Patient Experience
My 6-year-old son with cerebral palsy had never taken independent steps. Prof. Hantal rejected conventional bracing and instead created a dynamic exosuit system using lightweight materials that provided support only when he needed it. Her innovation was programming the suit to gradually reduce assistance as his strength improved, like rehabilitation training wheels that automatically disappear.
As a professional pastry chef who developed severe focal hand dystonia (chef's cramp), I was facing career extinction at 35. Prof. Hantal's approach involved sensory retraining using temperature and texture variations in food materials. She had me retrain my neural pathways by decorating cakes with different consistencies of icing at specific temperatures, turning my disability into a culinary exploration.
After a radical neck dissection for cancer left me with debilitating shoulder dysfunction and chronic pain at 58, Prof. Hantal pioneered a 'phantom limb' rehabilitation approach for my missing neuromuscular connections. She used electrical stimulation mapped to my pre-surgery movement memories, essentially teaching my nerves to find new pathways around the surgical void.
My wife, a 45-year-old marine biologist, developed complex regional pain syndrome following a minor lab accident. Prof. Hantal created an aquatic rehabilitation program using variable salinity pools to mimic different oceanic environments. The breakthrough came when she incorporated my wife's research on cephalopod movement into her therapy, turning rehabilitation into a biological study of alternative locomotion.
As a 19-year-old university student with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, I had been told to simply 'avoid movement.' Prof. Hantal developed a revolutionary proprioceptive retraining program using strategically placed temporary tattoos as movement guides. Her approach taught my body to recognize its limits through visual cues rather than pain signals, changing my relationship with my own connective tissue.
Following a traumatic brachial plexus injury during birth, my newborn daughter faced potential lifelong arm paralysis. Prof. Hantal initiated a neonatal rehabilitation program using gentle myofascial release techniques synchronized with feeding times. Her innovation was recognizing that nerve regeneration in infants follows different pathways and requires integration with developmental milestones.
As a 63-year-old retired architect with severe spinal stenosis, I faced surgery or permanent disability. Prof. Hantal designed a rehabilitation program based on architectural principles, teaching me to think of my spine as a load-bearing structure requiring intelligent weight distribution. She used 3D-printed models of my spine to demonstrate movement mechanics in ways no one had before.
My 30-year-old twin brother, a professional drummer, developed focal dystonia that threatened his career. Prof. Hantal created a rehabilitation protocol using modified drumsticks with variable resistance and vibration feedback. Her breakthrough was synchronizing his therapy with rhythmic patterns from our cultural musical heritage that he hadn't played since childhood, unlocking neural pathways through musical memory.
As an 82-year-old with a strangulated umbilical hernia that three other surgeons deemed too risky, Dr. Agackiran approached my case with remarkable calm. He didn't see my age as a barrier but as a factor in his planning. His technique was something he called 'minimal tension anatomical restoration' - no mesh, just his meticulous suturing. Two months later, I'm tending my rose garden without discomfort. What stays with me is how he held my hand before anesthesia and said, 'Mr. Kemal, we'll have you back for tea this afternoon.' And we did.
Our 7-year-old daughter developed a rare submandibular gland obstruction that caused recurrent swelling. Dr. Agackiran created a whole story about 'helping the little saliva factory inside her neck work better' to ease her fears. During the sialendoscopy, he used instruments so fine I couldn't believe it. But what truly stunned us was the follow-up: he video-called her three days later in full surgical gown from his office, asking her to show him her 'healing superpowers' by eating a lemon candy. The personal touch turned a traumatic experience into her favorite 'doctor story' to tell.
I arrived at Medical Park Bahçelievler at midnight with perforated diverticulitis - my abdomen was rigid as a board. Dr. Agackiran, who wasn't even on call that night, came in from home when he heard the complexity. Instead of the large incision I feared, he performed a laparoscopic washout with what he described as 'controlled damage containment.' But here's what's extraordinary: during my recovery, he noticed my elevated white count wasn't trending right and personally wheeled my bed to ultrasound, discovering a hidden pelvic abscess that his resident had missed. His obsession with detail literally saved me from sepsis.
What began as a routine gallbladder consultation turned into the most thorough health audit of my life. Dr. Agackiran spent 40 minutes examining my old appendectomy scar, asking about my digestion patterns, and even noting how I favored my right side when sitting. He declined to operate immediately, saying, 'Your gallbladder stones are passengers, not drivers.' Instead, he coordinated with a gastroenterologist and nutritionist for three months of conservative management. When we finally did the cholecystectomy last week, he used a single-incision technique through my old appendectomy scar - 'one scar for two stories,' he joked. I've never felt more collaboratively treated.
I was that terrified 72-year-old with a failing aortic valve who had been turned down by two other surgeons due to my severe COPD and kidney issues. Professor Tireli didn't see a 'high-risk case'; he saw a person who wanted to garden again. His approach was astonishingly collaborative. Instead of just presenting a plan, he spent an hour with my pulmonologist and nephrologist on a conference call, designing a modified minimally invasive procedure that accounted for everything. The surgery itself was a masterpiece of precision. But what truly sets him apart is the post-op protocol he personally designed for me, a gradual, monitored recovery that felt safe. Six months later, I'm tending my roses, not short of breath. He doesn't just operate; he engineers a pathway back to life.
Our 8-year-old daughter, Elif, was born with a complex congenital heart defect, a double outlet right ventricle with VSD. We had lived in a state of constant, low-grade panic for years. Professor Tireli's consultation was unlike any other. He got down on his knee, showed Elif the model of a heart, and called her his 'little brave engineer.' For us, he drew the anatomy and the repair with such clarity it finally made sense. The surgery lasted over seven hours. He came out, exhausted but with a calm smile, and said, 'The plumbing is now perfect. Her heart is singing the right tune.' His follow-up is meticulous; he remembers her favorite cartoon character. He fixed more than a heart; he gave a child her childhood back.
Mine was not a planned journey. I'm a 45-year-old marathon runner, and I collapsed during a training run. Rushed to Medical Park Bahçelievler, I was diagnosed with an acute aortic dissection, a ticking time bomb. The chaos of an emergency room faded when Prof. Tireli entered. His calm was immediate and absolute. He looked at the scans, then at me, and said with quiet authority, 'We need to go now. I will fix this.' There was no time for second opinions. The trust was instantaneous. The emergency surgery was in the middle of the night. His team worked like a flawless orchestra. He visited me in ICU at 5 AM, still in scrubs, to say the storm had passed. He operates with the urgency the situation demands but with the precision of a master watchmaker. He saved my life in the literal sense.
My story is one of persistent, nagging worry rather than dramatic crisis. For two years, I had unexplained fatigue and occasional palpitations. As a 58-year-old lawyer, I'd seen several cardiologists who found 'minor' mitral valve leakage and advised just monitoring. Professor Tireli, during a routine checkup he insisted on after reviewing my echo, saw what others missed: the geometry of my valve was slowly deteriorating. He explained it like a door that doesn't close perfectly, eventually straining the whole house. He recommended a robotic-assisted mitral valve repair, not as an urgent fix, but as a strategic intervention to preserve my heart function long-term. The procedure was eerily precise, with a recovery so fast I was back analyzing case files in three weeks. He has the vision to act not when you must, but when you should, to protect your future. It was preventive surgery at its most insightful.
The recovery process was smooth thanks to Dr. Spec. MD. Sezai Sahin's expertise. Highly recommend for physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatment.
My 82-year-old father was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer and told he had weeks left. Traditional oncology offered only palliative care. We found Dr. Iyikesici through desperate research. His metabolic approach was unlike anything we'd encountered, no harsh chemo, but specific dietary protocols, targeted supplements, and hyperthermia. The other doctors warned us against it. Two years later, my father is not just alive; he tends his small garden. His latest scans show remarkable regression. Dr. Iyikesici didn't just treat a disease; he restored a life everyone had given up on. His calm, unwavering confidence was our anchor through the storm.
Our 7-year-old daughter, Elif, was diagnosed with a recurrent brain tumor after failed standard treatments. We were terrified of more radiation. Dr. Iyikesici and his team designed a gentle, comprehensive metabolic therapy plan for her. It involved meticulous monitoring of her blood chemistry, specific organic food plans she actually liked, and mild local hyperthermia sessions she called 'warm hat therapy.' The environment at his clinic is peaceful, not clinical. After 8 months, her MRI showed the tumor had stabilized and begun to shrink. He speaks to children with such kindness, making them feel brave. He gave us our hope and our little girl back.
My family and I are grateful for the care we received from Dr. Spec. MD. Navid Atarod. The hospital staff was also very supportive.