by the pick-up service. The drive from the airport to the hotel went smoothly. We were also greeted kindly at the hotel and were able to check into our room right away. We spent most of the first three days in Turkey at the hotel to mentally prepare ourselves. Since we had already visited Istanbul a few years ago, we were a bit lacking in motivation to explore the city again. So, we enjoyed our time at the hotel and the surrounding area.

Thursday > Day of the surgery.
We were picked up from the hotel by the pick-up service with a 45-minute delay.
Once we arrived at the hospital, we had to wait a long time for our interpreter because their pick-up service was delayed. While we were waiting for him, we were able to take care of the necessary paperwork with the hospital staff. After he had fought through Istanbul’s traffic, he apologised to us several times.

Shortly afterwards, we were taken to our room. There was a knock at the door, and three nurses came in to conduct several tests to determine if my body was capable of handling such a surgery. Additionally, I was given compression stockings to prevent possible thrombosis and a sedative to calm my nerves and anxiety. Once all the tests and blood work were clear, my surgeon came to discuss with us how our expectations looked. After a thorough conversation, I was measured in detail.

The measurements were later used by the surgeon during the surgery. My surgeon, Prof. Dr. S. Yazar, was very friendly and personable. He could even speak a bit of German. After a long wait, the moment finally arrived. It was time to say goodnight. My partner and I had tears in our eyes as I was wheeled out of the room on the hospital bed. All the staff members tried to cheer me up, which was very sweet, but I was too scared as it was my first surgery. Just before the operating room, I was asked to confirm my personal details one more time. Shortly after, I fell into a deep and peaceful sleep. Prof. Dr. S. Yazar operated for about 3 hours.

Three hours later, I woke up with intense pain and a tremendous pulling sensation in my chest. And I thought: Finally done. I immediately wanted to see my partner to show him that I was doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Shortly after, I was taken back to my room. You could clearly see the relief on my partner’s face. He was so happy that everything had gone well.

Soon, it was time to sleep. A bed was prepared for my partner so he could stay in the same room. During the night, I was checked for fever and blood pressure every 2 hours. The drains were also regularly monitored. I had very strong pain, so I was given some extra pain medication. After a long and painful night, I was soon able to get up on my own. At exactly 8 a.m., my surgeon was already in the room to explain the next steps. He checked the fluid in the drains, as it had to be normal for me to be discharged from the hospital. Once everything was in order, they removed the drains, which was very uncomfortable.

Afterwards, a pick-up service was arranged to take us back to the hotel. Unfortunately, we had to wait a long time for it. During that time, our interpreter took care of getting my medications, which I also had to pay for on-site. I was prescribed two different painkillers and an antibiotic, which I had to take twice a day.

Back at the hotel, I was very limited in terms of movement. Breathing was also very difficult for me during the first two days because there was just a tremendous pressure in the chest area. As a smoker, I didn’t even have the urge for a cigarette. The remaining days were also very exhausting. I couldn’t sleep well because of the pain. Fortunately, I had helpful support from my partner. I wouldn’t have been able to manage on my own.

Monday > Day of the return journey.
Before we could leave, I had to go for a follow-up check-up.
During the check-up, the bandages were removed, and the wounds were disinfected. My surgeon then explained to me how I should proceed over the next few months. It was very important to follow these instructions carefully, as not doing so would affect the results. Additionally, I was given three different small tasks, exercises, to help maintain my mobility. Once the follow-up was finished, a pick-up service was arranged for us again. Unfortunately, no driver was available at the moment, which meant we had to wait once more. We passed the time in the cafeteria. After a while, we were able to continue with our journey home. Once at the airport, we had to go through several security checks, which was tiring for me and took a lot of time.

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

Now, I do my exercises every day. I feel very well, considering that I had surgery just 2 ½ weeks ago.

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

To anyone who still has reservations about getting treated in Turkey:

There is no reason to worry. Let the friendly doctors treat you and have Medical Travel organize the trip for you.

Thank you very much,
Ilena Fritz