Cost of a sex change in Turkey
The average cost of a sex change in Turkey, in Istanbul, is £12,000. Depending on your needs, the price can range from £7,000 up to £17,000. In the UK, the same procedure is charged at £25,000 - £35,000. The pathway unfolds in several stages, spaced three to six months apart.
| Procedure | Price in Turkey | Price in the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Sex change | £7,000 - £17,000 | £25,000 - £35,000 |
What is a sex change?
A sex change operation in Turkey, also called gender reassignment surgery or simply a sex change operation, is a type of procedure that physically changes a patient’s sex.
People whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth are described as transgender. No official count exists in the UK, and the available estimates vary according to the definitions used.
There are two main types of gender reassignment surgery:
- Female to male gender reassignment surgery
- Male to female gender reassignment surgery
Every sex change procedure in Turkey is unique, because it depends heavily on the patient’s wishes and on their mental and physical health.
Patients must follow three main stages of a sex change:
- Mental health assessment - in-depth evaluation before hormone treatment
- Hormone therapy - to masculinise or feminise the patient’s characteristics, involving strength, voice pitch and hair growth
- Gender reassignment surgery - the series of operations intended to make the patient the opposite sex
Preparation
A thorough assessment of the patient will be carried out in Istanbul, to better understand the issues the person is facing and their reasons for wanting a sex change operation. Before the operation, those concerned need to understand the risks and limitations of sex change surgery.
Patients generally undergo two or three assessments before being referred to a hormone specialist. The WPATH Standards of Care, version 8, require at least six months of hormone therapy before genital surgery, where it is medically indicated[1].
How it is performed
Female to male gender reassignment surgery:
- Mastectomy (or chest reconstruction)
- Hysterectomy
- Vaginectomy
- Urethral lengthening
- Phalloplasty
The operations in Istanbul listed above are carried out in 3 main phases, with an interval of 3 to 6 months between them. The cost and the risk of complications mean that many people only undergo some of them.
Male to female gender reassignment surgery:
- Penile skin inversion
- Voice feminisation
- Facial feminisation
- Breast augmentation
- Vaginoplasty
All the operations are performed under general anaesthetic, and most of them last from 5 to 8 hours.
Post-operative follow-up
The typical recovery time for a sex change operation varies according to the patient and their sex.
Female to male gender reassignment surgery
The length of the hospital stay depends on the procedures performed. The period can last up to two years if the patient has undergone all the necessary operations.
Male to female gender reassignment surgery
After the operation, patients must follow a liquid-only diet for one week. After a week, patients can begin walking for short periods. Sexual intercourse can be resumed 2 months after the operation. The patient must use a dilator for 30 minutes at least twice a day.
Risks
Sex change surgery can involve the following risks and complications:
- Serious infection
- Loss of the ability to reach orgasm
- Tissue necrosis
- Intestinal fistulas
- Thrombosis
- Incontinence
- Haematoma
Side effects
The side effects of gender reassignment surgery can include:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Vomiting and nausea
- A long recovery period, particularly for female to male sex change operations
Depression and high levels of anxiety can also be experienced by some people, before and after a sex change operation.
Success rates
No success rate can be measured for this surgery: there is no shared definition of one. A meta-analysis of 3,388 patients who underwent penile inversion vaginoplasty puts overall satisfaction between 80 and 100%[2].
The same literature reports sexual dysfunction in 25 to 75% of those operated on[3]. The authors note considerable heterogeneity between studies: these are orders of magnitude, not guarantees.
Before and after
Hormone therapy continues after the operation. Genital surgery makes it permanently impossible to conceive with your own gametes: this is why the standards require counselling on fertility and a review of preservation options before the procedure[1].
A systematic review of 24 studies and 3,662 people who underwent surgery puts regret at 1.94%, that is 4.0% among trans women and 0.8% among trans men[4]. The study population is overwhelmingly North American.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Is sex change surgery permanent?
Genital surgery is not reversible, and for this reason the standards require counselling on fertility and assessment of the capacity to consent before the procedure[1]. Regret does exist, but it remains rare: 1.94% out of 3,662 people[4].
How long do I need to dilate after male to female sex change surgery?
Dilation maintains the depth and diameter of the cavity created. It is done several times a day in the first few weeks, then less often, according to the surgeon’s protocol. Of 614 people followed up, 17.5% report lasting difficulty with dilation[5].
Can my neovagina lubricate naturally after sex change surgery?
Yes and no - it depends on the type of method used. While some patients who have undergone sex change surgery may benefit from a degree of lubrication, it may not be enough to fully facilitate sexual intercourse.
What is the price of a sex change in Turkey and in the UK?
Expect £7,000 to £17,000 in Turkey, against £25,000 to £35,000 in the UK. Travel and transfers also weigh on the budget: medical tourism in Turkey sets out the organisation and the cost items in detail, accommodation included.
Is the procedure covered if it takes place in Turkey?
Coverage for surgery performed abroad is unusual and depends on your own situation. It is worth checking with the NHS what your entitlement provides before you commit.
Does changing legal gender depend on the operation?
In the UK, no. The UK Gender Recognition Act allows a Gender Recognition Certificate to be obtained without requiring surgery. The two processes are independent of each other.
Who provides medical follow-up on return to the UK?
No system automatically links the Turkish clinic to a UK practitioner. A systematic review recommends informing people who travel abroad for surgery about the difficulties they may encounter[7]. The handover needs to be arranged before departure.
Sources & References
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. 2022. View the source
- Ding C, Khondker A, Goldenberg MG, et coll. Urinary complications after penile inversion vaginoplasty in transgender women: systematic review and meta-analysis. Canadian Urological Association Journal. 2023. View the source
- Dominoni M, Scatigno AL, Pasquali MF, et coll. Pelvic floor and sexual dysfunctions after genital gender-affirming surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2025. View the source
- Ren T, Galenchik-Chan A, Erlichman Z, Krajewski A. Prevalence of regret in gender-affirming surgery: a systematic review. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2024. View the source
- Shamamian PE, Chen D, Wang A, et coll. Predictors of dilation difficulty in gender-affirming vaginoplasty. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. 2024. View the source
- Ministère de la Justice. Circulaire de présentation des dispositions de la loi de modernisation de la justice du XXIe siècle relatives à la modification de la mention du sexe à l’état civil. 2017. View the source
- Tay YT, Lo CH. Use of peritoneum in neovagina construction in gender-affirming surgery: a systematic review. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2022. View the source
