14° → 2°Bow legs · both tibiae
“The knee gap was the thing I saw in every photograph. Twelve weeks later it was gone and my knee pain went with it.”
Case 1 · United Kingdom · age 31
Antalya, Turkey · Deformity correction
Bow leg and knock knee correction in Antalya, Turkey
Leg straightening surgery for genu varum and genu valgum, performed by Op. Dr. Mesut Sançmış, Orthopaedics & Traumatology specialist.
- Both legs corrected in one operation · 2–3 weeks in Antalya
- Osteotomy planned from full-length alignment X-rays, not from a photo
- Straighter legs and a knee that loads evenly — appearance and joint, together
- Published complication rates and a written aftercare policy
Get your alignment plan
Send a standing photo of your legs, front on, feet together. Dr. Sançmış reviews it personally and replies with whether surgery is indicated, which bone would be corrected and a written quotation.
Real patients, measured
Before and after, with the actual angles
Every case below is photographed under the same conditions, standing, feet together, barefoot. The correction is the measured change in the mechanical axis — not an estimate.
11° → 3°Knock knees · both femora
“I had been told for years to just do exercises. The X-ray showed the bend was in the bone. Exercises were never going to move it.”
Case 2 · United States · age 27
16° → 2°Bow legs · femur and tibia
“Two bones per leg, one operation. I was walking with crutches the next day and unaided by week ten.”
Case 3 · Ireland · age 35
Results vary from person to person. The correction that can be achieved safely depends on where the deformity sits in the bone, its severity, your age, your general health and the condition of the knee joint itself. It is agreed in writing after full-length standing X-rays. The images above show individual outcomes and are not a prediction of your result. All photographs are unretouched, taken under standardised conditions and published with signed patient consent.
Op. Dr. Mesut Sançmış
Orthopaedics & Traumatology · MSM Clinic, Antalya
Who will actually operate on you
An orthopaedic surgeon, not a cosmetic clinic offering a leg procedure
17 years
in orthopaedics and traumatology,
since 2009
Realigning a leg is deformity correction, not body contouring. It is the same operation used to rescue a knee heading for early arthritis, and it belongs in the hands of someone who does knee surgery every week. Op. Dr. Mesut Sançmış trained and practised at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, spent six years as a consultant in Turkish state hospitals, and founded MSM Clinic in 2022.
Your assessment, your operation, your plate removal if you choose it and your follow-up after you fly home are handled by that same surgeon. Nothing is passed to a coordinator to decide.
◆Orthopaedics & Traumatology specialist◆In orthopaedics since 2009 · specialist since 2015◆Osteotomy · deformity correction · knee surgery◆Faculty member, Alanya University, since 2024◆Peer-reviewed publications in orthopaedic journals◆Ministry of Health health tourism authorisation
Op. Dr. Mesut Sançmış
Orthopaedics & Traumatology · MSM Clinic, Antalya
Independently verified
Patient reviews — Trustpilot & Google
Reviews from across the practice — knee, foot and ankle, trauma and deformity work. This is the surgeon’s day job, not a sideline.
Trustpilot
4.0
Verified patient reviews
Google
4.9
228 reviews · Antalya
WhatClinic
4.9
Verified patient enquiries
Google
I fortunately came across Dr. Mesut while researching orthopedic surgeons in Antalya after suffering a severe heel fracture in the United States. From the beginning, I was uneasy with the treatment plan proposed by my U.S. surgeon. After more than a year of being told that it was simply a “bad break” that would take time to heal, it was finally discovered that I had also severely sprained my ankle at the time of the injury, resulting in partial ligament and tendon tears that had been missed entirely. When these tears were eventually identified, the solution I was given was ankle fusion surgery, an option that would have permanently limited my mobility. This did not sit right with me. While in Antalya for my spouse's dental care, I had the opportunity to consult with Dr. Mesut at MSM Klinik. His team quickly arranged comprehensive testing to fully understand what was happening with my foot. Dr. Mesut confirmed the ligament and tendon damage but was very clear that ankle fusion was not the appropriate solution for my case.
Ildiko Allen🇺🇸 United States · Foot & ankle
Google
My wife had a knee injection at MSM Klinik in Antalya in Turkey last year. She had been suffering from severe knee pain for several years and the injection really helped her regain mobility. So, we returned to MSM Klinik this year, where she has now had a second injection, which we expect will help her sustain her ability to walk at least another six months free of pain. My wife has been referred to NHS orthopedic specialists in the UK and is waiting for their diagnosis also. Waiting times are very long still in the UK, so the assistance provided by MSM Klinik in Turkey in the meantime has been extremely helpful.
Paul Choate🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Knee
WhatClinic
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Mesut and the staff of Rabia and Delsad hospitals, who promptly and professionally assisted in removing cysts on the index finger of my left hand. I flew to Antalya from London, where I was examined for 5 months. 2 MRI scans, 2 x-rays and 1 ultrasound were performed. So without waiting for help, I turned to the MSM clinic. During the day, Dr. Mesut took an X-ray examination and operated on it. I am very grateful to the doctor for his responsiveness and professionalism, as well as his team. I wish your clinic prosperity. I recommend it.
LiudmylaFlew from London · Hand surgery
Google
Service was excellent. I'm forever grateful to Surgeon Mesut Sancmis for taking care of me. I'm still recovering and have a follow up coming soon but I'm confident I will recover 100%. The whole staff was very attentive and professional. Starting with the driver, he was so helpful and nice assisting me with my wheelchair. Amy, who was with me throughout the whole process, made sure all my needs and concerns were addressed. I didn't feel there was a language barrier because she was there to translate and facilitate all my needs. Even after discharge Dr Mesut and Amy visited me multiple times to check on me and make sure everything was going well. I highly recommend them.
Julio-Pierre FuertesSurgery & aftercare
WhatClinic
Dr Mesut and the team were exceptional and delivered excellent service. My issue was well investigated and management options and plans were provided. I am well satisfied with the service and happy with the outcome. Thank you again.
Abdimalik I.🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Consultation
Google
Superb service and very quick and professional, made me feel at ease, reassured me every step of the way. If you need pain blocking or facet joint injections then come here, they will solve your problem. From the minute I arrived I knew I had chosen the best surgeon and team to help me. I had an MRI and x-ray within an hour of my consultation, 2 hours later I had a full diagnosis and treatment plan, 20 minutes after that I had my treatment. They've taken away my pain and I'm so happy. I will return if I ever need help in the future, 100%.
Mark ThorntonPain management · Injections
Google
I wish to take this opportunity to thank Dr Mesut Sançmış for his kind, caring and professional approach to my long term medical issues. He very efficiently examined, tested and diagnosed my medical issues and offered treatment of arthroscopic knee surgery for the following day. The surgery was an absolute success with my original pain now gone and the procedure stiffness subsiding daily. I can already walk and sleep better and my quality of life is improving. The constant pain etched on my face and in my daily life has gone and I can never thank him enough. He is a true gentleman and 5 star surgeon.
Theresa GlasgowArthroscopic knee surgery
Trustpilot
From the very beginning, I felt that I was in good hands with Dr. Mesut Sançmış. The consultation was clear, supportive and reassuring, which made me feel confident about moving forward. Throughout the treatment, Dr. Mesut Sançmış showed great care and professionalism, always making sure I was comfortable and informed. The results have exceeded my expectations — my feet not only look better, but I feel more confident and at ease in my daily life. It has truly been a positive change for me, both physically and emotionally. I am very grateful for the expertise, kindness and attention to detail. I would gladly recommend this clinic to anyone looking for high-quality, compassionate care.
Mayra TapiaFoot surgery
Google
MSM Klinik have been excellent. From the initial consultation, through the hospital procedure and the after care — absolutely fantastic. Communication about the knee procedure and the ease of making it happen, with genuine concern for your welfare and recovery. Highly recommend this great clinic. Thanks MSM.
Paul FarrellKnee procedure
Trustpilot
Top orthopedic. We needed a hand surgeon for our son who had an accident with a knife. Great service via WhatsApp, they speak English. Modern clinic, all innovative methods, state of the art equipment. Near hotels in Lara and Kundu. Also good for international tourists.
J. MüllerHand surgery · International patient
WhatClinic
I had a really painful neck and back. I had two therapy sessions and it really, really helped. I now don't feel pain and the movement in my back is so much better. Thank you!
Annie J.🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Physiotherapy
Google
Challenging or mild conditions require the type of specific attention provided. Dr. Mesut Sançmış and his entire staff are highly knowledgeable and solution focused. It is incredible to witness the difference their patient care delivers. Do you have back pain, shoulder issues, orthopedic problems? Here's your source for these and much more. Please don't hesitate to book your first consultation to start on the path of healing.
Jacqueline PossBack & shoulder
What is actually bent, and where
How leg alignment is corrected
A bow or a knock is a bend in the bone, not a weakness in the muscle. Correction means cutting the bone at the level of the deformity, rotating it to bring the weight-bearing line back through the centre of the knee, and holding it with a plate while it heals. The bone is yours; the plate only holds it still.
Bow legs
Genu varum · “O” shape
The knees sit apart while the ankles touch, so body weight loads the inner half of each knee. Corrected at the shin bone with a high tibial osteotomy.
Knock knees
Genu valgum · “X” shape
The knees touch while the ankles sit apart, overloading the outer half of the knee. Usually corrected at the thigh bone with a distal femoral osteotomy.
Combined or rotational
Femur and tibia
Angulation in both bones, or a twist in the leg as well as a bend. Corrected across two levels in one operation, planned from full-length imaging.
Stage 1
Assessment before you fly
Full-length standing X-rays of both legs, mechanical axis measurement, and a check of the knee joint itself. This is where we establish whether the bend is in the bone at all — and if it is, in which bone.
From home · 1–2 weeks
Stage 2
Planning the cut
The exact level, angle and size of the correction are planned on your imaging before you travel. Plate and screw sizes are chosen in advance so nothing is improvised in theatre.
Before surgery
Stage 3
Surgery
A controlled cut in the tibia, the femur, or both, and the bone is realigned to bring the weight-bearing line back through the centre of the knee. Fixed with plates and screws. Both legs in one operation, one to two hours per leg.
Antalya · day 0
Stage 4
First two weeks
One to three nights as an inpatient, then walking with crutches and partial weight on the leg. Daily physiotherapy, wound checks, and a control X-ray before you are cleared to fly.
Antalya · weeks 1–3
Stage 5
Bone union
Weight is increased gradually as the osteotomy consolidates. Most patients are off crutches somewhere between weeks six and ten, on radiographic evidence rather than on how the leg feels.
Home · weeks 3–12
Stage 6
Back to full load
Gym, running and impact sport return once union is confirmed, typically four to six months. Plate removal is optional and usually considered after twelve to eighteen months.
Home · months 3–12
The part most clinics leave out
This is a real orthopaedic operation on a healthy bone, and it carries real risk. Below are complication rates reported in the osteotomy literature — including the ones that are inconvenient for us — and what we do about each. If a clinic tells you leg straightening is a simple cosmetic procedure, that is the moment to walk away.
- Delayed union or non-union ~5–10% of osteotomies Correction planned on imaging rather than by eye, rigid plate fixation, and staged weight-bearing checked on X-ray rather than by feel. Smoking is the single biggest factor here, which is why we ask you to stop.
- Peroneal nerve injury ~1–5%, higher in valgus correction This is the complication that causes foot drop, and it is the reason knock knee correction is done at the femur rather than the tibia wherever the anatomy allows. Nerve function is checked before you leave theatre and daily afterwards.
- Infection ~1–3% with internal fixation Internal plates carry a much lower infection risk than external frames. Antibiotic protocol, wound review at every visit during the Antalya phase.
- Hardware irritation common; often why plates come out Low-profile plates, and plate removal offered as a planned second procedure rather than presented as a surprise.
- Over- or under-correction reported in a minority of cases Intra-operative alignment check against the pre-operative plan. A correction that is technically perfect but cosmetically wrong is still a failed correction, so the target angle is agreed with you in advance.
- Blood clots uncommon, serious Prophylaxis protocol, mobilisation from day one, and screening before you are cleared to fly home.
Rates are drawn from published series on high tibial and distal femoral osteotomy and vary by technique, by the size of the correction and by centre. Your individual risk depends on where your deformity sits and on the state of your knee joint, and it is discussed with the surgeon before consent, not after.
For international patients
Our international guest services
You will be in Antalya for three to four months on crutches. Everything below exists to make that period ordinary rather than difficult.
You land, we take it from there
Antalya has direct flights from more than twenty UK and European cities, so there is no connection to manage on crutches. Every transfer during your stay is arranged for you.
- Private airport transfer, wheelchair-accessible vehicles
- Door-to-door transport for every clinic and physiotherapy appointment
- Flight guidance from your nearest airport
- Fit-to-fly assessment before you travel home
A flat you can actually live in for four months
A hotel room is fine for a week and miserable for a season. We arrange step-free apartments minutes from the clinic, with a kitchen, a lift and space for a walker.
- Step-free apartments with lift access, within walking distance
- Bathroom adapted for the fixator phase
- Room for a partner or family member to stay
- Hotel option available if you prefer serviced
Everything in English, in writing
One named coordinator from your first message to your final review, and every clinical instruction given to you in writing so nothing depends on remembering a conversation.
- One dedicated coordinator, not a rotating inbox
- Interpreter present at every clinical appointment
- Written plans, protocols and discharge notes in plain English
- WhatsApp support seven days a week
Care that follows you home
Most of your recovery happens in your own country. This is the part to interrogate before you choose any clinic, anywhere.
- Fortnightly remote X-ray review by your surgeon, in writing
- Full handover pack for your GP or local orthopaedic team, in English
- Named contact with a defined response time, not a general inbox
- Complication cover — what is included and for how long, given to you in writing before you pay
One figure, agreed before you commit
Your quotation is issued in your own currency and includes the removal surgery. What you are quoted is what you pay.
- Written quotation before any deposit
- Fixator and nail removal surgery included, not billed later
- Exclusions listed in the same document as the inclusions
- Staged payment on request
Find out whether the bend is in the bone
Send a standing photo of your legs and your X-rays if you already have them. Dr. Sançmış reviews your case himself and replies with whether surgery is indicated, which bone would be corrected and a written quotation — usually within four hours.
No sales callsNo obligationConfidentialAdults 18+
Transparent pricing
What is included, and what the difference actually pays for
Your figure is confirmed after X-ray assessment and issued in writing, all-inclusive, with the exclusions listed in the same document — before you are asked for anything.
United Kingdom · United States
Private self-pay- ✕ Among the most expensive markets in the world for this operation
- ✕ Rarely funded where the indication is appearance rather than pain
- ✕ Long waits even where the indication is accepted
- ✕ One leg per admission is common, so two operations and two recoveries
- ✕ Plate removal quoted separately
MSM Clinic · Antalya
All-inclusive, confirmed after assessment- ✓ Both legs corrected in one operation
- ✓ Full-length imaging, planning and all control X-rays included
- ✓ Physiotherapy throughout the Antalya phase, included
- ✓ Implants, hospital stay and transfers included
- ✓ Written quotation before any deposit — the quote is what you pay
Correction
Where it is done
Fixation
Off crutches
Time in Antalya
Bow legs — genu varum
Upper tibia
Plate and screws
~6–10 weeks
2–3 weeks
Knock knees — genu valgum
Lower femur
Plate and screws
~6–10 weeks
2–3 weeks
Two-level correction
Femur and tibia
Plate and screws
~8–12 weeks
3 weeks
Plate removal — optional
Same incision
—
~1–2 weeks
4–5 days
Every package covers surgery on both legs, implants, hospital stay, pre-operative testing, full-length imaging and all control X-rays, physiotherapy during the Antalya phase and transfers. Flights, accommodation beyond the standard allowance, a companion's costs and imaging in your home country are not included and are listed as exclusions in your written quotation. Your figure is confirmed after X-ray assessment and issued in writing.
Answered properly
The questions everyone asks
If the bend is in the bone, no. Exercise strengthens the muscles around a joint and can reduce pain, but it cannot change the shape or angle of a bone that has finished growing. This is the single most common thing patients are told before they finally get a full-length X-ray.
What an X-ray does is settle the question. If your alignment is within normal range and the appearance comes from soft tissue or fat distribution, we will tell you that, and surgery is not the answer.
Yes, and in most cases that is what we recommend. Correcting one leg at a time means two operations, two recoveries and a period where your legs do not match. One to two hours of theatre time per leg, both in the same session.
Two to three weeks. One to three nights as an inpatient, then wound checks, physiotherapy and a control X-ray before you are cleared to fly.
This is a much shorter stay than most people expect. The long part of the recovery happens at home.
Walking with crutches from the day after surgery, with partial weight on the leg. Most patients are off crutches between weeks six and ten, on X-ray evidence rather than on how the leg feels. Driving usually returns around week eight. A desk job is realistic from week three to four; physical work takes longer.
Both, in most cases. A bowed leg loads the inner half of the knee and a knocked leg loads the outer half; realigning the limb spreads that load back across the joint. Where pain is coming from that overload, correcting the alignment usually improves it and slows the progression toward arthritis.
Where cartilage is already badly worn, realignment can buy time but cannot undo the damage. Your X-rays will show which situation you are in.
Peroneal nerve injury is a recognised complication, and it is the reason technique matters more here than almost anywhere else in the leg. It is more common when knock knees are corrected at the tibia, which is why we correct at the femur wherever the anatomy allows.
Most nerve problems are temporary when identified early. Permanent injury is rare but not impossible, and no surgeon anywhere can promise you otherwise.
Yes. Internal fixation needs an incision to place the plate — typically one on the inner shin for bow leg correction, or on the outer thigh for knock knee correction. They fade considerably but they do not disappear. You are trading a visible bend for a visible line.
Not necessarily. Many patients leave them in permanently with no problem. Others find the plate irritating under thin soft tissue, particularly on the shin, and choose to have it removed as a short second procedure after twelve to eighteen months.
Whether removal is included is stated explicitly in your written quotation rather than left ambiguous.
In most cases the mechanical axis can be brought back to within a few degrees of neutral, whatever the starting angle. The limit is not usually the bone, it is the soft tissue and the nerve, which is why very large corrections are sometimes done in two levels rather than one.
Skeletal growth must be complete, so eighteen at the earliest. There is no strict upper limit, but past about fifty-five the question shifts: if the knee joint itself is already worn, a partial or total knee replacement may serve you better than realignment.
We do not accept patients under eighteen for cosmetic correction.
The implants are the same and the technique is the same. What differs is the cost of an operating theatre, a hospital bed, a physiotherapist and accommodation in Antalya rather than London or New York.
Price alone is a poor way to choose. Compare the surgeon's volume of osteotomy work, the complication protocol, and what is written down about aftercare — then compare the number.
You get a named contact with a defined response time, and your imaging is reviewed by the surgeon who operated. Your GP or local orthopaedic team receives a full handover pack in English — operative notes, implant details, imaging and protocol — so they can act without guessing.
What is covered financially, and for how long, is set out in writing in your treatment agreement before you pay a deposit. Ask every clinic you are considering for that document.
From enquiry to Antalya
A simple three-step start
1
Send a photo
Standing, front on, feet together, in shorts. That one photograph tells us more than a paragraph of description. Send X-rays too if you have them; if not, we tell you exactly which views to ask for.
2
Speak to the surgeon
A video consultation with Dr. Sançmış. You leave it knowing whether the bend is in the bone, which bone would be corrected, the risks that apply to your case and a written quotation.
3
Travel to Antalya
Flights, transfers, accommodation and your physiotherapy schedule are arranged before you land. Two to three weeks here, then the rest of the recovery happens at home.
Why Antalya
Recover in Antalya, on the Mediterranean coast
A look at Antalya and the clinic, before you decide.
- Sea, sun and a flat seafrontA level coastal promenade to walk on, in one of the warmest cities in the Mediterranean.
- Everything ten minutes awayClinic, physiotherapy and your apartment within the same few streets. No commute on crutches.
- A short stay, not a long oneTwo to three weeks here. Most of the recovery happens at home, with remote X-ray review.
- Direct flightsAntalya (AYT) connects directly to more than twenty UK and European cities.