Dedicated coordination for neurosurgical procedures in Istanbul. We liaise between you, your UK specialist, and the neurosurgical team — handling documentation, logistics, and interpretation throughout.

Important:No formal referral letter is needed to start. Send your MRI or other imaging and clinical reports; the treating neurosurgeon reviews them and decides whether surgery is suitable for you. Ocean Health & Travel does not provide neurological assessments or medical opinions. All clinical decisions rest with your treating neurosurgical team.

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Reviewed by the neurosurgeon

JCI-accredited hospitals

Dedicated coordination

Full documentation to UK team

Procedures coordinated

Neurosurgery in Istanbul

Procedures marked ⚠️ need full imaging and specialist reports before the neurosurgical team can assess suitability.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

For Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. Two-stage procedure. Free pre-assessment available — no prior referral needed to start.

Full procedure guide →

Lumbar Disc Herniation

Surgical decompression for lumbar disc herniation causing sciatica or nerve root compression. Microdiscectomy or endoscopic techniques.

Full procedure guide →

Cervical Disc Herniation

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or disc replacement for cervical disc disease causing arm pain or weakness.

Full procedure guide →

⚠️ Full records required

Pituitary Adenoma

Transsphenoidal or endoscopic resection of pituitary tumours. Requires full endocrinological and neurosurgical assessment.

Send documents →

⚠️ Full records required

Meningioma

Surgical resection of meningiomas. Approach and complexity depend on tumour size, location, and grade.

Send documents →

⚠️ Full records required

Glial Tumours

Glioma, glioblastoma, and other glial tumour resection. Requires multidisciplinary neuro-oncology assessment.

Send documents →

⚠️ Full records required

Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma)

Surgical or radiosurgical management of vestibular schwannomas. Approach depends on tumour size and hearing status.

Send documents →

⚠️ Full records required

Fetal Myelomeningocele

Prenatal or postnatal surgical repair of open spinal dysraphism. Requires specialist maternal-fetal medicine and neurosurgical coordination.

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Prices indicative and highly variable by case complexity. No coordination fee is charged to patients. Flights not included. Ocean Health & Travel is a coordinator, not a medical provider.

Common questions

Neurosurgery Istanbul — FAQ

Do I need a referral for neurosurgery in Istanbul?+

You do not need a formal referral letter to start. We ask for your existing records instead: recent MRI or other imaging, clinical letters and reports, a current medication list and any previous surgery. The treating neurosurgeon in Istanbul reviews them and decides whether you are a suitable candidate for surgery. A letter from your neurologist or GP is helpful if you have one, and we encourage you to keep your UK clinicians informed. For complex brain surgery (DBS, tumour resection), full imaging and specialist reports are essential. Ocean Health & Travel does not provide neurological assessments or medical opinions.

How much does neurosurgery cost in Istanbul?+

Costs vary significantly by procedure. Deep brain stimulation starts from £23,700 (vs. about £30,000+ in the UK). Disc surgery starts from £4,000–£4,750 (vs. £8,000–£18,000). Complex brain tumour surgery is quoted individually based on clinical documentation. All quotes are itemised and provided within 48 hours of receiving your medical records.

What documentation do I need to provide?+

For spinal procedures: recent MRI spine, clinical summary, and current symptoms. For brain surgery and DBS: recent MRI brain, specialist reports and clinical letters if you have them, a full clinical summary, current medication list, and any previous surgical history. Our coordination team passes your documents to the neurosurgical team, who review them before a quote is given.

How long will I need to stay in Istanbul?+

Hospital and Istanbul stay vary by procedure. Disc surgery typically requires 5–10 days in total. DBS surgery requires 2–3 weeks. Complex brain tumour resection may require 3–4 weeks. Your surgical team will advise on the appropriate stay based on your specific case.

Is neurosurgery in Istanbul safe?+

Ocean Health & Travel coordinates neurosurgical procedures at JCI-accredited hospitals with internationally trained neurosurgical teams. We do not provide medical advice — all clinical decisions rest with your treating neurosurgical team. As with any neurosurgical procedure, risks are significant and will be discussed in full during pre-operative consultation.

How your records are reviewed

The neurosurgeon decides, not us.

You send your MRI or other imaging and clinical reports. Our coordination team passes them to the treating neurosurgeon, who reviews them and decides whether surgery is suitable. You receive their view and an itemised quote within 48 hours of complete records.

Illustrative image: a neurosurgeon discussing scan results with a patient

Ready to send your documents?

Send your imaging and clinical notes. Our coordination team will review and respond within 48 hours.

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Your timeline

Within 48 hoursItemised quote, once we have your complete records or photographs.
Usually within 2 weeks of confirmingYour treatment date, usually within 2 weeks of confirming once the neurosurgeon has reviewed your records and decided that surgery is suitable.
ArrivalAirport transfer, hotel, and your meeting with the treating team before the procedure.
Depends on procedureThe treatment and post-treatment checks. Your doctor confirms when you are fit to fly.
At homeFollow your doctor's guidance on activity, work and exercise. English-language documents go to your GP on request.

Information for UK patients

What to know before you travel and after you return.

Flying home

Timing depends on the procedure and your recovery. Your surgical team confirms when it is safe to fly before you book your return. Ask your surgeon about compression stockings and moving regularly on the flight.

After you return

Operative notes, the discharge summary and any results are provided in English and forwarded to your UK GP on request. The treating hospital remains responsible for agreed follow-up. If you need urgent care at home, seek local medical help straight away. We can help coordinate communication with the hospital, but we do not provide post-operative medical care. Read what to do if something goes wrong.

Payment and cancellation

You pay no coordination fee. We are paid by the hospital you are treated at, and we tell you this upfront. Deposits, payment schedules and refund terms are set by the hospital and confirmed in writing in your quote before you pay anything. Cancellation terms are in your coordination agreement — see the brokerage agreement.

Travel insurance

Standard travel policies often exclude planned treatment and its complications, so check your cover and its exclusions before you travel. If you would like, we can introduce you to an FCA-authorised insurance provider offering medical-travel cover. We may receive a commission if you take out a policy. You are free to choose any provider, there is no obligation, and we do not give insurance advice.