What You Need to Know Before You Decide
Every patient who contacts us has done their research. What they are looking for — beyond the clinical facts — is someone they can trust to be honest about what this treatment involves, what it can achieve, and what it cannot. This page is written to give you exactly that.
Medical Center Klinik's orthopedics programme covers the full range of elective and reconstructive joint surgery, spine procedures, and sports medicine interventions. Our partner orthopedic surgeons hold fellowship training from institutions in the UK, Germany, and the United States and operate exclusively in JCI-accredited facilities with dedicated orthopedic theatres, specialist anaesthetic teams, and comprehensive physiotherapy infrastructure.
Procedures available include total knee replacement (TKR), total hip replacement (THR), revision joint replacement, arthroscopic knee surgery (ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, cartilage restoration), shoulder surgery (rotator cuff repair, shoulder replacement), spine surgery (discectomy, laminectomy, spinal fusion, disc arthroplasty), and minimally invasive joint procedures.
All implant components used in joint replacement are sourced from globally recognised manufacturers including Zimmer Biomet, DePuy Synthes, Stryker, and Smith & Nephew — the same brands specified by leading NHS and private hospitals in the UK. Implant certificates are provided to patients at discharge for submission to their home orthopaedic records. Robotic-assisted surgical technique is available for eligible knee and hip replacement cases, improving implant positioning accuracy, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy is offered for sports-related tendon and soft-tissue conditions.
Who This Treatment Is — and Is Not — For
Our medical team will give you an honest assessment during your free consultation. We do not recommend treatment that is not clinically appropriate — ever. Here is the general candidacy picture for this procedure.
Orthopedic surgery candidates typically present with significant functional limitation from arthritis, injury, or degenerative joint or spine disease that has not responded adequately to conservative management including physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and injection therapy. Ideal candidates are motivated to engage fully with the post-operative rehabilitation programme and have realistic expectations of recovery timelines.
Surgical risk is assessed individually based on age, BMI, cardiovascular status, and bone quality. Patients with severe osteoporosis, uncontrolled diabetes, or significant cardiovascular disease will require specialist clearance and may need optimisation before surgery can be safely performed.
What Happens, and When
From your first message to your final follow-up, every step is managed by your dedicated coordinator. You will never be passed between departments, left without an answer, or surprised by something you were not told to expect. Here is exactly what the process looks like.
Pre-operative assessment
blood panel, ECG, chest X-ray, and anaesthesia evaluation; existing imaging (X-ray, MRI) reviewed by the surgical team
Surgical planning session with your surgeon
implant selection, approach, and expected functional outcomes discussed; consent signed
Pre-operative physiotherapy assessment
baseline function recorded and rehabilitation goals set
Surgery performed under general or spinal anaesthesia
duration 1.5–3 hours depending on procedure
Recovery room and high-dependency observation; drain management and pain control protocol initiated
Post-operative physiotherapy begins day 1 (mobilisation for joint replacement patients); inpatient physiotherapy twice daily during admission
Discharge on day 3–5 with written exercise programme, mobility aids, and outpatient physiotherapy referral
Remote physiotherapy consultation at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months; surgical review at 6 weeks and 3 months via video consultation
What to Expect After Treatment
Recovery is not something that happens to you — it is something you and your medical team manage together. Our aftercare programme continues long after you leave Istanbul, with scheduled follow-up consultations, direct access to your clinical team, and full documentation for your GP at home.
Recovery from joint replacement surgery follows a structured, well-understood pathway. Total knee replacement patients typically achieve comfortable walking on flat ground by week 2–3, stair climbing by week 4–6, and return to driving (left knee) by week 4–6. Total hip replacement patients typically return to light activity within 6 weeks and full activity by 3 months, with the prosthesis designed to last 20–25 years.
Physiotherapy is the most critical component of orthopedic recovery and is the primary determinant of functional outcome. Our team provides a structured remote physiotherapy follow-up programme lasting 12 weeks post-discharge to ensure rehabilitation is conducted appropriately regardless of the patient's home country.
Everything in Your Package — No Hidden Costs
Every item below is confirmed in writing before you commit. There are no surprise charges, no optional extras added at the last moment, and no administrative fees. The price we quote is the price you pay.
How Much Does This Cost?
We provide a personalised cost breakdown after your free consultation — once we have reviewed your specific case, medical history, and treatment goals. There is no commitment required to receive a quote, and no pressure to proceed.
International patients typically pay significantly less than equivalent treatment in the UK, Germany, or the United States — with no compromise on clinical quality, materials, or aftercare standards.
Request Your Free Quote →Answers from Our Patient Coordinators
These are the questions our international patient team answers every day. If yours is not listed here, reach out directly — we respond within 24 hours, without obligation.
What implants do you use for knee and hip replacement?
We specify implants from globally recognised manufacturers including Zimmer Biomet, DePuy Synthes, Stryker, and Smith & Nephew — the same brands used by leading NHS and private hospitals in the UK. The specific implant selected for your procedure is discussed at the pre-operative planning session and documented in your surgical consent. Implant certificates are issued at discharge.
How long will a knee or hip replacement last?
How long a joint replacement lasts depends on individual factors such as body weight, activity level and bone quality. Your surgeon will explain what to expect in your specific case and how to protect the implant over the long term.
Can I fly after joint replacement surgery?
Short-haul flights are generally considered safe from week 6 post-surgery with appropriate DVT prophylaxis. Long-haul flights require individual assessment; most surgeons recommend waiting until week 8–12. We provide a travel fitness certificate and DVT prevention protocol for all joint replacement patients requiring air travel.
What physiotherapy support do I get after returning home?
Our remote physiotherapy programme includes video consultations at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks post-discharge. We also provide a detailed written rehabilitation protocol that can be shared with a physiotherapist in your home country. For UK patients, we provide GP-ready discharge documentation suitable for NHS physiotherapy referral.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Your free consultation is a conversation — not a commitment. Tell us about your situation, and our medical team will give you an honest assessment of whether this treatment is right for you, what to expect, and what it will cost. We respond within 24 hours — 7 days a week.
