Breast enhancement and dental crowns in Istanbul: Marie and Océanie tell their story on RTL TVI
The programme Reporters, presented by Michaël Miraglia and broadcast on RTL TVI in Belgium, had the excellent idea of devoting a report to medical tourism. To make it, the team of journalists followed two young Belgian patients, Océanie and Marie, who came to Istanbul with Body Expert for their medical treatment. The Body Expert team had the honour of orchestrating the stay for everyone involved, and the report goes out on Friday 12 November 2021 at 7.50pm, on RTL TVI. You can also find the piece on RTLPlay.
Océanie came to have a breast enhancement with a lift. As for Marie, she came to have 20 dental crowns fitted along with a gummy smile correction. Delighted with the result, both were kind enough to tell us about their stay and how their respective treatment went.
Océanie, breast enhancement and breast lift
“I had two children close together, so I breastfed twice, and then I had a big, fairly sudden weight loss. My body didn’t have time to adapt to these large weight changes, and my sagging bust made me enormously self-conscious. I had always had a nice bust, so it really bothered me, and I decided to have cosmetic surgery to put it right. I first saw a very well-known cosmetic surgeon in Tournai, where I live, who advised a breast enhancement with a lift to repair my bust. But the prices were outrageous, it came to almost €7,000: I gave up on doing it straight away and decided to save up for later. I had heard about medical tourism, but as a rule Belgians have their operations in Belgium: going abroad for an operation can be frightening. If there is a problem, or for post-operative care, Turkey can seem a bit far away. What’s more, although I sometimes travel in Europe, I had never taken a plane.
Then I came across a Body Expert offer on the internet and decided to contact them. Everything fell into place very quickly, in six days, especially as I had agreed to come at the same time as the RTL TVI team. I arranged with my children’s father for him to look after them, but I was a little apprehensive about going alone. Then Body Expert put me in touch with Marie, so we went together, for a stay of eight days.
Of course I was apprehensive, I was very stressed, I needed to be reassured, to be listened to. But the journey went really well, and so did the care from Body Expert, I was very well looked after: everything was perfect, I couldn’t have wished for better! The team is very warm, like a family, and you need that when you travel alone. With the simultaneous interpreting with the surgeon and the help at every moment, Sibel supported me wonderfully, and the surgeon answered all my questions. Everything felt very natural, I didn’t feel any difference from a consultation in Belgium.
The operation
For the operation itself, I had latest-generation breast implants fitted. But to stop my bust sagging any further, I had to have a breast lift too. So my operation went from 45 minutes to 2 hours 30. But by the next day I was feeling fine. I had activities planned, but I preferred to listen to my body and rest for five days, I took care of myself. And for the last three days before leaving, I made the most of Istanbul: it was very enriching culturally, there is so much to discover! And we had a wonderful, passionate guide!
The result
For the recovery, my surgeon clearly explained the whole protocol to follow, wearing the compression garment, the scar cream and so on… And for any questions, I have Sibel’s direct WhatsApp contact, and she passes my questions straight on to the surgeon. At one point during my recovery, I had a small twinge of pain that kept coming back. So I sent Sibel a message and had an answer straight away. But today, two months after the procedure, I have no pain at all, I no longer wear my compression garment, honestly I feel great!
The idea of medical tourism
The idea of medical tourism is really brilliant. I think I was looked after even better than if I’d had the operation in Belgium: here you spend one night in a clinic and pay twice the price, whereas there you have the excitement of the trip, everything is organised, from the appointments to the sightseeing… You are never alone, and you know someone can come with you at little extra cost, by sharing the accommodation… Admittedly, you could say you are taking a risk, because there is always a risk in a medical operation. And there is real human warmth, empathy, a genuine bond with the medical teams, the surgeon and the Body Expert team: I needed that and I really found it there. The welcome was truly exceptional, and if I had to do it again I would without hesitation. I don’t regret it, I’m so happy. In short, long live medical tourism in Istanbul!
Marie, 20 dental crowns and a gummy smile correction
“For a long time, I had dreamed of having my teeth redone. I looked into it, first in Belgium, but the prices were very high. Then I did some research on the internet and looked at several countries, Hungary, Turkey. The first thing that attracted me was obviously the price. Body Expert was one of the first agencies I found, it looked very reliable, it had lots of positive reviews: I took the plunge and off I went! I had never been to Turkey, and Istanbul is a truly magnificent, very dynamic city. The welcome went very well, from the airport and then at the hotel. Sibel and Filiz looked after me, the interpreting made everything very easy, I could ask all the questions I wanted, it was reassuring.
The operation
The procedure went very well. The biggest part lasted four hours, which was a little long. I had some pain when they fitted the crowns, but I was so pleased with the result that I quickly forgot it! After the anaesthetic and the operation, I had to rest. But as the treatment was done in the mornings, I generally had my afternoons free to visit Istanbul. I visited the historic centre, the Blue Mosque and so on, it was wonderful. And dental work is less demanding than a medical operation such as a breast enhancement, like the one Océanie had.
The result
At first it was a little awkward, because you have to get used to your new smile. But after a month, I don’t feel anything any more, it’s as if they were my real teeth. For the post-operative follow-up, my assistant told me that for the slightest problem she was available on WhatsApp. And if I had to come back to Istanbul, that wouldn’t be a problem: it would be another little holiday!
The idea of medical tourism
The idea of medical tourism frightened me a little at first. But today I would recommend it to anyone wanting a medical procedure, for dental treatment, crowns and dental veneers or aesthetic surgery! Especially in Istanbul, for the value for money, the sightseeing and the wonderful welcome, both warm and very professional!
Sources
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