Training and credentials
Doç. Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal completed his medical degree and his residency in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in Ankara — one of Turkey's most prestigious medical institutions and an internationally recognised academic centre.
His academic title of Associate Professor ("Doç." in Turkish) is granted by the Turkish Inter-University Council based on a track record of peer-reviewed publications, presentations at international congresses, and teaching responsibilities. This is a substantive title — not a self-styled one — and reflects active engagement with the scientific community of plastic surgery.
He holds:
- FACS — Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
- FEBOPRAS — Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
- USHAŞ certification #2026034015610080000444996 — Turkish Ministry of Health International Health Tourism Authorization
- Membership in ISAPS, IPRAS, EURAPS, and the Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Ministry of Health authorization
Our clinic holds the International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate issued by the Turkish Ministry of Health — a legal requirement for clinics treating international patients in Turkey. Verifiable through the Ministry's official e-government system.
Approach to body contouring
Body contouring is one of the most consequential decisions in plastic surgery. The changes are visible. The scars are permanent. The recovery is real. Decisions made before surgery — about technique, sequencing, and what's realistic — carry through for the rest of the patient's life.
Doç. Dr. Erdal's approach to body contouring rests on three principles:
Honesty about scars
Every body contouring procedure leaves a permanent scar. Scar position and length are the central design decisions — not afterthoughts. We discuss this in detail before surgery, with diagrams, so there are no surprises later.
Right operation, right patient
A mini tummy tuck is not a smaller version of a full tummy tuck — it is a different operation with different indications. We choose the operation that fits the anatomy, not the operation that sounds appealing.
Sequencing matters
Especially after major weight loss, the order in which procedures are performed affects the final result. Stacking too much in one session compromises healing; stretching too far costs the patient time and money.
Patient communication — what to expect
One feature of the practice that international patients consistently flag is direct surgeon access. There is no patient-coordinator chain between you and the surgeon.
- Your first message is answered by Doç. Dr. Erdal personally. If you message us on WhatsApp asking about a procedure, the reply is from the surgeon — usually within the same working day.
- The pre-operative consultation is with the surgeon. Examination, planning, photographs, and consent are conducted directly. Patient coordinators may assist with logistics but do not make clinical decisions.
- Post-operative follow-up is direct. If a question arises during recovery — at home in your own country, three weeks after surgery — the message goes to the surgeon, not to a clinic helpdesk.
This is structurally different from how most large medical tourism operations are organised, and it has trade-offs. The practice is intentionally small. Same-week appointments are not always possible. But the consistency of clinical contact is the explicit design.
Practice and clinic
- Location: Teşvikiye Caddesi No:9/12, Şişli, Istanbul — the Nişantaşı neighbourhood, central Istanbul
- Type of practice: Single-surgeon plastic surgery clinic (Doç. Dr. Erdal Muayenehanesi)
- Surgical facility: Procedures are performed at a fully accredited Ministry-of-Health-licensed surgical facility nearby. Anaesthesia by board-certified anaesthesiologists.
- International patients: Authorised under Turkish Ministry of Health regulations (USHAŞ #2026034015610080000444996). Direct WhatsApp contact, English-language consultation.
- Languages: Turkish (native), English (clinical fluency)
Have a question? Send a message.
For procedure-specific questions, suitability enquiries, or to discuss travelling from abroad — direct WhatsApp is the fastest route. Photos help. There is no obligation, and we don't operate a follow-up sales sequence.