Memorial Şişli Hospital
| Turkey | South Korea | ||
| Cervical Laminectomy and Stabilization Surgery Single Level | from AUD $11,804 | from AUD $20,831 | from AUD $6,666 |
Dr. Ahmet Hilmi Kaya is a professor of neurosurgery at Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul. He specializes in functional neurosurgery and deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders. Dr. Kaya previously led a Parkinson’s disease research project at Ondokuz Mayıs University. He earned the Aysima Altınok Thesis Award from the Turkish Neurosurgical Society.
Dr. Necati Kaplan is an Associate Professor and neurosurgeon at Optimed International Hospital in Turkey. He specializes in the surgical treatment of brain and spine tumors, vascular diseases, and hydrocephalus. Dr. Kaplan holds international certification in minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques from Mainz and Tuttlingen. He actively publishes clinical research on vertebral fractures and cervical surgery outcomes.
Dr. Nurperi Gazioglu is a neurosurgeon at the JCI-accredited Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital. She specializes in brain tumor removal and pituitary adenoma surgery. Dr. Gazioglu completed the EANS European Neurosurgery Course. This is a top-tier training standard for surgeons in Europe. She also trained at APHP Necker–Enfants Malades in France.
Dr. Ercan Kaya is a neurosurgery specialist. He earned his M.D. from Marmara University. He completed his residency at Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital in 2020. He fulfilled his mandatory service in Mardin. He then served as a neurosurgery specialist at Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital. Since 2026, he has worked as a neurosurgeon at NPİSTANBUL Hospital.
His practice focuses on spine and spinal cord disorders. He gained further experience as an observer in the Complex Spinal Surgery department at The Walton Centre, a leading neurosurgery center in the UK.
Turkish spine specialists determine the need for surgery using physical symptoms, neurological exams, and imaging. Non-invasive care like physiotherapy is the default for isolated neck pain. Surgery is reserved for progressive weakness, balance issues, or severe nerve compression confirmed by MRI.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish neurosurgery focuses heavily on microsurgical and keyhole techniques to avoid traditional open-heart-style spine surgery. Specialists like Dr Necati Kaplan have performed thousands of these minimally invasive procedures. This approach often reduces hospital stays to just 1–2 nights for cervical cases. In many public systems, recovery takes longer.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that a scary-looking MRI does not always mean surgery is necessary in Turkey. They emphasise getting two specialist opinions. They also prioritise physiotherapy and ergonomic changes before considering the operating theatre.
Turkey offers cervical spondylosis treatments. These range from conservative physiotherapy and pain management to specialised neurosurgical interventions. Major Istanbul centres provide ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion) and posterior decompression. Specialist surgeons utilise microscopic and robotic tools. These help relieve spinal cord pressure and restore neck stability.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many facilities offer general spine care, Turkish neurosurgeons often specialise in posterior cervical decompression for complex multi-level stenosis. Packages at Memorial hospitals typically cost around A$45,000. These include 5 days of hospital stay with professional monitoring during the most critical recovery phase.
Patient Consensus: Patients find Turkish private hospitals highly accessible. They offer straightforward diagnostic processes and clear upfront pricing. Those travelling from Australia note that English-speaking staff in Istanbul help bridge the communication gap. This is especially valuable during surgical consultations.
Turkey attracts patients for cervical spine and orthopaedic care. This is due to its high-volume surgical centres and internationally trained specialists. Facilities like Memorial Şişli hold JCI accreditation and meet global safety standards. Procedures such as posterior cervical decompression and spinal fusions use robotic systems and 3 Tesla MRI imaging.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While major Istanbul hospitals like Memorial Şişli focus on JCI-accredited surgical excellence, patients should note the depth of specialist experience. Leading neurosurgeons such as Dr Necati Kaplan have performed over 60,000 procedures. This high volume often leads to refined techniques. These include the SLIF or PURE D methods, developed locally to treat complex spinal compressions.
Patient Consensus: Patients value the speed of booking in Turkey compared to long domestic waitlists. They recommend checking whether packages include implants, surgeon fees, and post-operative imaging for a smooth trip.
Patients typically stay in Turkey for 7 to 10 days to be cleared for flying. Hospitalisation usually lasts 1 to 5 days. Full functional recovery takes 3 to 6 months. Bone fusion after ACDF may continue for up to 12 months. Most return to light work within 4 weeks.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many standard packages suggest a 2-day hospital stay. However, our data shows leading Istanbul centres like Memorial Şişli Hospital include 5 days. This longer clinical observation period is vital for Australian travellers. It helps manage potential swallowing issues or nerve inflammation before the long-haul journey home.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that walking starts within days. However, full recovery for multi-level surgery often takes 12 to 18 months. Many report that swallowing discomfort in Turkey can last several weeks. So they recommend planning a soft-food diet during the initial recovery phase.