M.D. Mithat Ulay

I'm a 72-year-old retired teacher who came to Dr. Ulay after a basal cell carcinoma removal left a significant defect on my nose. Other surgeons suggested simple closures, but Dr. Ulay proposed a sophisticated forehead flap reconstruction. He spent an hour with me and my daughter explaining the stages with 3D imaging. The procedure required two surgeries weeks apart, and he personally called me each evening after the first stage. The result isn't just functional—it's artful. He preserved my nasal contour so perfectly that my own grandchildren didn't notice a dramatic change, just that 'Grandma's nose looks nicer now.' His follow-up protocol was meticulous, with weekly visits for six weeks. This wasn't cosmetic vanity; this was restorative dignity from a true artist-surgeon.

Our 8-year-old son was born with a pronounced congenital ear deformity (microtia) that made him the target of relentless school bullying. We consulted five surgeons across Europe before meeting Dr. Ulay. What set him apart was his approach to pediatric reconstruction—he didn't just see a surgical case, he saw a child. He first spent time with our son drawing 'dream ears' together, building trust. The autologous rib cartilage graft procedure was daunting, but Dr. Ulay created a staged plan over 9 months to minimize trauma. During the harvest phase, he used a special nerve-sparing technique he developed for children. The postoperative care included child-life specialists who worked with him. Now, our son has symmetrical ears and, more importantly, his confidence back. Dr. Ulay didn't just reconstruct cartilage; he reconstructed a childhood.

I arrived at Acibadem International Hospital through the ER at 2 AM after a severe facial dog bite attack while traveling in Istanbul. The emergency team called Dr. Ulay, who came in from home within 25 minutes. My upper lip was nearly avulsed, with complex laceration patterns. Instead of rushing to surgery, he first ordered specific imaging to map facial artery branches, then performed an emergency free-style perforator flap reconstruction in a single 5-hour surgery. What amazed me was his documentation: he photographed each layer intraoperatively for future reference. His emergency reconstruction prevented what would have been certain facial paralysis. At my 3-month follow-up, he's already planning a minor touch-up procedure under local anesthesia to optimize scar camouflage. For a tourist facing a nightmare scenario, Dr. Ulay was both savior and artist.

As a 45-year-old breast cancer survivor, I underwent a DIEP flap breast reconstruction that failed at another institution, leaving me with partial flap necrosis and abdominal complications. Dr. Ulay accepted my complex revision case when others wouldn't. His strategy was unconventional: he first addressed my abdominal donor site with a mesh repair and tissue expansion, waiting 4 months before attempting secondary breast reconstruction with a combined LCFA flap and implant. He presented my case to his international colleagues via teleconference for consensus. The surgical notes were novel-length—27 pages detailing every vascular anastomosis. During recovery, he implemented a hyperbaric oxygen protocol to ensure graft survival. Eight months later, I have symmetry and sensation I never thought possible. Dr. Ulay doesn't practice recipe surgery; he writes medical symphonies for the most damaged canvases.