M.D. Özden Zeki Pinar

My 8-year-old son developed a bizarre, spreading rash after playing in the garden. It wasn't responding to over-the-counter creams. Dr. Özden examined him with such gentle patience, explaining to my son that his skin was 'telling a story' about an allergic conversation with a plant. He diagnosed phytophotodermatitis from wild parsnip contact—something our local clinic missed entirely. His treatment plan involved specific wet wraps and a custom compound cream. He even drew a little cartoon of a plant and skin having an argument to help my son understand. The rash cleared completely in ten days. We've never felt so heard in a medical setting.

As a 72-year-old with a history of skin cancers, I presented with what I thought was another routine basal cell carcinoma on my temple. Dr. Özden, however, noticed subtle asymmetry in a separate, seemingly innocuous spot on my forearm during the full-body check. He insisted on a biopsy, explaining his reasoning with clear dermoscopic images. It turned out to be an early, invasive melanoma—a complete shock. He coordinated seamlessly with surgical oncology at Acibadem Bursa for a swift, precise excision with Mohs-like technique, which he performed himself. His vigilance literally changed my prognosis. His follow-up is meticulous; he now uses digital mole mapping, giving me immense peace of mind.

I arrived as a true emergency on a Sunday evening with a severe, blistering reaction covering my chest and back, hours after starting a new antibiotic. Dr. Özden was called in urgently. He identified it immediately as a potential Stevens-Johnson Syndrome precursor. His calm was arresting amidst my panic. He didn't just prescribe; he personally supervised my first doses of emergency medication in the clinic, monitored me for two hours, and set up a detailed hourly symptom log for my caregiver. He gave me his direct line for the night. This wasn't just treatment; it was a protective, hands-on crisis management that prevented hospitalization. The empathy and authority he displayed were unforgettable.

For years, I struggled with hidradenitis suppurativa, a condition dismissed by many as 'just boils.' Dr. Özden approached it as a complex inflammatory puzzle. He didn't just offer surgery; he designed a multi-phase strategy. Phase one was a tailored biologic therapy to calm the systemic inflammation. After six months, he performed a radical excision of the chronic tracts—not just lancing—explaining the architecture of the disease under the skin. The surgery was intricate, and the wound care plan he devised was incredibly detailed, involving specific silicone gels and pressure garments. Now, in remission, my follow-ups feel like collaborative check-ins. He treats the whole disease, not just the holes in the skin.