Dr. Dilara Çitoğlu

After my paragliding accident left me with a complex brachial plexus injury, three surgeons told me I'd never regain fine motor control in my right hand. Dr. Çitoğlu approached my case like a puzzle to be solved, not a prognosis to accept. She designed a rehabilitation protocol combining mirror therapy, specialized neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and what she called 'task-oriented shaping'—transforming mundane exercises into challenges. For six months at Acibadem Maslak, she worked with me weekly, adjusting modalities based on millimeter-level improvements I couldn't even perceive. Yesterday, I threaded a needle and tied a fishing fly for the first time in two years. Her specialty isn't just medicine; it's rebuilding futures others have written off.

Our 8-year-old daughter Lara developed severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis that left her knees swollen and her spirit broken. Pediatric rheumatologists managed her medication, but it was Dr. Dilara who gave her back her childhood. Instead of intimidating hospital equipment, she introduced 'games'—balance exercises on colorful foam pads became 'lava crossings,' hydrotherapy sessions turned into mermaid adventures. She spoke directly to Lara, explaining how 'superhero cells' were learning to behave. She even coordinated with Lara's school PE teacher to create safe activities. The transformation wasn't just physical; the child who once refused to leave her bed now plans to join a swim team. Dr. Çitoğlu treats the whole child, not just the joints.

As a 72-year-old retired carpenter with spinal stenosis and failed back surgery syndrome, I arrived at Acibadem Maslak using a walker, drowning in painkillers. Dr. Çitoğlu's first act was to reduce my medication, saying 'We need to hear what your body is really telling us.' Her approach was startlingly holistic: she examined my old tool belt, then designed a posture correction program mimicking my former work movements. She combined precise epidural injections with a revolutionary (to me) regimen of aquatic Ai Chi and land-based stabilization exercises. She didn't just treat my spine; she rehabilitated my identity. Nine months later, I'm building a birdhouse in my shed, pain-free without opioids. She gave me back my workshop and my dignity.

What began as routine postpartum back pain after my twin pregnancy escalated into debilitating sacroiliac joint dysfunction. I was told it was 'normal' for new mothers. Dr. Çitoğlu immediately identified a severe pelvic floor muscle imbalance compounded by diastasis recti—a complete system failure. Her rehabilitation strategy was architectural: she rebuilt my core from the inside out, starting with diaphragmatic breathing retraining before progressing to a single leg lift. She collaborated with a pelvic floor physiotherapist she personally recommended. Her follow-ups were meticulous, using ultrasound imaging to show me the actual closure of my abdominal separation. She treated me not as a 'case' but as a person whose body had performed a miracle and needed expert restoration to care for her children. I now carry both twins without pain.