Most Of The Work Happens Afterwards.
The worn surfaces of the femur and tibia are capped with a metal implant separated by a polyethylene insert that slides like healthy cartilage. Then physiotherapy starts the next day and continues at home for weeks, and that part decides your result.
What The Operation Does.
Knee replacement resurfaces a joint whose cartilage has worn away. The surgeon removes the damaged surfaces of the femur and tibia and caps them with a metal implant separated by a polyethylene insert that slides like healthy cartilage, so bone no longer grinds on bone.
When It Is Too Early.
It suits advanced arthritis that no longer responds to medication or injections. Cartilage wear that is still early is better managed with physiotherapy, weight management or injections, and the surgeon will say so rather than operate.
Send your X-rays or MRI report before you book anything. The surgeon reviews them and you receive a written, all-inclusive quote.
Who Operates.
A specialist orthopedic surgeon, with a consultant anaesthetist and a full theatre team, never a trainee standing in. The same surgeon reviews your imaging beforehand, sees you on the ward each day and signs your discharge.
You are told the surgeon's name before you travel. It takes place in a licensed, fully equipped hospital with intensive care on site, not a day-surgery unit. Joint replacement is major surgery anywhere, and the pre-operative work-up exists to keep the risk where it belongs.
The Timeline, Week By Week.
Most patients stand and take their first steps within twenty-four hours, with a frame or crutches and a physiotherapist beside them. A nerve block usually covers the first day; after that oral painkillers are normally enough.
Walking improves week by week, and full comfort typically settles over two to three months as muscle strength returns.
Plan seven to ten days in Istanbul: three to four nights in hospital, then the hotel for wound checks and your first physiotherapy sessions. Bring a companion. You fly home only after the surgeon confirms you are fit to travel.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
How much does knee or hip replacement cost in Turkey?
We do not publish a figure, because the total depends on the implant chosen, whether one or both joints are treated and how many nights you need in hospital. Send your X-rays or MRI report; the surgeon reviews them and you receive a written, all-inclusive quote before you book anything. Nothing is added later unless the examination changes the plan.
Is orthopedic surgery in Turkey safe?
Ours is performed in a licensed, fully equipped hospital with intensive care on site, not a day-surgery unit. Swedish Clinic holds Temos international accreditation, an ISO 9001 (UKAS) certified management system and a Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. Joint replacement is major surgery anywhere, and the pre-operative work-up exists to keep the risk where it belongs.
How many days do I need to stay in Istanbul?
Plan 7-10 days for a knee or hip replacement: three to four nights in hospital, then the rest at the hotel for wound checks and your first physiotherapy sessions. Arthroscopy is shorter, 4-6 days with a single night in hospital. You fly home only after the surgeon confirms you are fit to travel.
Who actually performs the operation?
A specialist orthopedic surgeon, with a consultant anaesthetist and a full theatre team, never a trainee standing in. The same surgeon reviews your imaging beforehand, sees you on the ward each day and signs your discharge. A physiotherapist works with you from the day after surgery. You are told the surgeon's name before you travel.
How painful is the recovery, and how soon can I walk?
Most patients stand and take their first steps within 24 hours, with a frame or crutches and a physiotherapist beside them. A nerve block usually covers the first day; after that oral painkillers are normally enough. Walking improves week by week, and full comfort after a hip or knee replacement typically settles over two to three months as muscle strength returns.
How do I know whether I need surgery at all?
Often you do not. Cartilage wear that is still early is better managed with physiotherapy, weight management or injections, and the surgeon will say so rather than operate. An active infection or poorly controlled diabetes also mean treating that first and deciding afterwards. We would rather turn a case down than replace a joint a decade too soon.
Do you arrange the hotel, transfers and a translator?
Yes. VIP airport transfers, a translator at every appointment and help booking a hotel close to the clinic in Şişli are all part of the arrangement. We recommend bringing a companion: you will be mobile after a joint replacement but slower for the first week, and hotel life is easier with someone alongside you.