M.D. Murat Içli

My 4-year-old son, Leo, had recurring ear infections that kept him up crying all night. We'd seen two other ENTs who just prescribed more antibiotics. Dr. Murat İçli was completely different. He spent 20 minutes just playing with Leo, earning his trust, before even examining him. He discovered adenoid hypertrophy that everyone else missed. He explained everything with drawings to my son, calling the adenoids 'sleepy pillows blocking the ears.' The surgery was scheduled quickly at Zekeriyakoy Medical Center. On the day, Dr. İçli met us in the pre-op area wearing silly animal scrubs to make Leo laugh. The follow-up was meticulous—three visits with tiny cameras to show us the healing process. Leo hasn't had a single infection in 8 months, and he calls Dr. İçli his 'ear superhero.' This wasn't just treatment; it was compassionate pediatric care that understood childhood fear.

As a 72-year-old with sudden, violent vertigo that left me bedridden for days, I arrived at the emergency department terrified I was having a stroke. Dr. İçli was on call and his calm demeanor immediately settled my panic. Instead of jumping to scans, he performed a series of precise positional maneuvers in his office—the Epley maneuver—while explaining each step. Within minutes, the room stopped spinning. He diagnosed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPY) caused by crystals in my inner ear. What impressed me most was his holistic approach: he reviewed my blood pressure medication, recommended vitamin D supplements after a blood test, and taught my daughter simple exercises to do with me at home. His follow-up call two days later to check on me was unexpected and deeply caring. He turned a medical emergency into a manageable condition with dignity.

My case was complex: a revision septorhinoplasty after a botched surgery abroad left me with a collapsed nasal valve and chronic breathing issues. Many surgeons refused, citing high risk of failure. Dr. İçli approached it like an architect studying a damaged blueprint. He used 3D imaging to show me exactly how my nasal structure had failed and how he planned to rebuild support using cartilage from my septum and ear. The 5-hour surgery at Zekeriyakoy was a masterpiece of reconstruction. But his genius was in the recovery; he used dissolvable internal stents he designed himself to maintain shape without the agony of removal. At 3 AM on post-op day 2, I had a minor bleed and texted his provided number. He called me within 2 minutes and talked me through it. A year later, I breathe better than I have in decades, and the subtle, natural aesthetic result is incredible. He's not just a surgeon; he's an artist and scientist.

What I thought was a routine checkup for occasional sinus pressure turned into a life-saving intervention. During nasal endoscopy, Dr. İçli noticed an asymmetrical swelling in my nasopharynx that I hadn't even felt. His demeanor shifted from routine to gently serious. He ordered an immediate biopsy, handling the procedure with such skill I felt almost nothing. When the results showed early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma, he didn't just refer me out; he became the quarterback of my care. He personally coordinated with oncology and radiology at the Medical Center, sitting in on my first oncology consultation to explain the ENT-specific aspects. Throughout my radiation treatment, he managed the brutal side effects—mouth sores, throat pain—with innovative topical therapies and weekly adjustments. Two years in remission now, and I still see him quarterly. He caught what everyone else would have missed for years. His vigilance turned a 'routine visit' into early detection that saved my life.