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*Treatment results may vary
Bella Eyes (Brow Lift + Canthopexy) by Ufuk Askeroglu
So i had this combo surgery (endoscopic brow/ temple lift + canthopexy) done 3+ months ago. I wasn't going to post this review, but everything about the process and the surgery and the outcome was so disappointing that i wanted to share my experience.
Disclaimer: this review is not written to speak badly about Ufuk Askeroglu or to stop you from going to him. This is only meant to give you a look into what it's like to be an international patient of his.
Also, im obviously not a medical professional so take anything i say with a grain of salt, however u am someone that has done many surgeries in different countries including Istanbul so i have previous experience and comparisons of how international patients SHOULD be treated.
Also, this lowkey turned into a whole book because i had so much time on my hands during the recovery and i had so much to say. However if youre not interested in every microscopic detail of my journey, just scroll down for a lil summary with ratings.
---
>Day of surgery 10:30AM (sitting in the hospital)
I decided to start writing a little review since im waiting at the hospital not knowing what to do and if anyone is even going to come any time soon so i have all the time.
I found dr Ufuk through instagram and was immediately amazed by his work on the eyes. It looked very natural yet a noticeable difference. I was interested in 'Bella eyes', so i contacted his 'assistant' who barely spoke english and wasn't very keen on answering questions. This should've been a red flag BUT i have done surgeries outside europe before and its just something you need to accept, in cities like Istanbul or Seoul you're not gonna get the same attention and time as in europe/ us. But i am someone who is more interested in the result rather than the process, so i can usually tolerate the lack of information and time. However this was on a whole another level. If i knew what kind of treatment i would get (and what kind of outcome) i would've gone with another surgeon who does similar eyes, yet takes the time to actually explain the process and who has a decent assistant.
It all started when i came to istanbul, and i was asking the assistant questions which she either avoided or answered in poor english. I asked her if i need to fast beforehand for example- no reply. She also never sent any precautions and instructions before surgery.
She told me that as long as i don't take aspirin i can do whatever i want?? Which is very strange.
Then, the night before the surgery she said that i should fast and that i have an appointment at the hospital at 10 am.
I thought alright cool, was actually excited because i got surgery in istanbul before and had a VERY pleasant experience (I have a review on here as well). I had a personal driver who was with all the time that i was outside the hotel, and also i had a translator/ assistant who was with me whenever i was at the hospital. The hospital looked super nice and modern and there was honestly not one moment that i felt alone or unsafe. I was always with either the driver or the assistant and was never left completely alone.
This time though, the taxi dropped me off at the hospital.. it looked BUSTED. Nothing modern or nice about it. Not to mention that the hospital is right next to the cemetery.
So its a super old building (looks kind of like those hospitals from ww2) and i kind of had to find my way though it, nobody was helping nobody speaks english and when i was calling and texting the assistant she wasn't answering. And she still isn't. My appointment was supposed to be at 10am it is now 10:30 still with no information no answers. Pretty sure the assisant even blocked my call while i was calling.
So just imagine being dropped off in the middle of NOWHERE, going into this SCARY LOOKING hospital not knowing really where to go or what to do and not knowing anyone. Nobody is waiting for you.
So some random older woman from the hospital decided to ask me whats up since she saw that i was already sitting there for about 30 min maybe more. She didn't speak english but i gave her the name of the dr and she took me to some people who handle the paperwork who called the dr.
Let me tell you, the dr. is not charismatic (to put it nicely). He came to the room, saw me did NOT greet me or acknowledge me in any way (what kind of doctor does that?). Then he walked away.
I could go on about how unpleasant the dr seems, but in the end you choose a surgeon for his work not his personality.
I mean i wasn't the most bright and happy patient either after having to wait at a scary hospital in the middle of nowhere with no one answering my calls or texts or giving me any information. I was kind at the edge of crying or slapping someone, so i just tried my best to be as neutral as possible.
Later i was given some papers to sign which i did not want to sign without seeing the dr first. There was no special consultation room they just straight brought me into the hospital room, (which looked old and scary), THE DR. DIDNT EVEN HAVE A MIRROR DURING THE CONSULTATION, he deadass gave me his phone camera as a mirror. I honestly thought that maybe this is all one big joke. The dr did not seem to want to answer my questions, and was constantly initiating that he wants to leave. Ive done many surgeries and have never met such an arrogant and unprofessional doctor.
Also the papers apparently weren't mentioning the right information. The papers i had to sign were concerning a classic approach to a browlift, which is a whole different procedure which apparently includes screws and metal being inserted into the scalp? Im not too sure about this part, so don't take this too serious. But i do find it strange that a patient has to sign papers which concern a whole different surgery approach with different risks and aftercare?! Also being asked to sign papers that mention screws and staples going into your scalp is not very comforting you know.
Another thing that REALLY got to me is that they didn't tell me beforehand that i need to stay at the hospital OVERNIGHT. Thats not something you can just FORGET to mention. I didn't have any stuff with me that i need for an overnight stay.
The reason why the ‘assistant’ didn't reply for 45 mins when i arrived at the hospital is because the assistant is the drs wife, and she arrived with the dr who decided to arrive 30+ mins late :)
>Day of surgery 3:00 PM
Its now 3:00pm keep in mind that i've been here since 9:50. Needless to say im getting tired of this bs.
Update, apparently the reason im waitin this long is because theres an emergency case. Such a comforting thing to her before surgery.
>Day of surgery 4:30PM
Its 4:30pm. Is the surgery happening is it not who knows? Unless i ask for updates i don't get any.
>Day of surgery 6:00PM
6:00pm i don't even know at this point
Lowkey wanna say feverything but theres a catheter in my arm that has given me anxiety for like 7 hours now and i've just already wasted whole day laying on a hard bed, so might as well go through with it but yo at this point the dr better give me most beautiful eyes cause all this just aint it. There has not been one positive thing about this whole experience so far.
Also the assistant does absolutely nothing, the only time she was with me was while i was making the payment. Ive never had such treatment. Everytime i did surgery outside of my country the assisant/ translator stayed with me the whole time (except at night obviously, however is seoul the assistant even stayed with me until halfway through the night!)
So basically its just me being alone 24/7 and sometimes the nurses check up on me, however they don't speak english.
---
>3 days post op
So those were my live updates from the hospital. Honestly after the 18:00pm mark i just gave up and didnt feel like updating anymore cause i honestly didnt feel like the surgery would happen. The amount of times they said ‘oh it ll be just 20 more minutes’ i basically waited for my surgery from 10:00 am until 20:00 pm WHICH IS INSAAANE. INSAAAANEEE. In that time i could've studied medicine, become a dr and done my own surgery.
So right now im on day 3 post op, so i will continue the story of how shit went down.
So at around 20:00pm i was finally picked up by the hospital staff (who don't speak english) to go into surgery. At this point I was so over it, i didnt even care that i was being taken somewhere by some people i dont know with whom i cant communicate. The fact that dr ufuks assustant/ translator wasn't there while i was being picked up and brought to the surgery room is just RIDICULOUS. Ive never experienced anything like that. Usually the assistant translator goes with you even into the operating theatre, holds your hand whatever tries to calm you down and stays until you're out. Not this time hehe
So another MAJOR con is that i was not able to speak with the dr one last time before surgery even though i asked his assistant and the people in the operating theatre that i really needed to. The thing is, i spoke with the dr at around 11 am, then he had surgeries, emergency cases whatever. Its only normal to want to speak with the dr right before surgery so that he can go over everything you want one more time and reassure you of the result. And thats always been the case for me. However, this time nobody allowed me to see the dr before surgery, im guessing they wanted to save time and go home early or whatever but thats just super disrespectful.
So ok, they put me under, the usual. I woke up in my room, shaking horribly. Thats the most hateful part after coming down from general anaesthesia. THE SHAKING THE COLD. But this time also THE PAIN. Yoo i did not prepare myself for the pain. The pain was reaaaall. I honestly had no idea it would be this bad. Usually the most painful part about surgery is putting in the catheter, but uhm no this time it was the crazy pulling headache. Let me tell yo THE MEDS DO NOTHING. The nurses can give you however much of the pain meds you want- it does absolutely nothing. It almost feels like it a placebo.
I would rate the pain a 6/10 for the first 3 days. Its like having a constant migraine and you can do absolutely nothing about it, and it doesn't come and go in waves, its just there constantly. This was probably my second mosh painful surgery so far. Especially the night are very tough, i had fever for the first 2/3 nights, could barely sleep, constant headache. It was just not it
But im getting ahead of myself. So, came in from surgery. That night at the hospital was alright ish, the nurses checked up on me few times. Did not sleep at all. The next morning dr en assistant came in for like 1 min, looked at my eyes i could ask some questions and they left again. I swear dr s assistant is the most useless person during this whole journey. She just did absolutely nothing and left me with the hospital staff who don't speak a word of english.
So assistant told me i could check out of the hospital by myself WHENEVER I WANTED (she recommended around 2-4pm). At that time it was like 11:30am so i thought, cool ill stay until like 2 and then check out. NOPE. Some woman from the hospital came and told me in very broken english that my taxi is here and i need to go.
Imagine being told this, while still being super dizzy from the anaesthesia, having pain, wearing hospital clothes, just barely can keep my eyes open so yeh i had like 5 mins to rush out of there which was lovely.
Anyway, i managed to get all my stuff, check out and go to the hotel. I LOOKED BUSTED. I LOOKED SOO MUCH WORSE THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD. Honestly, i don't know whats worse for the first few days, the pain or the way you look. MY EYEBROWS WERE LOOKING LIKE IM A DRAGQUEEN ABOUT TO GO ON STAGE. I looked (and while writing this 3 days post op) and look like ive aged about 15 years. I have horrible cheek swelling, i look like that crazy surgery obsessed cat woman. My face is massive, flat and super wide. Apparently its swelling, but yoo it does something with you mentally. Its just very hard to recover while looking like a 40 year old drag queen cat woman whose face has been pulled back like theres no tomorrow.
Today as i said is day 3 post op, my last day in istanbul. Before my flight back i had a check up at dr ufuks office. Again my appointment was at 12:30 and he only came to see me at 13:00 so im guessing being late is just the norm? However when you have a flight to catch it can be lil annoying youknow
So apparently everything looked alright, and i was cleared to fly back.
Also, if you've never been to istanbul for surgery lemme tell you, going through the whole airport thing is horrible. Obviously i look horrible like i've already said so i had a cap on and i tried to cover my huge face and swollen cheekbones with my hair. However i've been asked to remove my hat at almost every single step of check in thats possible. Even to just enter the gate you need to remove all of your disguise. So be prepared to get many stares and feel very uncomfortable.
>3+ months post op
So basically, this is the most disappoint surgery i've ever done. NOTHING ABOUT MY EYES HAS CHANGED. The first 3 weeks after surgery were horrible, my face was extremely wide, flat, my brows were halfway up my forehead at a very weird angle, i could barely keep my eyes open and had blurry vision the whole time. I had to cancel so many fun things, because i was looking like a monster pretty much. My cheekbones are now permanently? deformed. They look very sharp and obvious which is something i never signed up for. It makes my face look older and unpleasant. My eyes look exactly the same as before surgery. This whole trip to istanbul was just not it 0/10.
The whole canthopexy part, i'm not even sure if the dr actually performed that, because there is literally 0 difference. LITERALLY.
Also, there is just no respect for your privacy. Before i signed the papers i told the assistant that i do not want dr to post anything on instagram about my surgery. I told her that EXPLICITLY. Well, they posted my photos of surgery TWICE. Yall.. what kind of treatment is that? And i feel like they do this to other patients as well, because i see some photos being posted and then removed a day later. I'm getting the feeling that the Dr. wants to give you the impression like he does bella eyes surgery all the time, while he's actually posting old photos on his story. I mean he posted my surgery proces on his story, even though it's been 3+ months. But if you're an outsider it looks like he just did this surgery today.
Anyway, this was my rant. Very bad experience with this Dr. I'm thinking about scheduling a revision temple/ brow lift and canthopexy with a dr. that actually knows what he's doing.
Disclaimer: this review is not written to speak badly about Ufuk Askeroglu or to stop you from going to him. This is only meant to give you a look into what it's like to be an international patient of his.
Also, im obviously not a medical professional so take anything i say with a grain of salt, however u am someone that has done many surgeries in different countries including Istanbul so i have previous experience and comparisons of how international patients SHOULD be treated.
Also, this lowkey turned into a whole book because i had so much time on my hands during the recovery and i had so much to say. However if youre not interested in every microscopic detail of my journey, just scroll down for a lil summary with ratings.
---
>Day of surgery 10:30AM (sitting in the hospital)
I decided to start writing a little review since im waiting at the hospital not knowing what to do and if anyone is even going to come any time soon so i have all the time.
I found dr Ufuk through instagram and was immediately amazed by his work on the eyes. It looked very natural yet a noticeable difference. I was interested in 'Bella eyes', so i contacted his 'assistant' who barely spoke english and wasn't very keen on answering questions. This should've been a red flag BUT i have done surgeries outside europe before and its just something you need to accept, in cities like Istanbul or Seoul you're not gonna get the same attention and time as in europe/ us. But i am someone who is more interested in the result rather than the process, so i can usually tolerate the lack of information and time. However this was on a whole another level. If i knew what kind of treatment i would get (and what kind of outcome) i would've gone with another surgeon who does similar eyes, yet takes the time to actually explain the process and who has a decent assistant.
It all started when i came to istanbul, and i was asking the assistant questions which she either avoided or answered in poor english. I asked her if i need to fast beforehand for example- no reply. She also never sent any precautions and instructions before surgery.
She told me that as long as i don't take aspirin i can do whatever i want?? Which is very strange.
Then, the night before the surgery she said that i should fast and that i have an appointment at the hospital at 10 am.
I thought alright cool, was actually excited because i got surgery in istanbul before and had a VERY pleasant experience (I have a review on here as well). I had a personal driver who was with all the time that i was outside the hotel, and also i had a translator/ assistant who was with me whenever i was at the hospital. The hospital looked super nice and modern and there was honestly not one moment that i felt alone or unsafe. I was always with either the driver or the assistant and was never left completely alone.
This time though, the taxi dropped me off at the hospital.. it looked BUSTED. Nothing modern or nice about it. Not to mention that the hospital is right next to the cemetery.
So its a super old building (looks kind of like those hospitals from ww2) and i kind of had to find my way though it, nobody was helping nobody speaks english and when i was calling and texting the assistant she wasn't answering. And she still isn't. My appointment was supposed to be at 10am it is now 10:30 still with no information no answers. Pretty sure the assisant even blocked my call while i was calling.
So just imagine being dropped off in the middle of NOWHERE, going into this SCARY LOOKING hospital not knowing really where to go or what to do and not knowing anyone. Nobody is waiting for you.
So some random older woman from the hospital decided to ask me whats up since she saw that i was already sitting there for about 30 min maybe more. She didn't speak english but i gave her the name of the dr and she took me to some people who handle the paperwork who called the dr.
Let me tell you, the dr. is not charismatic (to put it nicely). He came to the room, saw me did NOT greet me or acknowledge me in any way (what kind of doctor does that?). Then he walked away.
I could go on about how unpleasant the dr seems, but in the end you choose a surgeon for his work not his personality.
I mean i wasn't the most bright and happy patient either after having to wait at a scary hospital in the middle of nowhere with no one answering my calls or texts or giving me any information. I was kind at the edge of crying or slapping someone, so i just tried my best to be as neutral as possible.
Later i was given some papers to sign which i did not want to sign without seeing the dr first. There was no special consultation room they just straight brought me into the hospital room, (which looked old and scary), THE DR. DIDNT EVEN HAVE A MIRROR DURING THE CONSULTATION, he deadass gave me his phone camera as a mirror. I honestly thought that maybe this is all one big joke. The dr did not seem to want to answer my questions, and was constantly initiating that he wants to leave. Ive done many surgeries and have never met such an arrogant and unprofessional doctor.
Also the papers apparently weren't mentioning the right information. The papers i had to sign were concerning a classic approach to a browlift, which is a whole different procedure which apparently includes screws and metal being inserted into the scalp? Im not too sure about this part, so don't take this too serious. But i do find it strange that a patient has to sign papers which concern a whole different surgery approach with different risks and aftercare?! Also being asked to sign papers that mention screws and staples going into your scalp is not very comforting you know.
Another thing that REALLY got to me is that they didn't tell me beforehand that i need to stay at the hospital OVERNIGHT. Thats not something you can just FORGET to mention. I didn't have any stuff with me that i need for an overnight stay.
The reason why the ‘assistant’ didn't reply for 45 mins when i arrived at the hospital is because the assistant is the drs wife, and she arrived with the dr who decided to arrive 30+ mins late :)
>Day of surgery 3:00 PM
Its now 3:00pm keep in mind that i've been here since 9:50. Needless to say im getting tired of this bs.
Update, apparently the reason im waitin this long is because theres an emergency case. Such a comforting thing to her before surgery.
>Day of surgery 4:30PM
Its 4:30pm. Is the surgery happening is it not who knows? Unless i ask for updates i don't get any.
>Day of surgery 6:00PM
6:00pm i don't even know at this point
Lowkey wanna say feverything but theres a catheter in my arm that has given me anxiety for like 7 hours now and i've just already wasted whole day laying on a hard bed, so might as well go through with it but yo at this point the dr better give me most beautiful eyes cause all this just aint it. There has not been one positive thing about this whole experience so far.
Also the assistant does absolutely nothing, the only time she was with me was while i was making the payment. Ive never had such treatment. Everytime i did surgery outside of my country the assisant/ translator stayed with me the whole time (except at night obviously, however is seoul the assistant even stayed with me until halfway through the night!)
So basically its just me being alone 24/7 and sometimes the nurses check up on me, however they don't speak english.
---
>3 days post op
So those were my live updates from the hospital. Honestly after the 18:00pm mark i just gave up and didnt feel like updating anymore cause i honestly didnt feel like the surgery would happen. The amount of times they said ‘oh it ll be just 20 more minutes’ i basically waited for my surgery from 10:00 am until 20:00 pm WHICH IS INSAAANE. INSAAAANEEE. In that time i could've studied medicine, become a dr and done my own surgery.
So right now im on day 3 post op, so i will continue the story of how shit went down.
So at around 20:00pm i was finally picked up by the hospital staff (who don't speak english) to go into surgery. At this point I was so over it, i didnt even care that i was being taken somewhere by some people i dont know with whom i cant communicate. The fact that dr ufuks assustant/ translator wasn't there while i was being picked up and brought to the surgery room is just RIDICULOUS. Ive never experienced anything like that. Usually the assistant translator goes with you even into the operating theatre, holds your hand whatever tries to calm you down and stays until you're out. Not this time hehe
So another MAJOR con is that i was not able to speak with the dr one last time before surgery even though i asked his assistant and the people in the operating theatre that i really needed to. The thing is, i spoke with the dr at around 11 am, then he had surgeries, emergency cases whatever. Its only normal to want to speak with the dr right before surgery so that he can go over everything you want one more time and reassure you of the result. And thats always been the case for me. However, this time nobody allowed me to see the dr before surgery, im guessing they wanted to save time and go home early or whatever but thats just super disrespectful.
So ok, they put me under, the usual. I woke up in my room, shaking horribly. Thats the most hateful part after coming down from general anaesthesia. THE SHAKING THE COLD. But this time also THE PAIN. Yoo i did not prepare myself for the pain. The pain was reaaaall. I honestly had no idea it would be this bad. Usually the most painful part about surgery is putting in the catheter, but uhm no this time it was the crazy pulling headache. Let me tell yo THE MEDS DO NOTHING. The nurses can give you however much of the pain meds you want- it does absolutely nothing. It almost feels like it a placebo.
I would rate the pain a 6/10 for the first 3 days. Its like having a constant migraine and you can do absolutely nothing about it, and it doesn't come and go in waves, its just there constantly. This was probably my second mosh painful surgery so far. Especially the night are very tough, i had fever for the first 2/3 nights, could barely sleep, constant headache. It was just not it
But im getting ahead of myself. So, came in from surgery. That night at the hospital was alright ish, the nurses checked up on me few times. Did not sleep at all. The next morning dr en assistant came in for like 1 min, looked at my eyes i could ask some questions and they left again. I swear dr s assistant is the most useless person during this whole journey. She just did absolutely nothing and left me with the hospital staff who don't speak a word of english.
So assistant told me i could check out of the hospital by myself WHENEVER I WANTED (she recommended around 2-4pm). At that time it was like 11:30am so i thought, cool ill stay until like 2 and then check out. NOPE. Some woman from the hospital came and told me in very broken english that my taxi is here and i need to go.
Imagine being told this, while still being super dizzy from the anaesthesia, having pain, wearing hospital clothes, just barely can keep my eyes open so yeh i had like 5 mins to rush out of there which was lovely.
Anyway, i managed to get all my stuff, check out and go to the hotel. I LOOKED BUSTED. I LOOKED SOO MUCH WORSE THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD. Honestly, i don't know whats worse for the first few days, the pain or the way you look. MY EYEBROWS WERE LOOKING LIKE IM A DRAGQUEEN ABOUT TO GO ON STAGE. I looked (and while writing this 3 days post op) and look like ive aged about 15 years. I have horrible cheek swelling, i look like that crazy surgery obsessed cat woman. My face is massive, flat and super wide. Apparently its swelling, but yoo it does something with you mentally. Its just very hard to recover while looking like a 40 year old drag queen cat woman whose face has been pulled back like theres no tomorrow.
Today as i said is day 3 post op, my last day in istanbul. Before my flight back i had a check up at dr ufuks office. Again my appointment was at 12:30 and he only came to see me at 13:00 so im guessing being late is just the norm? However when you have a flight to catch it can be lil annoying youknow
So apparently everything looked alright, and i was cleared to fly back.
Also, if you've never been to istanbul for surgery lemme tell you, going through the whole airport thing is horrible. Obviously i look horrible like i've already said so i had a cap on and i tried to cover my huge face and swollen cheekbones with my hair. However i've been asked to remove my hat at almost every single step of check in thats possible. Even to just enter the gate you need to remove all of your disguise. So be prepared to get many stares and feel very uncomfortable.
>3+ months post op
So basically, this is the most disappoint surgery i've ever done. NOTHING ABOUT MY EYES HAS CHANGED. The first 3 weeks after surgery were horrible, my face was extremely wide, flat, my brows were halfway up my forehead at a very weird angle, i could barely keep my eyes open and had blurry vision the whole time. I had to cancel so many fun things, because i was looking like a monster pretty much. My cheekbones are now permanently? deformed. They look very sharp and obvious which is something i never signed up for. It makes my face look older and unpleasant. My eyes look exactly the same as before surgery. This whole trip to istanbul was just not it 0/10.
The whole canthopexy part, i'm not even sure if the dr actually performed that, because there is literally 0 difference. LITERALLY.
Also, there is just no respect for your privacy. Before i signed the papers i told the assistant that i do not want dr to post anything on instagram about my surgery. I told her that EXPLICITLY. Well, they posted my photos of surgery TWICE. Yall.. what kind of treatment is that? And i feel like they do this to other patients as well, because i see some photos being posted and then removed a day later. I'm getting the feeling that the Dr. wants to give you the impression like he does bella eyes surgery all the time, while he's actually posting old photos on his story. I mean he posted my surgery proces on his story, even though it's been 3+ months. But if you're an outsider it looks like he just did this surgery today.
Anyway, this was my rant. Very bad experience with this Dr. I'm thinking about scheduling a revision temple/ brow lift and canthopexy with a dr. that actually knows what he's doing.
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