How I chose my surgeon in Turkey

A big name vs. my needs

In the world of plastic surgery it's very easy to be dazzled by a "big name": professor, international conferences, spectacular cases. For a long time I thought the same – that the bigger the "star", the better the choice. It was only my own experience with consultations in Turkey that showed me that a mature choice of surgeon looks completely different.

One of the doctors I had an online meeting with was Prof. Karaaltın – a name widely known in the surgical world. He truly is world class in facial reconstruction and surgery, has participated in groundbreaking procedures and developed pioneering techniques in this area.

He also works in aesthetics (including breasts, body, BBL, robotic breast augmentation), but his main axis remains facial work, reconstructions and very advanced cases. In other words: a genius primarily for the face and reconstruction, not a typical "breast surgeon" who performs breast surgery dozens of times a month.

My impressions after the consultation with the professor

During the consultation the professor made a great impression on me – he was human, warm, had a sense of humour, told stories that really stay with you. He's the type of doctor you could listen to for hours and feel enormous admiration for his knowledge and achievements.

And yet, when the emotions settled, I asked myself a very specific question:

"Is this the best person for my specific procedure – implant replacement, breast reconstruction and upper eyelid surgery?"

And that's where the more mature thinking began:

For breasts (implant replacement, reconstruction) and eyelids I want someone who does this constantly, day after day, not "on the side"
The fact that someone is a professor and icon in one field doesn't mean they're the best choice for every procedure
I can hugely admire someone and at the same time consciously choose a different doctor for my specific case

Two surgeons, two specialisations

Prof. Karaaltın

World class in facial reconstruction and surgery. Pioneering techniques, groundbreaking procedures, ultra-complex cases.

🏆 Master of facial and reconstructive surgery

Dr Ramazan Murat Polat

Specialist in breast surgery (implant replacement, reconstructions), body contouring and eyelid surgery. Does this day after day, non-stop.

🏆 Expert in breast and eyelid surgery

Paradoxically it was the consultation with the professor that convinced me that the decision to choose Dr Ramazan Murat Polat for implant replacement, breast reconstruction and eyelid surgery makes enormous sense.

Why I chose Dr Murat

Dr Murat specialises in exactly the procedures I need – implant replacement, breast reconstructions and eyelid surgery – and performs a great many of them, day after day.

This matters to me because a high volume of similar cases means:

Greater consistency of results – not "maybe it'll work out", but a predictable outcome
Better feel for scars and the healing process – because he sees them hundreds of times
Enormous hands-on practice in exactly what I'm coming for

The moment that put everything into perspective

What was very significant for me – when in conversation with the team and with Dr Murat I mentioned Professor Karaaltın, nobody pretended that "we do everything best in the world". I heard something very honest: when it comes to the face, complex reconstructions or very advanced procedures in that area, that's who you go to – Karaaltın – without question.

A statement along the lines of "for the face it's only him" told me more about them than a hundred adverts. It showed that each of them knows their strengths and doesn't try to be "the best at everything".

What this experience taught me

💡 My lessons from choosing a surgeon

Instead of looking for "the biggest name in Turkey", look for the best specialist for the specific procedure
You can have a consultation with a world-leading professor, be impressed… and still choose a different doctor
If a surgeon openly says "for that, go to someone else" – that's a green signal, not a weakness
I want someone working on my breasts and eyelids who does it non-stop, not "from time to time"

So:

For implant replacement, breast reconstruction and upper eyelid surgery I chose Dr Ramazan Murat Polat
Professor Karaaltın remains someone I hugely admire and have as my "address" for facial and complex reconstructive work

💬 My message: Different surgeons are good at different things. Instead of asking "who is the best in Turkey?", better to ask: "who is the best FOR ME, for THIS specific operation?"

Key information about Dr Ramazan Murat Polat

👨‍⚕️ MY CHOICE

Op. Dr. Ramazan Murat Polat

📍 Istanbul, Turkey

Specialisation

Plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery

Experience

approx. 18 years

Operations per year

3,000 – 3,500 (12–15 per day)

Hospital

Licensed hospitals in Istanbul

Consultation

Online – personal assessment by Dr Murat

Insurance

Yes – medical tourism insurance included

Transfers and hotel

Yes – airport, hotel, hospital included

Stay

5–8 nights (depending on procedure)

Questions I asked Dr Murat and what I heard

Before making my decision I asked very specific questions – and expected specific answers. Here they are:

❓ What does the first consultation look like?

The first consultation takes place online. The patient sends their medical information and photos, and Dr Murat personally assesses the case and presents a treatment plan.

❓ How much experience does he have and how many operations does he perform per year?

Dr Murat has approximately 18 years of surgical experience. He performs an average of 12–15 operations per day, which amounts to approximately 3,000 – 3,500 procedures per year.

❓ What does post-operative care look like?

Post-operative care includes hospital monitoring, daily nurse visits after discharge, medications, compression garments and regular check-ups. Dr Murat personally examines the patient before they leave Turkey and continues remote monitoring after they return home.

❓ What certificates does the clinic hold?

All procedures are performed in fully licensed and accredited hospitals in Istanbul, meeting international medical standards.

❓ Is there insurance in case of complications?

Yes. Patients receive medical tourism insurance which can be used in case of unexpected medical costs during the stay.

❓ What happens if complications arise?

In the rare case of complications the patient receives full support from the team and surgeon. Necessary medical care and check-ups are organised immediately.

❓ Are there follow-up visits?

Yes. Patients are visited daily by a nurse, and Dr Murat personally examines them again before they leave Turkey. After returning home, online monitoring continues.

❓ Are transfers and accommodation included?

Yes. Airport–hotel–hospital transfers and accommodation are included in the package.

❓ How long do you need to stay in Turkey?

The exact length of stay depends on the procedure, but patients typically arrive the day before surgery and stay approximately 5–8 nights in total.

❓ Are before and after photos available?

Yes. Before and after photos are available on the clinic's Instagram and are always shared with patient consent.

Certificate and safety

🏅 Dr Murat's certificates

Insert certificate photo here (in Ghost: add an Image block above this HTML block)

For me it's important that behind the nice "before/after" photos there are documents. Certificates, accreditations, licences – these aren't "extras", they're the foundation of trust.