M.D. Melisa Ulufi

As a 68-year-old retired teacher with severe osteoarthritis, my weight was destroying my knees and my quality of life. Other surgeons dismissed me due to my age. Dr. Melisa Ulufi was different. She conducted a comprehensive geriatric assessment and designed a modified sleeve gastrectomy plan tailored to my slower metabolism and nutritional needs. Her team coordinated with my rheumatologist. Six months post-op, I've lost 22kg, my knee pain has reduced dramatically, and I can garden again. Her compassionate, age-attentive approach gave me my golden years back.

Our 16-year-old son, Ali, struggled with severe obesity since childhood, leading to prediabetes and social isolation. Finding a surgeon who would consider adolescent bariatric surgery was a battle. Dr. Ulufi's program at Acibadem Altunizade included a mandatory psychological evaluation, nutritional counseling for the whole family, and a clear explanation of the long-term commitment. She performed a laparoscopic gastric bypass with incredible precision. Her follow-up is rigorous—she messages us directly about lab results. Ali is now active, his blood sugar is normal, and his confidence is blossoming. She treated him not just as a patient, but as a young person with a future.

Mine was not a planned journey. I was admitted to Acibadem's ER with a strangulated internal hernia and septic shock—a complication from a gastric sleeve I had done abroad 4 years prior. Dr. Ulufi was the on-call surgeon. She calmly explained the life-threatening situation, the need for immediate revisional surgery to repair the hernia and likely convert to a gastric bypass. The 3-hour emergency surgery was a success. What impressed me most was her post-op vigilance; she checked on me personally multiple times daily, even on Sunday. She saved my life and then meticulously managed the complex recovery. I trust her implicitly.

I traveled from Germany specifically for a duodenal switch procedure—a highly complex metabolic surgery. My case was complicated by a previous liver condition. Dr. Ulufi's expertise was evident in her meticulous pre-op planning. She used 3D imaging to map my anatomy and held a virtual consultation with my hepatologist in Berlin. The surgery itself was longer than expected due to adhesions, but her skill was undeniable. My one-year follow-up was conducted via her hospital's telemedicine platform. I've lost 45kg, my type 2 diabetes is in remission without medication, and my liver enzymes are normal. She is a true specialist in complex bariatric reconstruction.