Edinburgh 2013 – How It All Began
My journey with cosmetic surgery began in Edinburgh in 2013. I'd always dreamed of a breast augmentation and a tummy tuck. During my second pregnancy I gained 28 kg – and was left with stretch marks everywhere. Despite exercise, I never had a flat stomach; the muscles had separated. At my consultation I was told: the skin needs to be removed and the muscles sutured back together.
I wanted both procedures at once (one anaesthetic – cheaper!). Separately: £11,000; together: £9,000. 11 February 2013 – a reputable Edinburgh clinic, experienced surgeon, four hours on the table. I was scared, but the vision of firmer breasts and a flat stomach kept me going!
Everything went without complications (one night in hospital). I had low self-esteem – I was embarrassed by my sagging chest and loose skin. I thought surgery would fix that… it didn't.
12 Years Later – Time for a Change
I weighed 58 kg when I had them done; 350 ml implants – perfect. But after 12 years (menopause, +20 kg) my D cup had become an F. Exercise, diet… nothing helped. Time to replace the implants.
First came teeth (crowns) – read my dental story. An unchecked clinic means problems. This time I chose my plastic surgeon consciously.
I would have preferred something local (24/7 aftercare), but after my tummy tuck experience (2 weeks of agony) – this time: breasts only. Many women go bigger; I'd had enough. Shirts never fitted right, men stared at my cleavage. What matters most: how I feel.
Istanbul Consultations – Choosing a Surgeon
Prof. Mustafa Karahan Karaaltin (Estethica)
February 2026, online consultation: great first impression, chatted about Polish villages and kremówka cake ("will you bake me one?" 😂). A specialist in face transplants and conjoined twins. But there was a red flag: very little post-operative contact – confirmed by patient reviews.
Dr. Murat Polat – My Choice
Military training, army service, scar-minimising techniques. Less talkative than Prof. Karaaltin, but solid and precise. Date booked: 6 April 2026 (March first: dentist).
Arrival & Surgery – 5–6 April 2026
Sunday, 5 April (evening): flight to Istanbul, VIP Mercedes from the airport (45 min to a luxury hotel). From midnight: fasting. 6:00 am – hospital just 5 minutes away!
The hotel was enormous – I had to memorise my route 😂. Nerves kept me awake the whole night.
6 April, 6:00 am: hospital reception. A woman from my Facebook group in the waiting room (very filtered photos 🙈). She was there for augmentation; I was there to replace or remove my implants.
Paperwork, consents, prep room. Consultation with Dr. Polat: quiet, modest, Moldovan assistant. "Very large F!" – he said reviewing my file. I want a C (just a little). Plus: upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Markings done, all good – operating theatre at 10:00 am, 2.5 hours.
X-ray, blood tests, payment – operating theatre. Injection… I woke up: "The bra is strangling me!" The tall nurse: "Stand up, it's for your own good!" Me: "You're worse than my personal trainer!" 😂 We both laughed.
I stood up (ouch!), drip, non-stop care for the full 24 hours after. After my UK surgery, no one checked on me like this.
💡 What I Learned – Part 1
- Implants don't last forever – plan for replacement after 10–15 years, especially with weight changes
- Post-op surgeon contact is a key criterion – check reviews, not just before-and-after photos
- One procedure at a time – if possible, don't combine multiple surgeries under one anaesthetic
- Post-op care in Turkey can be better than in the UK – but it depends on the clinic, not the country
- Your motivation must be yours – surgery doesn't automatically fix self-esteem