For patients traveling from the USA
Knee Replacement in Turkey for Patients from the USA
Pain-free knee replacement in Istanbul with Dr. Mahmut Kalender, an orthopedic surgeon who has focused on knee surgery for more than 30 years. Find out if you’re a candidate and how your trip would work before you book anything.
- Free review of your X-rays or MRI
- Direct flights from major US cities
- Talk to Dr. Kalender directly, in English
Is this for you?
Is traveling for knee replacement right for you?
The first step costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Share your details and imaging, and Dr. Kalender will review your case and talk it through with you by video call.
Patients from the US usually reach out when:
- Knee pain is limiting how far you can walk, climbing stairs or sleeping
- A doctor has recommended knee replacement, or you think you may need one
- You want to compare your options before committing to surgery at home
- You’re looking for a surgeon who focuses on the knee and on getting you walking the day after surgery
Why Istanbul
Why patients from the USA travel to Istanbul for knee replacement
Choosing to travel thousands of miles for surgery is rarely about one thing. Patients who contact us usually want more time with their surgeon, a plan built around them, and a clear picture of what they’ll pay before they decide.
Out-of-pocket costs at home
Deductibles, copays and services your insurance may not fully cover can add up, especially if you’re uninsured, underinsured or on a high-deductible plan. Many patients simply want to understand every option before committing.
A plan built around you, not a package
Your plan is prepared only after Dr. Kalender has personally reviewed your history and imaging. If surgery isn’t the right step for you, he’ll tell you.
Direct access to your surgeon
You talk with Dr. Kalender from your very first consultation, in English, and he performs your surgery. Your questions go to the person responsible for your care.
A surgeon focused on the knee
Dr. Kalender has practiced orthopedic surgery for more than 30 years, with a focus on knee disease and knee replacement, and has performed more than 10,000 knee operations.
Less pain. Walking the next day. Usually one night in hospital.
A pain-free knee replacement approach refined over the past decade, which aims to keep pain low in the first days, get you walking the day after surgery and, for most patients, mean just one night in the hospital. Learn about the approach →
Everything organized for you
One team coordinates your hospital care, hotel, airport and hospital transfers, and flight planning. Turkish Airlines flies direct to Istanbul from several major US cities, including Chicago, New York, Houston and Miami.
[Dora Hospital photos – pending]
Planning your trip from the US?
Ask about dates, flights and your stay in Istanbul on WhatsApp, in English.
Safety
How your safety is built into the plan
Reviewed before you travel.
Dr. Kalender reviews your history and imaging first. If knee replacement isn’t right for you, he’ll tell you.
Clear eligibility checks.
These include your weight (BMI), assessed together with your general health, and screening for any active infection, using your examination, history and blood tests such as CRP.
Full assessment on arrival.
A health check-up, consultations with internal medicine, cardiology, anesthesia and radiology, and any imaging you need.
A team decision.
Your final plan is confirmed by all of your doctors together.
Anesthesia tailored to you.
Most operations are done under spinal anesthesia, chosen by your anesthesiologist after your assessment.
Cleared to fly.
You fly home only after a medical evaluation, including your risk of blood clots on a long flight. Safety checklist for surgery abroad →
Your surgery takes place at Dora Hospital in Istanbul.
Your journey
Your journey from the USA, step by step
Before you travel
Free online consultation
Send your details and any X-rays or MRI. Dr. Kalender reviews them and talks with you by video.
Your own surgery and recovery plan
If you’re a candidate, you receive a written treatment plan and quote.
Trip planning
We help you choose dates, plan your flights and hotel, and tell you which tests to arrange at home. How to prepare →
In Istanbul
Arrival
A private driver meets you at the airport and takes you to Dora Hospital.
Pre-op assessment
Check-up, specialist consultations and imaging. Your plan is confirmed with you.
Surgery
Dr. Kalender performs your knee replacement, usually under spinal anesthesia.
Walking the day after surgery
Most patients walk the day after surgery and stay just one night in the hospital.
Recovery education before discharge
Before you leave the hospital, you learn your exercises, wound care and the warning signs to watch for.
Back home
Fly home and follow-up
You fly once your doctors clear you for travel. Your recovery continues at home, with remote follow-up from Dr. Kalender’s team.
Length of stay
How long will you stay in Istanbul?
Most patients stay just one night in the hospital. Leaving the hospital and being cleared for a long-haul flight are separate decisions. Your return date isn’t fixed in advance. Dr. Kalender evaluates your recovery individually, and you fly only once you’re cleared for travel. We’ll discuss a realistic timeline with you before you book.
Your plan
What your treatment plan can include
Your plan is built after Dr. Kalender reviews your imaging and can include:
- Surgeon’s fees and your hospital stay
- Pre-op check-up, specialist consultations and imaging
- Hotel accommodation and VIP transfers
- Flight planning
- Recovery education and remote follow-up
We don’t publish a single price because no two plans are the same. Once Dr. Kalender has reviewed your case, you’ll receive a clear written quote that shows exactly what’s included.
Questions about what's included?
Ask about your plan and quote on WhatsApp, in English.
Compare your options
US, Mexico or Turkey: how to compare your options
Many Americans weigh surgery at home against options abroad. Here are the practical differences to consider:
United States
Travel
None, or a short trip
Paying for surgery
Usually through insurance or Medicare, plus out-of-pocket costs
Time away from home
Home soon after the hospital stay
Follow-up
In person, locally
Mexico
Travel
Short flight or drive from many US cities
Paying for surgery
Usually self-pay
Time away from home
Usually a short stay
Follow-up
Remote, plus your local doctor
Turkey (Istanbul)
Travel
Long-haul flight; direct options from several major cities
Paying for surgery
Usually self-pay
Time away from home
Several days; return set by medical clearance
Follow-up
Remote, plus your local doctor
Wherever you go, ask every provider the same questions
Who will perform my surgery, and how much of their work is knee replacement?
Dr. Kalender performs your surgery, and his practice centers on the knee.
Will anyone review my case before I travel?
Yes. Dr. Kalender reviews your imaging himself, free of charge.
Will I need weeks of physical therapy?
Dr. Kalender’s approach aims to reduce the need for formal physical therapy. Your own rehabilitation plan depends on how you recover, and you’ll receive exercises before you leave.
How will my flight home be planned?
Your fitness to fly is assessed before you leave.
What exactly is included in the quote?
You receive a written plan that lists everything included.
Eligibility
Who is a good candidate?
Not every painful knee needs surgery, and Dr. Kalender doesn’t operate on everyone. You may be a good candidate if:
- Knee pain limits your daily life despite painkillers, injections or physical therapy
- Your X-rays or MRI show significant damage to the knee joint
- Weight and general health are assessed personally, not by a single number
- Your pre-op checks, including blood tests such as CRP, show no sign of active infection
- You’re healthy enough to travel and to have surgery
Your surgeon
Meet your surgeon
Dr. Mahmut Kalender graduated from medical school in 1991 and has practiced orthopedics and traumatology for more than 30 years. Having broken a bone in an accident himself, he knows what bone pain feels like, and that experience shapes his focus on a more comfortable recovery. He speaks English and talks with you directly from your first consultation.
[Video – pending]
Patient stories
What patients say
[Real, consented patient experiences – pending]
After you fly home
You leave Istanbul knowing your exercises, how to care for your wound and when to seek help. Your stitches are designed to dissolve on their own, and you’ll receive personalized wound care instructions before you leave. Dr. Kalender’s team stays in touch for remote follow-up, and we recommend keeping your local doctor informed as well.
Questions about follow-up from home?
Ask how the team stays in touch after you fly home, on WhatsApp.
FAQ
Knee replacement in Turkey: frequently asked questions
Can I find out if I’m a candidate before traveling?
Yes. Send your details and any X-rays or MRI through our free online consultation. Dr. Kalender reviews them and discusses your options with you by video before you make any plans.
How much does knee replacement in Turkey cost?
It depends on your health, your imaging and what your plan includes. After Dr. Kalender reviews your case, you receive a personalized written quote, so you know what’s included before you decide.
Will Dr. Kalender perform my surgery himself?
Yes. He reviews your case, performs your surgery and leads your care team.
Do I need recent X-rays or an MRI to get started?
They help, but you can start without them. If new imaging is needed, we’ll tell you what to request at home.
Is it safe to fly home after knee replacement?
Flying after surgery takes planning, mainly because of the risk of blood clots on long flights. You fly only after your doctors evaluate you and clear you for travel.
Can a family member or friend travel with me?
Yes. You’re welcome to travel with a companion, and we can include them in your hotel and transfer planning.
What if I have a problem after I get home?
You’ll have remote follow-up with Dr. Kalender’s team and clear guidance on warning signs. We also recommend keeping your local doctor informed about your surgery.
Will my US insurance cover surgery in Turkey?
Coverage for treatment abroad varies by insurer and plan, so check with your insurer directly. We can provide the medical documents you may need.
Free online consultation
Start with a free online consultation
Find out if pain-free knee replacement is right for you, and what your trip to Istanbul would look like, without leaving home.