Dr. Senem Azizzade

As a 68-year-old with type 2 diabetes and severe knee arthritis, I was told my weight made me a poor candidate for knee replacement. Dr. Senem approached my case not just as a surgeon, but as a strategist. She designed a two-phase plan: first, a sleeve gastrectomy tailored for my age and metabolic needs, then coordinated care with orthopedics. Eight months post-op, I've lost 35kg, my diabetes medication is halved, and I'm scheduled for my knee surgery. Her team's geriatric nutritionist was invaluable. She treated me with the patience and respect you'd give a grandparent, not just a patient.

Our 16-year-old son's pediatrician referred us to Dr. Azizzade after years of failed diets and rising liver enzymes. We were terrified—bariatric surgery on a teenager felt extreme. Dr. Senem spent three consultations with us, explaining the metabolic roots of his obesity and the protective effect of early intervention. She involved a pediatric psychologist and required family nutrition workshops. The robotic sleeve procedure was flawless. What truly stunned us was her post-op protocol: she messages him herself every fortnight on a secure app to check in, blending professional care with a mentor's encouragement. His confidence has transformed alongside his health.

I arrived at Acibadem Atakent as an emergency transfer from a coastal clinic after a botched gastric band placement abroad led to a perforation. Septic and terrified, I expected to be just another complication. Dr. Senem met me in the ER, calmed my panic in three languages (Turkish, English, and Kurdish, which my mother speaks), and explained she would need to perform a revision to Roux-en-Y bypass immediately to save both my stomach and the original intent of weight loss. The surgery lasted 5 hours. She visited me twice daily, even on her off-duty weekend. She didn't just fix a mistake; she salvaged my trust in medicine.

My follow-up visit was for my 18-month post-op check. I expected a quick weigh-in and blood draw. Instead, Dr. Senem conducted what she called a 'life audit.' We discussed not just weight maintenance, but my new hobby of hiking, how my relationship with food changed during a recent family loss, and even the loose skin on my abdomen—she immediately connected me with a reconstructive surgeon in her network. She remembers minute details from a year ago. Her care doesn't end at the operating table; it evolves as you do. She's less a doctor now and more a permanent health consultant in my life.