Eyelid Surgery in Istanbul: 2026 Prices and Clinics for U.S. Patients
Eyelid surgery in Istanbul is usually done in a day, with no hospital night, but ASPS advises waiting 7 to 10 days before flying. Here is how to plan the trip and check the surgeon.
Flights and extra hotel nights are not included in either price. Final quotes depend on your case.
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) clinics in Istanbul: prices and independent ratings
Prices are each clinic's own quoted range in USD, as of October 2026. Ratings come from independent review platforms and link to the source.
| Clinic | Price | Independent ratings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz Hospital xcuro partner Istanbul · Health Tourism Cert. | $1,088 - $4,352 | ||
| Hisar Hospital xcuro partner Istanbul · JCI | From $2,923 | ||
| Estetik International xcuro partner Istanbul · Health Tourism Cert. | $3,136 - $4,530 | ||
| Istanbul Aesthetic Center xcuro partner Istanbul · ISO 9001, Health Tourism Cert. | $3,137 - $4,531 |
How clinics get listed: our methodology. Clinics do not pay for position on this page.Compare the clinics side by side.
Your trip, day by day
Typical, from the “Your trip, day by day” section of this guide; plan on 9 to 10 days in Istanbul. Your clinic’s schedule may differ — ask for it in writing.
- Day 1Arrive. Consultation; tell the surgeon about any blood thinners such as aspirin. Agree on upper, lower or both lids, and the type of anesthesia.
- Day 2Surgery (45 minutes to 2.5 hours). Most people go back to the hotel the same day.
- Day 3–6Cold packs, eye drops or ointment as prescribed, head propped up on pillows. No contact lenses, no rubbing your eyes.
- Day 7–8Check-up. Suture strips usually come off within a week; ask when any stitches come out.
- Day 9–10Fly home. ASPS suggests waiting 7 to 10 days after eyelid surgery.
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) in Istanbul: pros and cons for U.S. patients
- Usually a day procedure, with no hospital night.
- Three of the four clinics are on the European side, close to IST's metro line.
- Direct flights from 14 U.S. cities and no visa for U.S. passport holders.
- You still wait 7 to 10 days before the long flight home.
- Bruising can take weeks to fade.
- Complication insurance is not mandatory in Türkiye.
- Eye problems after you are home need a local specialist.
How xcuro works
- Free for you
You don't pay xcuro anything. If you go ahead with treatment at an xcuro partner clinic, that clinic pays us a referral fee.
- Rankings aren't for sale
Clinics can't pay to be listed, to appear higher or to change their reviews.
- Ratings you can check
Clinic ratings come from Google and Trustpilot, and each one links to its source.
- Prices with sources
Every U.S. price we compare against names its source. Your own quote comes from the clinic in writing.
Eyelid surgery in Istanbul: the short answer
Blepharoplasty removes excess skin, fat or muscle from the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both. The NHS says it takes about 45 minutes to 2 and a half hours, can be done under local or general anesthetic, and most people go home the same day; supportive strips on the eyelids usually come off within a week (NHS). It is the shortest surgical stay among the face operations on our Istanbul list, and the one where small details, such as how the eyes close afterwards, matter most.
Getting to Istanbul from the U.S.
Turkish Airlines flies direct to Istanbul from 14 U.S. cities. Expect about 9 hours 40 minutes nonstop from New York (Kayak) and about 13 hours from Los Angeles (Kayak), landing at Istanbul Airport (IST).
Where the clinics are. Three of the four clinics in the table above are on the European side: Quartz in Nişantaşı and Estetik International in Mecidiyeköy, both in Şişli, and Istanbul Aesthetic Center in Beşiktaş. The M11 metro from IST reaches Gayrettepe, which borders both districts, in about 30 minutes (Ministry of Transport). The fourth, Hisar Hospital, is in Ümraniye on the Asian side; Sabiha Gökçen airport (SAW) is also on that side, 40 km (25 miles) from Kadıköy (Sabiha Gökçen Airport).
Your trip, day by day
One trip of about 8 to 10 days. A shorter stay is possible only if your surgeon removes the stitches early and agrees you can fly.
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive. Consultation; tell the surgeon about any blood thinners such as aspirin. Agree on upper, lower or both lids, and the type of anesthesia. |
| Day 2 | Surgery (45 minutes to 2.5 hours). Most people go back to the hotel the same day. |
| Day 3–6 | Cold packs, eye drops or ointment as prescribed, head propped up on pillows. No contact lenses, no rubbing your eyes. |
| Day 7–8 | Check-up. Suture strips usually come off within a week; ask when any stitches come out. |
| Day 9–10 | Fly home. ASPS suggests waiting 7 to 10 days after eyelid surgery. |
ASPS lists eyelid surgery among facial procedures where it suggests 7 to 10 days before flying (ASPS). The NHS says bruising and redness can take several weeks to fade and scars may feel tight for a few months (NHS). Sunglasses help on the trip home.
Is Istanbul safe for eyelid surgery?
The U.S. State Department rates Türkiye Level 2: “Exercise increased caution in Türkiye due to terrorism, armed conflict, and arbitrary detentions” (State Department, June 2026). It asks travelers to be careful in crowded places such as airports, and not to travel to the border region with Syria and Iraq, far from Istanbul. For the medical side, read Is It Safe to Get Plastic Surgery in Turkey?; for the trip, the Istanbul city guide.
How to check an eyelid surgeon in Istanbul
- Specialty and experience. Ask for the surgeon's specialty in writing, and how many eyelid operations they do. Plastic surgeons can be checked in the Turkish society's member search. Since 2025 a Turkish doctor may not call themselves a specialist on the strength of a certificate alone (2025 advertising regulation).
- Your eyes first. Dry eyes or eye conditions change the plan; bring any records from your eye doctor.
- Know what can go wrong. The NHS lists blurred or double vision, uneven eyes and, rarely, injury to eye muscles or a lower lid that pulls away from the eye (NHS). Ask how the surgeon handles each, and who sees you if a problem shows up at home.
- Authorization and cover. The clinic needs Türkiye's health-tourism authorization certificate (2025 health-tourism regulation). Complication insurance is not mandatory since the Council of State suspended it on December 25, 2025 (Turkish Medical Association).
Our list of questions to ask a plastic surgeon covers the rest.
Recovery logistics in Istanbul
Stay close to the clinic and plan quiet days: reading and screens may be tiring at first. Bring sunglasses, and ask the clinic for enough drops or ointment for the flight. If you take medicine home, keep the written prescription with it; the CBP notes that drugs bought abroad are, in most cases, not FDA-approved and illegal to import. Arrange an eye doctor or plastic surgeon at home for follow-up (CDC).
More: Eyelid Surgery in Turkey and eyelid surgery cost in the U.S..
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) doctors in Istanbul
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) before & after: surgeons in Istanbul
Results from surgeons listed on xcuro. Individual results vary; ask your surgeon for results in patients similar to you.
See all Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) before & after photos →
If something goes wrong after eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Turkey
Emergency? In the U.S., call 911; in Turkey, call 112. Then tell the clinic in writing.
Get help now if you notice these after cosmetic surgery
- Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or a racing heart: call 911 (possible blood clot).
- Confusion, clammy skin, fever with shivering or extreme pain: call 911 (possible sepsis).
- Swelling, pain, warmth or redness in one leg: see a doctor the same day.
- Increasing redness, swelling, or yellow or green drainage at an incision, or a fever of 100°F or higher: call your surgeon today.
- Sudden swelling of one breast or a collection of fluid or blood under the skin: call your surgeon today.
Where to complain in Turkey
- Ministry of Health Communication Center, SABİM (ALO 184): Complaints about health services in Türkiye, public and private.Call 184 from a Turkish phone. A Ministry of Health directorate page says complaints about health services go to ALO 184 and that postal applications are not accepted. We could not confirm English service on 184 or an online route for patients abroad.
- HealthTürkiye / USHAŞ (International Health Services Inc.) international patient line: Claims and inquiries from international patients. USHAŞ is a state company affiliated with the Ministry of Health that also promotes health tourism, so it is not an independent regulator.International Health Services Call Center, +90 850 288 38 38, 24/7 in six languages (listed on a Ministry of Health hospital site). HealthTürkiye's FAQ says that after incorrect treatment causing damage, a patient has the right to complain and to compensation.
The U.S. embassy keeps a list of local doctors and hospitals.
What to do if something goes wrong: the full guide for U.S. patients →
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to stay in Istanbul for blepharoplasty?
About 8 to 10 days. Most people go home the same day as surgery (<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/eyelid-surgery/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">NHS</a>), but ASPS suggests 7 to 10 days before flying after eyelid surgery (<a href="https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/briefing-papers/briefing-paper-cosmetic-surgery-tourism" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ASPS</a>).
Can I have upper and lower eyelid surgery in the same trip?
Ask your surgeon whether both can be done in one operation. The NHS puts eyelid surgery at 45 minutes to 2.5 hours depending on what is done (<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/eyelid-surgery/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">NHS</a>), so a combined operation may change the anesthesia and the recovery.
Is eyelid surgery in Istanbul done under local anesthetic?
It can be done under local or general anesthetic (<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/eyelid-surgery/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">NHS</a>). Ask which your surgeon plans, and who gives it.
What should I avoid after eyelid surgery before flying home?
The NHS advises avoiding contact lenses, rubbing your eyes, smoking, and strenuous activity or swimming for a few days (<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/eyelid-surgery/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">NHS</a>).
Getting to Turkey from the U.S.
Visa. U.S. passport holders travel to Turkey without a visa for tourism or short business, for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.Official source.
Flights and time zone. Turkish Airlines flies nonstop to Istanbul from New York, Newark, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. East-coast flights run about 10 hours, west-coast about 13. Istanbul is 7 hours ahead of New York in summer and 8 hours in winter, because Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year.
U.S. State Department advisory. Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution (reissued June 9, 2026). The advisory says not to travel within 10 km (6 miles) of the borders with Syria or Iraq; Istanbul is far from both.Read the advisory.
Before you travel: what the CDC recommends
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes guidance for Americans traveling abroad for medical care. These are its recommendations, not ours.
- Check the qualifications of the clinician who will perform the procedure and the credentials of the facility.
- Bring copies of your medical records, including lab and other test results related to your condition.
- Make sure you can get follow-up care in the United States. Care for complications can be expensive and might not be covered by your health insurance.
- Obtain international travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation back to the United States.
- See your own healthcare provider 4–6 weeks before the trip to discuss risks specific to your health.
Sources
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) — NHS
- Flights to the United States (14 U.S. cities with direct flights) — Turkish Airlines (page archived September 25, 2026)
- New York to Istanbul Airport: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- Los Angeles to Istanbul Airport: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- Gayrettepe – Istanbul Airport in 30 minutes (January 29, 2024, in Turkish) — Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Türkiye
- Transportation — Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
- Cosmetic surgery tourism briefing paper — American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Türkiye Travel Advisory (Level 2, June 2026) — U.S. Department of State
- Find a plastic surgeon (member list, in Turkish) — Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
- Regulation on advertising of health services (November 12, 2025, in Turkish) — Resmî Gazete, Republic of Türkiye
- Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health (April 26, 2025, in Turkish) — Resmî Gazete, Republic of Türkiye
- Council of State suspends the complication-insurance requirement (March 24, 2026, in Turkish) — Turkish Medical Association (TTB)
- Prohibited and restricted items: medication — U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Medical tourism — CDC Travelers' Health
Read before you decide
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) in other cities, and more in Istanbul
More cost guides for U.S. patients
What research shows about eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)
14 peer-reviewed sourcesBlepharoplasty, surgery to remove or reposition excess skin, muscle, and fat of the upper or lower eyelids, is supported by systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and prospective outcome studies addressing both functional and aesthetic goals. For upper eyelids, the evidence documents improvements in superior visual field and quality of life when redundant skin (dermatochalasis) obstructs vision, alongside high aesthetic satisfaction. For lower eyelids, reviews compare transconjunctival and transcutaneous approaches and characterize complication profiles, including the uncommon but important risk of lid malposition. Additional studies examine adjuncts such as tranexamic acid for reducing bleeding and swelling, and patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes. The references below span functional and aesthetic outcomes, surgical-technique comparisons, complication safety reviews, and validated quality-of-life data to support informed decision-making.
- Functional and Aesthetic Outcomes After Upper Blepharoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes for Upper Blepharoplasty and Blepharoptosis Surgery
- Safety and Complications in Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Systematic Review
- Long-Term Results with the Extended Transconjunctival Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty
- Transconjunctival or Transcutaneous Approach for Fat-preserving Lower Lid Blepharoplasty
Compiled from peer-reviewed medical literature indexed on PubMed. This overview is for general education and is not medical advice. · Last updated 2026-06-15