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Woke Me Up from Anaesthesia to Demand an Extra £1000. Scarred for Life.
I consulted with one of Dr Gorkem Atsal's assistants via WhatsApp about a procedure and they confirmed the doctor's verdict was I should get two procedures, one being canthopexy. I paid a deposit on the agreement that I would have a full consultation with the Dr the day BEFORE the surgery.
I arrive in Turkey two days before the surgery, asking when I will meet the Dr. They keep assuring me I will see him until finally it becomes clear they won't let me until the surgery day. They insisted that I put my gown on and have my IVs inserted before the Dr even saw me.
I insisted I didn't want any of my images to be used publicly, be it Instagram, etc. I was assured this wouldn't happen but they had nothing to sign to confirm. Finally they made a note to the photographer not to use it. Yet as soon as the Dr walks in, the cameraman follows and starts filming the consultation! I was naked with just a gown on and this was my first ever time even meeting the Dr. They stopped but didn't delete the footage.
The Dr. consults with me and says I need a blepharoplasty, which I questioned because he initially told me I needed canthoplasty. He was confused and asked me to show the quote on WhatsApp, so I wonder if he ever even saw my pictures? They told me they will do the blepharoplasty for the same price as the quoted canthopexy as a form of "goodwill" despite the fact it's not even necessarily more expensive.
I pay an assistant (F) in cash and he counts it out in front of me. I ask him where is his money counting machine and he said they don't have one, he "is the calculator". He confirms the sum is correct, but refuses to give me a receipt. I sincerely wish I had video recorded the transaction.
Between paying and surgery, I wait around 1.5 hours, no problems arose. There was no safe to store money and valuables, I asked and they told me someone will lock the door later. Also this whole time I was asking for WiFi and they kept telling me there was problem and they will have it sorted soon. I told them obviously I needed to contact family.
I woke up in intense pain after the surgery, to the assistant (F) telling me that I paid them £1000 short, and I need to give them the cash now. I'd literally just woken up from anaesthesia, my whole face was swollen and my eyes were sealed shut. I was unable to see a thing and I kept drifting out of consciousness, only to wake up again to the assistant asking for the money again and again. It was awful and I was so disorientated.
I said I didn't have the money because obviously I'd paid it. He kept begging me saying he's going to have to pay from his own pocket if I don't, and he only receives a small salary and won't be able to survive otherwise. They handed my purse and asked me to give the money, but I told them again I don't have it, and secondly, my eyes are 100% swollen shut! They go to the bathroom and take some really tough paper towel that was by the toilet(!) and start dabbing my eyes with it, pushing a finger into my eyelid to create a small opening so I could see. It was so painful.
In my purse I did have £300, but this was separate from the surgery fee as it was money I needed for food, travel, etc. I did hand it over after begging them to just leave me to rest, because I was alone and feeling so awful from the anaesthesia and the pain. They told me it wasn't enough and I needed to open my banking app to send another £700. I asked them how can I do that? They didn't even give me internet! Suddenly they provided me with temporary internet, but my app had locked me out.
I stay the night at the hospital. They took me in the "private" minivan, after dropping off several other patients, then we get to my hotel. The male assistant (E) then tries to go to my hotel room with me to "make sure" I pay the money! Luckily the hotel had security so I was able to enter alone.
I transfer the money because I wanted all the harassment to end. I know people will ask why I didn't call the police, but I was blind, swollen, and exhausted both mentally and physically.
They didn't contact until several days later when it was time to remove stitches. The Dr didn't remove them, his medical assistant did. They didn't remove the outer stitches, telling me they were dissolvable. Upon leaving they asked to take a picture smiling and hugging with the Dr. I said no, I didn't want to be online, as I had already told them. They said it's not for the public, but "if we do put it on Instagram we will cover your face with an emoji"! I refused.
One year later and unfortunately I have the same, huge, 'train track' scars on my eyelids. I am scarred for life most likely. I have consulted with reconstructive surgeons and they were shocked that such stitches were left in my outer eyelids, because they don't actually dissolve quickly enough not to cause permanent scarring. These stitches apparently need to be removed after 7 days at the latest, but Gorkem Atsal clinic claimed otherwise.
Would this have all happened if I travelled with a companion, especially a husband, brother or father? I wonder this, and I always have to live with this regret. I wonder if this happened because I was a young woman travelling alone, with my eyes swollen shut and no internet to contact anyone? The assistant (F) also mentioned this was a very quiet day for the Dr, doing only two surgeries, and he mentioned how "expensive" it is to hire the surgery rooms.
I arrive in Turkey two days before the surgery, asking when I will meet the Dr. They keep assuring me I will see him until finally it becomes clear they won't let me until the surgery day. They insisted that I put my gown on and have my IVs inserted before the Dr even saw me.
I insisted I didn't want any of my images to be used publicly, be it Instagram, etc. I was assured this wouldn't happen but they had nothing to sign to confirm. Finally they made a note to the photographer not to use it. Yet as soon as the Dr walks in, the cameraman follows and starts filming the consultation! I was naked with just a gown on and this was my first ever time even meeting the Dr. They stopped but didn't delete the footage.
The Dr. consults with me and says I need a blepharoplasty, which I questioned because he initially told me I needed canthoplasty. He was confused and asked me to show the quote on WhatsApp, so I wonder if he ever even saw my pictures? They told me they will do the blepharoplasty for the same price as the quoted canthopexy as a form of "goodwill" despite the fact it's not even necessarily more expensive.
I pay an assistant (F) in cash and he counts it out in front of me. I ask him where is his money counting machine and he said they don't have one, he "is the calculator". He confirms the sum is correct, but refuses to give me a receipt. I sincerely wish I had video recorded the transaction.
Between paying and surgery, I wait around 1.5 hours, no problems arose. There was no safe to store money and valuables, I asked and they told me someone will lock the door later. Also this whole time I was asking for WiFi and they kept telling me there was problem and they will have it sorted soon. I told them obviously I needed to contact family.
I woke up in intense pain after the surgery, to the assistant (F) telling me that I paid them £1000 short, and I need to give them the cash now. I'd literally just woken up from anaesthesia, my whole face was swollen and my eyes were sealed shut. I was unable to see a thing and I kept drifting out of consciousness, only to wake up again to the assistant asking for the money again and again. It was awful and I was so disorientated.
I said I didn't have the money because obviously I'd paid it. He kept begging me saying he's going to have to pay from his own pocket if I don't, and he only receives a small salary and won't be able to survive otherwise. They handed my purse and asked me to give the money, but I told them again I don't have it, and secondly, my eyes are 100% swollen shut! They go to the bathroom and take some really tough paper towel that was by the toilet(!) and start dabbing my eyes with it, pushing a finger into my eyelid to create a small opening so I could see. It was so painful.
In my purse I did have £300, but this was separate from the surgery fee as it was money I needed for food, travel, etc. I did hand it over after begging them to just leave me to rest, because I was alone and feeling so awful from the anaesthesia and the pain. They told me it wasn't enough and I needed to open my banking app to send another £700. I asked them how can I do that? They didn't even give me internet! Suddenly they provided me with temporary internet, but my app had locked me out.
I stay the night at the hospital. They took me in the "private" minivan, after dropping off several other patients, then we get to my hotel. The male assistant (E) then tries to go to my hotel room with me to "make sure" I pay the money! Luckily the hotel had security so I was able to enter alone.
I transfer the money because I wanted all the harassment to end. I know people will ask why I didn't call the police, but I was blind, swollen, and exhausted both mentally and physically.
They didn't contact until several days later when it was time to remove stitches. The Dr didn't remove them, his medical assistant did. They didn't remove the outer stitches, telling me they were dissolvable. Upon leaving they asked to take a picture smiling and hugging with the Dr. I said no, I didn't want to be online, as I had already told them. They said it's not for the public, but "if we do put it on Instagram we will cover your face with an emoji"! I refused.
One year later and unfortunately I have the same, huge, 'train track' scars on my eyelids. I am scarred for life most likely. I have consulted with reconstructive surgeons and they were shocked that such stitches were left in my outer eyelids, because they don't actually dissolve quickly enough not to cause permanent scarring. These stitches apparently need to be removed after 7 days at the latest, but Gorkem Atsal clinic claimed otherwise.
Would this have all happened if I travelled with a companion, especially a husband, brother or father? I wonder this, and I always have to live with this regret. I wonder if this happened because I was a young woman travelling alone, with my eyes swollen shut and no internet to contact anyone? The assistant (F) also mentioned this was a very quiet day for the Dr, doing only two surgeries, and he mentioned how "expensive" it is to hire the surgery rooms.
Provider Review
Otolaryngologist
Rumeli Caddesi, No:22, Rumeli Plaza 3. Kat, Istanbul,