Memorial Şişli Hospital
Memorial Şişli Hospital
Turkey, Istanbul
Kadriye Ipek Uzunoglu
16 years of experience
Surgeon's portfolio
Clinic is certified :
Skin grafting in Turkey typically costs from AUD $2,373 to AUD $7,399, depending on the graft thickness, treatment area size, and clinic location. In Australia, similar procedures average around AUD $7,957, allowing patients to save approximately 39%. Most Turkish packages include the surgeons fees, anaesthetic, hospital stay, and airport transfers for international patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Choosing multidisciplinary centres provides superior value for complex reconstructive cases. Memorial Şişli Hospital was the first in Turkey to earn JCI accreditation, ensuring rigorous safety standards. For aesthetic grafting, Istanbul Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Center uses Vaser technology and treats over 4,000 patients annually. Australian patients benefit from surgeons like Dr. Furkan Karabekmez, who has international experience at the Mayo Clinic.
| Turkey | Thailand | South Korea | |
| Skin Grafting | from AUD $2,426 | from AUD $3,909 | from AUD $5,305 |
| Skin grafting for burns | from AUD $4,886 | from AUD $3,909 | from AUD $7,259 |
| Skin grafting for acne scars | from AUD $3,490 | from AUD $3,071 | from AUD $628 |
Dr Murat Yaman is a specialised plastic surgeon at Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital who has completed over 1,100 successful surgical treatments.
Dr Kadriye Ipek Uzunoglu has performed more than 900 procedures and currently serves as a lead reconstructive surgeon at Memorial Şişli Hospital.
Dr Hasan Sahin has performed over 12,000 surgeries at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental – one of Turkey's premier JCI-accredited medical centres.
Professor Furkan Erol Karabekmez is a senior academic surgeon who completed a prestigious 15-month research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in the United States.
Skin grafting in Turkey is primarily used to treat extensive burns, chronic wounds, and skin cancer defects. Specialists at JCI-accredited hospitals also treat trauma injuries, diabetic foot ulcers, and deep scarring. Specialists use microsurgery and flap reconstruction for complex cases needing functional and aesthetic restoration.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish specialists often differentiate between standard grafting and thin-skin graft dermabrasion. Surgeons like Dr Hasan Sahin at Hisar Hospital use microsurgical flap techniques for better blood supply. This approach improves outcomes for complex wounds that traditional grafting might not fix.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey report major visual improvements when using grafting for deep scars. The medical staff are described as helpful and hospitals are notably clean. Plan for a one-year recovery period to see the final skin tone match.
Patients should plan to stay in Turkey for 7 to 14 days after skin grafting. This timeframe allows for hospital monitoring, usually 1–2 nights, and follow-up appointments. Surgeons check that the graft has adhered and manage initial dressing changes during this period.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many websites suggest 2–6 weeks for recovery. However, our clinic data shows patients often fly home after 10 days. This applies if no wound vacuum device is needed. Prof. Dr Furkan Karabekmez and other specialists now offer telehealth follow-up. This allows Australian patients to complete the 6-week recovery phase under remote supervision.
Patient Consensus: Travellers to Turkey find the medical staff helpful and the hospitals very clean. Most report that staying 1–2 weeks covers the necessary clinic check-ups. They then return home to regain full function.
Surgeons in Turkey use skin grafting techniques including split-thickness and full-thickness grafts. They also perform microsurgical free flaps and local flap surgery. High-volume centres like Memorial Şişli and Hisar Hospital Intercontinental specialise in reconstructive procedures. They treat burns, chronic wounds, and skin cancer defects in JCI-standard theatres.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish specialists often combine traditional grafting with microsurgery for higher success rates. Dr Furkan Erol Karabekmez, a Mayo Clinic-trained professor, focuses on complex cancer reconstructions. This surgical depth exceeds what is typically found in standard aesthetic clinics. Some clinics offer all-inclusive packages that cover 24/7 post-treatment monitoring during early healing.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey highlight that thin grafts with dermabrasion effectively hide scars. These results often become stable after a year. They recommend verifying surgeon credentials and planning for long-term follow-up. This helps ensure the graft skin tone matches the surrounding area.
Skin grafting in Turkey improves the texture and look of old scars. However, it rarely removes them entirely. Turkish specialists use flap surgery and microsurgical reconstruction to replace damaged tissue. This healthy skin makes the original scar much less noticeable.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Senior surgeons in Istanbul, such as Dr Hasan Sahin, have performed over 12,000 procedures. Their high volume with international cases makes them proficient at matching skin texture. They are also skilled at matching colour, which is vital for scar camouflage.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey report that while scars do not disappear, thin grafts significantly reduce their visibility. Medical staff are helpful and coordinate the process from airport pickup to surgery.
International patients choose Turkey for skin grafting because of the many JCI-accredited hospitals. Surgeons there have extensive reconstructive expertise. The country offers techniques like microsurgery and flap dissection. Costs range from $1,700 to $5,300. This is roughly 87% less than Australian averages.
Bookimed Expert Insight: The true value in Turkey lies in surgeons who hold dual certifications. Dr Hakan Bulam and Dr Mehmet Mustafa Kiyar are both European Board (EBOPRAS) and Turkish Board certified. This shows they meet rigorous international standards for complex reconstructive work.
Patient Consensus: Patients find the medical staff helpful and professional. They like how smoothly the bundled travel packages work. They also value the fast scheduling for urgent reconstructions in Turkey.
No specific vaccinations, such as Yellow Fever, are mandatory for skin grafting in Turkey. Clinics require a surgical fitness assessment. This includes blood tests, medical history reviews, and anaesthesia clearance. Turkish facilities follow strict hygiene protocols. These are regulated by the Ministry of Health and international bodies like JCI.
Bookimed Expert Insight: No vaccines are mandatory. However, leading Turkish hospitals often require a surgical clearance letter from an Australian GP. Since procedures like flap surgery are hospital-based, choosing a JCI-accredited facility is best. This ensures the theatre meets the same sterile standards as private hospitals in Australia.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey report that clinics prioritise medical history and blood tests over vaccination records. They recommend staying for organised postoperative follow-up rather than rushing home. Monitoring is vital for graft survival.