Liver Transplant in Turkey

Liver Transplant Treatment Recovery Time

The recovery time from a liver transplant procedure is quite long, usually averaging around six or more months. While you may be able to resume your daily life after a couple of months, you should still be quite careful during these six months to ensure proper recovery. 

How is a Liver Transplant Procedure Performed?

A liver transplant in Turkey procedure can take anywhere between 6 hours to 12 hours, depending on the complexıty of the case. The transplant procedure begins with the surgeon making an incision on the right side of the abdomen. This will allow the surgeon to access the damaged liver and remove it to place the donor's liver.

The newly transplanted liver needs to be connected to the nerves and bile ducts so that all the neighboring organs can continue to work as one functional unit. With this, the transplant procedure is complete and the surgeon will then suture the incisions. 

1. Consultation for Liver Transplant

Your treatment process begins with an online consultation. Our experts listen to your health story, your liver condition’s progression status, and your expectations. They will inform you about whether you need a liver transplant or other treatments.

It is important to share all your health information that may be useful at this stage. If available, please share your diagnosis and treatment process documents, imaging results, and information about your current health status with the health providers during this online consultation.

2. Planning Your Trip and Choosing the Clinic

After your first evaluation, we offer a list of liver transplant clinics that meet the criteria you provide us. You will then examine all and decide on one of them. Depending on your choice, we move on to planning the entire treatment process.

3. Final Consultation with Your Surgeon

When you arrive at the clinic, you will have a face-to-face consultation with your doctor. Everything about your liver transplant surgery will be discussed and decided during this consultation.

The doctor will ask you some questions to try to understand your expectations and concerns better and also make you understand what you should expect from your treatment with its potential risks or complications. Your doctor will explain the whole process clearly for you to feel enlightened and ready.

4. Medical Examinations

Before the liver transplant surgery begins, your surgeon will perform a series of tests to ensure that there are no contraindications. He or she will conduct physical and blood tests to make sure that you are in acceptable health status for the surgery and to eliminate the risks that can hinder the success of the procedure.

As soon as the patient becomes a candidate for a liver transplant, the patient is regularly followed up at the hospital to carry out various examinations (blood tests, medical imaging examinations). The patient must also be up to date with his vaccinations (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, pertussis Hemophilus influenza b).

Vaccination against influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, pneumococcus, MMR, chickenpox) is highly recommended.

While waiting for a donor, the patient can wait several months before being transplanted, this time varies depending on the indication for the transplant but also the severity of his condition.

5. Surgery

A liver transplant takes place under general anesthesia. A venous line, a urinary catheter, a gastric tube, and tracheal intubation are placed.

The procedure takes place in two stages:

• Removal of the diseased liver (hepatectomy): the surgeon makes a horizontal incision under the ribs, and vertical towards the sternum. It cuts the ligamentous attachments of the liver, the blood vessels arriving at the liver (hepatic artery and portal vein), those leaving it (hepatic veins) as well as the main bile duct, then removes the diseased liver.
• Healthy liver transplant: the surgeon places the graft in the abdomen, connects the blood vessels to quickly re-supply the graft, and then the various vessels transporting the bile. The surgeon then tests the circulation of blood and bile. Small redons are placed to evacuate liquids, as well as a bile drain.

These two stages must be perfectly synchronized because the graft must remain as short as possible deprived of blood circulation. Anti-rejection treatment is started in the operating room.

What Happens After Liver Transplant Surgery?

• The patient remains in the intensive care unit for at least 72 hours, during which he is subject to increased surveillance day and night (scope monitoring, blood pressure, blood test every 8 hours, ultrasound of the liver) to ensure that the body recovers from the operation, that the graft works properly and that the patient supports the anti-rejection treatment.
• The drain is removed between 3 and 4 months after the transplant. During this period, her dressing should be changed regularly by a home nurse. Recovery lasts approximately 6 months, depending on the patient's condition.
• After a transplant, immunosuppressants or anti-rejection medicines are prescribed for life to help keep your body from rejecting the new liver. This treatment modulates the immune system and thus reduces the risk of rejection of the graft.
• At the same time, the transplant recipient must regularly carry out assessments at the transplant center (ultrasound, blood tests) to control the functioning of the liver, prevent possible rejection, and detect the side effects of anti-rejection treatment. The frequency of follow-up is less and less approximated over time (every week for the first 3 months, then 1-2 times a year after the 3rd year).

Side Effects of Liver Transplant Surgery

The major complication of liver transplant surgery is a rejection of the donor's liver by the recipient's body. The rejection can happen immediately, within a couple of days, or years later. Some of the other common reactions to liver transplants in Turkey are:

• Bile duct leaks, injury, or shrinking during the re-connection with the donor's liver
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Blood clots in the leg (DVT) leading to pulmonary embolism
• Seizures

Liver Transplant Surgery Results

Liver transplant success rates in Turkey are quite high. Most patients are generally quite happy with the results of the procedure and enjoy a general life expectancy of 10 to 20 more years due to the transplant. 

How To Prepare For Liver Transplant?

• Have a loved one accompany you and your donor to Turkey. They will help you through the procedure and the recovery period.
• Stay healthy and be as physically active, as your body will allow. 
• Speak to your primary care doctor to adjust the dosage of any medications that you may be taking.

Benefits of Liver Transplant Installment Payment Plan

Medical tourism is an increasingly popular option for individuals seeking high-quality, cost-effective healthcare. For many, the financial burden of upfront payments can be a barrier to accessing treatment abroad. Opting for installment payment plans offers several advantages that make medical treatments more accessible and manageable.

Affordable Access to Quality Care

• Spread-Out Costs: Liver Transplant Turkey Installment payments allow patients to spread the cost of medical procedures over a period of time, reducing the immediate financial pressure.
• Access to Premium Services: Patients can afford higher-quality treatments, facilities, or specialists they might not otherwise consider.

Improved Financial Flexibility

• Manageable Payments: Small, predictable monthly payments make it easier to plan and budget without depleting savings or emergency funds.
• Minimized Debt Risk: Installment plans often have lower interest rates and manageable terms than taking a high-interest loan or maxing out credit cards.

Opportunities for Early Treatment

• Reduced Delays: Liver Transplant Installment options remove the need to wait until the full amount is saved, enabling patients to receive timely medical care.
• Better Outcomes: Early treatment can prevent health conditions from worsening, often reducing overall healthcare costs in the long run.

Peace of Mind

• Financial Security: Knowing payments are spread out and manageable reduces stress and allows patients to focus on their recovery.
• Transparent Agreements: Many installment plans have clear terms, ensuring no hidden fees or unexpected financial surprises.

By leveraging installment payment plans, individuals can access high-quality medical care abroad while maintaining financial stability. This approach ensures a balance between receiving the best treatment and managing personal finances responsibly.

How Can Flymedi Help with Payment Plan Options

We’ve created payment plans to fit the needs of patients in different regions, with varying terms and limits:

Payment Plan Options by Region:

• United Kingdom: Up to 36 months, maximum £5,000
• United States: Up to 36 months, maximum $30,000
• Germany: Up to 36 months, maximum €5,000
• Canada: Up to 36 months, maximum CAD 30,000
• France, Spain, Italy, Romania: Up to 3 months, maximum €1,500
• Other Countries: Financing is available in Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, and more (specific limits available on request).

Interest Rates:

• 3-month plans: Interest-free
• Up to 36-month plans: Interest rates range from 7.5% to 15%, depending on your credit history and employment status.

You can choose installment plans with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover if you have a high credit card limit. Terms include 3, 6, or 12 months. We’re here to help! Contact us for guidance or to find the best plan for your needs. Your health is important, and we’re committed to making care accessible.

Liver Transplant Quick Facts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you transplant the liver? 

Yes, the liver is an organ that can be transplanted, when medically necessary. The liver transplant success rate in Turkey is quite high, indicating the safety and efficacy of the procedure. 

What is the life expectancy after a successful liver transplant?

The life expectancy after a successful liver transplant in Turkey is quite high with people living, on average, for at least 10 years after the procedure. Many go on to live for over 20 years.

What is the minimum cost of a liver transplant?

The minimum cost of a liver transplant in Turkey is around €50,000 which is significantly lower than the costs in other European countries. 

When Do You Need A Liver Transplant?

Liver transplants are used in cases of end-stage liver failure; when the liver is no longer able to perform its functions.

What Are the Side Effects of Immunosuppressants?

Possible side effects of immunosuppressants include:

• Infection
• High levels of cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Kidney damage
• High blood pressure

What Happens If You Drink Alcohol After A Liver Transplant?

Alcoholic beverage consumption after transplant is not recommended, even for people who have not had alcohol-related liver disease. Alcohol is broken down by the liver and drinking alcohol forces the liver to make extra effort.