Ethnic rhinoplasty with Dr Erdem Caglar - I wanted a natural nose that suited my face

I want to give back to the RealSelf community and share my experience so far with Dr Erdem Caglar who did rhinoplasty surgery for me in February 2021.I am of Asian background living in Europe. I have an atypical Asian nose with a dorsal hump. Therefore, my search for a suitable surgeon was not that easy. I looked into German surgeons but the prices were at least 6000-8000 euros and I was not even sure if they had enough experience with 'ethnic' noses (usually thicker skin, weak cartilage). I started looking into Turkish surgeons and decided that they would be best in terms of experience, working with different types of noses (both European, Middle East and Asian).For me, it was important to have a doctor who is also an ENT. I was initially set on Dr Bora Ok, mostly because he was working on a lot of ethnic cases and I thought he would be the best/only choice for ethnic cases. However, he was not an ENT and he was mostly doing closed technique. I looked into Volkan Kahya but then I read more and more cases about unhappy girls and his reaction which put me off. I think I looked into a lot of surgeons, and at the end, I narrowed it down to the following: Saban Celebi, Erdem Caglar and Dogan Pinar.If you have lots of money, I would also look into Huseyn Balicki. If you are an ethnic case, I would also check out YOU. (Orhan-Ucal). Between those three on the top list, in the end, I chose Caglar. The reasons were mostly personal: I honestly did not know what nose I wanted or what nose would suit me. Obviously I wanted my dorsal hump removed but then I was not sure what type of further work was needed regarding aesthetics.I was first set on Celebi, because he is so famous, especially for revision surgeries and he just does the job right and has lots of experience. However, since I did not know what nose would suit me or what I was looking for, I really needed communication and discussions. From other peoples reviews and experiences, it seemed that Celebi was very much in demand and did not have much time for a personal talk (mostly done through his assistant for foreigners).If I spoke Turkish, I am sure it would have made communication easier. Then, there was Caglar and Pinar. I did not have a consultation with Pinar or Celebi, and Pinar does beautiful noses but a lot of the times he is said to refuse thick skinned cases. Caglar seemed to work with a lot of thick skins and Celebi was his mentor, so after a video consultation and hearing lots of good reviews on him that he was on the rise, I decided to go with him!The hospital is Medilife Bagcilar Hospital. It is very much in the suburbs/local area. There is thankfully a big grocery shop next to it if you want to stock up on anything beforehand. I had my consultation two days before surgery with a blood test and PCR test. I showed Caglar several pics of wish pics and what I did not want to end up looking and trusted him from there.For me, it was important that I wouldn't get a 'European' nose or any strange-looking, unnatural nose that does not fit to my ethnicity. I trusted Caglar that he would give me a nose that would suit me. He only does side morphs so I had no idea how the front would look like. He suggested alarplasty as well and I accepted.My surgery was scheduled as the first in the morning, so I arrived the night before. I had my own bathroom and small room. The next day, Caglar suggested transferring to another bigger room (which in hindsight, I should have accepted) but I had put all my stuff already prepared in the room and did not want to go through a change again before surgery. I was somehow quite calm. I hated my nose for so long that anything would be better!He was very kind and we talked a bit again, I just repeated everything again for fear he would forget or mix me up with another patients wishes (haha) and then whoosh - I was gone. After surgery, people were calling me several times to wake up as I had to move from the surgery bed to the hospital bed. I just remember how thirsty I was and dry my mouth was. I wont get into so much detail with post-surgery experience, but I was so glad to get out of the hospital and into the hotel room in my own space.I recommend bringing a throat spray and ice packs with you to the hospital because the first few days are uncomfortable breathing through your mouth. The nurses were very slow in changing the ice gloves and I felt so hot constantly in the room. It was very uncomfortable. There was a fridge in the room but no freezing compartment so if you bring your own ice packs (for your cheeks), you can give them to the people at reception and they can leave it in the freezer with you.For your eyes, they give you these ice gloves (ice put into the fingers of a plastic glove) but considering my whole face felt hot and swollen, these tiny two-finger gloves didnt do much. I talked with some other girls, and a lot of them had problems with the nurses at Medilife and needles. I mostly munched on oats and soups and soft food. On day 7, it was tape removal day!This time it was at his clinic. I dont think you really need to stay close to the clinic since you are very likely only going there once for tape removal. It was very strange seeing my new nose on my new face, as I was very swollen and my nose was still very upturned. But Caglar was very happy with the result and very kind and told me it will drop. I also got some nostril retainers as I had alarplasty as well.I am back now in my own country and 5 weeks post-op. I am still a bit swollen, especially the tip but so far, I like my result! I know it will look even better when the tip is less swollen and it drops but it will take a bit longer because I am thick-skinned. I have been very happy with Caglar, his professionalism, his skills and communication and care. I wanted a natural face that suited my face and I am very happy I chose him. He is very honest, kind and patient.I look forward to seeing my result further down the line in a few months and I hope to visit Istanbul again for some follow-up. That's the sad thing about surgery tourism, that the doctor cannot touch your nose anymore but it has to be done virtually. But so far, he has always been super helpful in the follow-up and responding! I believe that he is also getting busier each month.

Dear all,
I am sorry I havent posted an update. I am going through a tough time right now. I didnt know that ethnic Asian rhinoplasties are so complex and now in hindsight, I wish I went with a surgeon from Asia, for example South Korea. I should have written here sooner but a lot of the times I have been battling with depression and self-loathing and I didnt want to come out in public. Also, I tried to be patient but now I am one year post-op and this is the nose I have now. I have to say, in my case, I wouldnt recommend Caglar for Asian noses. There are some happy ones, but also some other unhappy ones. I have a short nose now, meaning my tip was lifted too high and I have a piggy look now. My tip is ‘upturned’ and I have no columella/no infratip lobule. My nose looks unnatural. Some other girls told me that Turkish surgeons mostly have experience with droopy noses so they dont have so much experience with Asian noses (aka short, flat columella etc). I consulted with some other surgeons and too much dorsum was removed (inverted V), I have a left dent on my nostril which is visible in photos, and as I said before, a short nose. Caglar offered revision but even though Id love to trust him, I dont think he is experienced enough to do my case.