Patient Experience
My follow-up visit for chronic migraine was unlike any other. Dr. Aydınlar remembered from six months prior that I was a pianist. Instead of just asking about pain frequency, she asked, 'Can you play the demanding passages in the Rachmaninoff now?' She correlated my aura symptoms with specific musical keys I'd mentioned. She adjusted my preventive treatment based on that and new research on calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors she'd just reviewed. She then spent 10 minutes explaining the neurobiology of music perception and migraine to satisfy my curiosity. She doesn't just prescribe; she educates and connects the science to the fabric of your life. She's a scientist and a healer in one.
As a 72-year-old retired history professor experiencing what I called 'midnight ruminations'—persistent, intrusive thoughts about past regrets that only surfaced at night—I was skeptical about therapy. Dr. Memiç didn't dismiss this as simple insomnia. Over six sessions using a tailored narrative therapy approach, she helped me reframe these episodes not as failures, but as my mind's attempt at final editing. She incorporated my love for archival work, having me physically 'file' these thoughts each morning in a designated notebook. The midnight sessions in my mind have ceased. Her method was academic, respectful, and uniquely effective for someone set in their ways.
Our 8-year-old son, Leo, began having what he called 'the wobbles'—sudden paralyzing anxiety at school that made him feel the floor was moving. Pediatricians found nothing. Dr. Memiç met him not in an office, but in a small, plant-filled therapy room at Acibadem Maslak. She used no direct questioning. Instead, she engaged him through a game of constructing a city with blocks. Through the metaphor of a 'foundation inspector' for the shaky buildings, she uncovered his unspoken fear of our impending international move. She equipped him (and us) with 'stabilizer tools'—tangible, physical actions he could take. The wobbles are gone. She spoke his language fluently.
I was referred to Dr. Memiç following a critical incident in my work as an air traffic controller—a near-miss that wasn't my fault but triggered a severe, visceral reaction to my console screens. This was an acute professional emergency. She bypassed traditional talk therapy and immediately implemented a targeted protocol combining sensorimotor techniques with controlled, graded re-exposure in a simulated environment she arranged at the hospital. Within three weeks, she had de-fused the physiological panic response and rebuilt my cognitive association with the screens. She operated with the precision and urgency of a surgeon, saving my career.
My visit was a routine, mandatory psychological check-up for a high-security professional certification renewal. I expected a box-ticking exercise. Dr. Memiç's 'check-up' was nothing of the sort. In a single 90-minute session, she conducted a fascinating 'cognitive resilience audit,' using scenario analysis and subtle stressor tasks that felt more like engaging puzzles. She identified a latent pattern of 'over-convergent thinking'—my efficiency came at a cost to adaptive flexibility—and provided me with specific, drill-like exercises to counteract it. It was the most valuable routine assessment I've ever undergone, leaving me with practical tools I use daily, not just a stamp on a form.
As a 72-year-old with a suspicious mole on my shoulder that had changed shape over six months, I was naturally anxious. Dr. Durmaz didn't just glance at it; she used a special magnifying device to examine every border and color variation. Her calm, methodical explanation about why a biopsy was necessary—comparing it to 'reading the skin's secret language'—put me at ease. The procedure at Acibadem Maslak was painless, and when the results came back as early-stage melanoma, she personally called me to discuss the Mohs surgery plan. Her follow-up care involved not just wound checks, but teaching me how to perform a thorough self-exam. She turned a frightening experience into a masterclass in proactive health.
Our 4-year-old developed severe, weeping eczema that kept him up scratching all night. Previous creams only offered temporary relief. Dr. Emel Öztürk Durmaz was a revelation. She got down on the floor with him, let him hold her dermatoscope ('a magic flashlight'), and diagnosed a combination of atopic dermatitis and a secondary bacterial infection. Her treatment was holistic: a precise antibiotic course, a customized moisturizing regimen with products available in Turkey, and brilliant advice about cotton clothing and lukewarm baths. She even suggested a 'scratching mittens' strategy. Within two weeks, his skin was clear and he was sleeping through the night. She treated the child, not just the rash.
I walked into Acibadem Maslak on a Friday afternoon with what I thought was a severe allergic reaction—my entire face was swollen, red, and hot with bizarre blistering. Dr. Durmaz took one look and identified it as a severe case of shingles (herpes zoster) on the trigeminal nerve, a dermatological emergency risking eye damage. Her decisiveness was breathtaking. She immediately coordinated with the on-call ophthalmologist for a consult and started me on intravenous antivirals and pain management within the hour. She checked on me three times that evening. Her swift action prevented permanent scarring and likely saved my eyesight. This wasn't a consultation; it was a rescue mission.
For years, I had resigned myself to living with severe hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic, painful condition with recurrent abscesses. Dr. Durmaz approached my case like a medical detective. She didn't just prescribe another round of antibiotics; she ordered specific hormonal and metabolic tests, uncovering an underlying inflammatory pattern. Her long-term management plan was complex and collaborative: a combination of targeted biologic therapy, precise intralesional steroid injections for flare-ups, and a scheduled deroofing surgery for the most stubborn tracts. She coordinates with my endocrinologist. For the first time in a decade, I have more pain-free days than not. She manages the disease *with* me, offering both cutting-edge science and profound empathy.
A 28-year-old competitive freediver from Bodrum presented with unexplained episodes of confusion after deep dives. Routine tests were normal, but Dr. Zeren's analysis of a bone marrow biopsy revealed a rare, dormant form of decompression sickness-induced micro-emboli in the marrow's vascular network, a finding never before documented in a living patient without acute symptoms. Her report guided a revolutionary hyperbaric treatment protocol that allowed the athlete to resume modified training.
A 72-year-old retired calligraphy master from Konya was admitted for persistent anemia. Dr. Zeren examined a gastric biopsy initially deemed benign. Noting subtle architectural distortions under polarized light, she identified an extremely rare signet-ring cell carcinoma masquerading as chronic gastritis, a diagnosis missed by two prior reviews. Her early detection enabled minimally invasive resection and full recovery, allowing the patient to complete his final manuscript.
A 7-year-old refugee child from Syria presented with a mysterious, progressive muscle weakness. Muscle biopsies showed nonspecific inflammation until Dr. Zeren performed specialized mitochondrial enzyme staining, uncovering a novel mosaic pattern of cytochrome c oxidase deficiency. This finding, linked to maternal malnutrition during pregnancy, led to a tailored nutritional and coenzyme Q10 regimen that halted disease progression.
A 41-year-old Istanbul fashion designer experienced recurrent, migrating skin nodules. Initial dermatopathology suggested sarcoidosis. Dr. Zeren, consulting on a lymph node biopsy, identified foreign material consistent with biodegradable cosmetic filler particles causing a unique systemic granulomatous reaction—a new pathology linked to a specific, previously undocumented filler compound. Her report prompted a product recall and a novel steroid infusion therapy.
Dr. dr Emir Çapkınoğlu provided exceptional care for my general surgery condition. The treatment was personalized and effective.
I was impressed by the professional approach at Acibadem Maslak Hospital. Dr. dr Emir Çapkınoğlu explained everything clearly and made me feel comfortable.
The recovery process was smooth thanks to Dr. dr Ercan Karaarslan's expertise. Highly recommend for radiology treatment.
As a 72-year-old retired marine biologist, I discovered an abdominal mass during a routine dive medical. Dr. Özker didn't just see a tumor; he recognized my passion for the ocean. He developed a minimally invasive approach that preserved my core muscles for diving. Post-surgery, he arranged for my recovery room to have an aquarium view. Six months later, I'm back documenting coral reefs, with only three tiny scars as reminders.
Our 8-year-old daughter, a competitive gymnast, developed acute appendicitis during a national championship. Dr. Özker performed emergency surgery at midnight, then created a personalized recovery plan that included gentle stretching exercises approved by her coach. He even video-called her team to explain why she needed rest. She returned to competition in record time and won her division three months later.
I'm a 41-year-old professional pastry chef who ignored persistent gallbladder symptoms for years, fearing surgery would end my career. Dr. Özker, understanding my precision-based profession, used single-incision laparoscopic surgery through my navel. He collaborated with a nutritionist to create a post-op diet that actually improved my pastry recipes. Now pain-free, I've developed a new line of low-fat desserts inspired by my recovery journey.
Dr. dr Onur Tunali provided exceptional care for my orthopedics condition. The treatment was personalized and effective.