Zubeyde Akdas, the driving force behind Istanbul’s iMed Medical, has revolutionised the health tourism industry by providing services that closely resemble those of a personal health assistant for international tourists seeking medical care in Türkiye. She highlighted the attractive pricing of medical services in Türkiye, which are substantially lower by at least 30-40% than in the UK, Europe, and the US, positioning Istanbul as a prime destination for health tourism.
Akdas discussed their strategic approach to enhancing Türkiye’s health tourism sector by establishing seamless connections between foreign patients and the country’s elite healthcare institutions and professionals, saying: “We have the International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate issued by the Turkish Ministry of Health. We provide services in plastic surgery, obesity and hair transplantation. Those who prefer Istanbul can plan their course of treatment by phone, online, or in consultation with our personal counselors in the Netherlands and Belgium.”
Türkiye’s Prominence in the Health Tourism Landscape
A report by Future Market Insights, a US-based market analysis firm, projects a 6.6% growth in Türkiye’s health tourism revenue, from 3,751.6 million dollars in 2023 to the end of 2033.
Akdaş shared insights on Türkiye’s increasing prominence in health tourism, stating:
“With its geographical location, cultural beauties, professional health personnel, and clinics, Türkiye, and mainly Istanbul, is the address of choice for people who desire to have better treatment services at more affordable prices. Turkish clinics that follow world trends enhance patient satisfaction with innovative treatments.”
Custom Patient Support: Language Services and Personal Nursing
Zubeyde Akdas, the founder of iMed Medical, highlighted their comprehensive range of services within the health tourism industry, including cosmetic enhancements, hair restoration, and obesity treatments, elaborating:
“Procedures do not only refer to surgical procedures for us. It is also a step towards redefining the beauty standards of individuals on their own terms. With the latest surgical techniques and a patient-centered approach, we offer a journey that is both transformative and comfortable. We have a wide choice of hospitals, surgeons, and medical staff. That’s why we don’t have a waiting list. After the necessary and desired treatments are determined, we quickly schedule and invite our foreign patients to Istanbul. Our patients are accommodated in 5-star luxury hotels. During your stay, we provide personalized services with the support of our interpreter, private nurse and team. Our patients can easily integrate their visits with vacations or business trips.”
The Trend Towards Natural Beauty in Cosmetic Procedures
“We follow all developments and innovations in the rapidly developing health tourism sector with about 45 colleagues. We prioritize the wishes of our patients. The preferences of celebrities have a great influence on foreign patients coming to Türkiye,” says Zubeyde Akdas,
“There is a comeback to the natural in aesthetics. The exaggerated look gave way to a natural appearance. Particularly celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Cardi B, who decided to undergo hip reduction made statements supporting the natural appearance by expressing their experiences. These statements have not only raised awareness but also helped to normalize those reversing cosmetic regulations is a common choice. Women embraced natural body aesthetics. Especially buttock implant removal and BBL reduction operations have increased in popularity. The smaller and shaped butt appearance has become the new favorite of patients.”
Focus on Authentic Beauty and Patient-Centred Care
In her final remarks, Akdas reinforced their dedication to ensuring patient satisfaction and providing personalised services in cooperation with Türkiye’s foremost medical experts, clinics, and hospitals:
“We listen to our patients and take their wishes into consideration to provide quality healthcare. Many women now seek comfort, natural beauty, and inner peace. In this regard, we have recently encountered mostly patients wishing to farewell their implants.
“Fashion and beauty standards change over time. Women who want to keep up with fashion may want smaller buttocks. Some women care too much about societal expectations. Others undergo surgery due to physical ailments. Overall, due to many external factors, women now prefer a firmer and smaller butt.”
