Heart of an Angel, Hands of a God

Okay, where do I begin? This is a long review, but worth a read. I stand by my dramatic headline :)

I had my primary rhinoplasty with Dr. Tas over Christmas break. I’ve wanted a nose job since I was 14, and I never stopped. Like probably most of you reading this, I constantly saved pictures of celebrities and their surgeries, played around with my nose way too much, and didn’t like taking pictures. I booked the actual surgery over a year before I could fly out for it, and the team answered all my pestering questions through WhatsApp. I stayed at their recommended hotel, just a few minutes walk from the Acibadem hospital, and paid for their driver to pick me up at the airport (I would recommend this route - was easier/cheaper than finding my own cab). First day consult, second day surgery, third day release from the hospital, wait a week, then cast removal. If you’re international like me, they have the process tailored for you.

On the consult day, I filled out my forms, then met with Dr. Tas who walked me through my concerns, did an examination, then explained his surgery plan. The same day I went to the hospital for a PCR and blood test pre-surgery. The next day I arrived early at the same hospital, was prepped for surgery, then wheeled into the operating room. I didn’t even realize what they had given me was anesthesia - I was out like a light, and I don’t remember a thing.

People react differently to anesthesia - some get nauseous, I personally didn’t have any issues. I stayed in Acibadem overnight with several nurses (bless them) on call. Went home the next day, and after a few I felt good enough to go out for a few hours at a time. Coupled with the jet lag, I had quite a bit of trouble sleeping, so don’t worry if it takes a while to get used to breathing with the cast on. Cast removal a week later was heavenly. You’ll have a bit of swelling, so don’t panic - this is not the final form! It’ll look a bit odd at first, and a bit swollen, but you’ll adjust really quickly.

Now about the stuff that matters -

The staff is wonderful. If you’re like me, you’ll have a million questions. They will answer with the patience of saints. I spoke mostly with Elvira over text, and even though my surgery was over a year out, she always responded, and was very flexible in helping me plan. At the clinic itself Arda dealt with me; he’s so personable and friendly, and makes you feel super comfortable with the practice. He, too, answered my many questions. The team is definitely worthy of the doctor.

As for the surgery itself, I absolutely ADORE the outcome. There’s still a bit of swelling, since my surgery was recent, but the shape of the bridge and the nostrils already show a substantial improvement. It looks doll-like, but in the most natural way possible. I’m much happier every time I look in the mirror, and that boost of happiness every time is priceless. I’ll try to post pictures in the future, but if you look at the galleries in the website and their Instagram page you’ll get a taste of his style. I had thick skin at the tip and a rare asymmetry that’s very difficult to correct, so I underestimated how important it was to find a good surgeon: it also means I was extra lucky to have found this clinic.

About Dr. Tas, I could gush for several pages. I’ll try to keep it short, but know that a few paragraphs won’t do him justice. I work with a lot of doctors at my part-time job, and one thing I’ve learned is that the difference in quality between two doctors with the same credential is astounding. Medicine is hard. Surgery is really hard. Revision rates in surgery are high. This isn’t like shopping for clothes. You’re trusting someone to cut and reshape your face. They aren’t all equally good at it. You’re putting your body under stress, and you’re putting your faith in the skills of your doctor, who is also a person, not a magician. Your body is way more complicated than an anatomical model or some clay, and behind those cute nose job pictures on Instagram is absurd amounts of training.

As a doctor, Dr. Tas’ skills are impeccable. He does a lot of revisions (way harder than primary - a great sign) and his own revision rate is absurdly low. He does closed rhinoplasties, which are technically much harder, with a faster recovery, than open ones. He obviously has all the awards and certifications, and more importantly the experience. He sees patients from around the world and does several surgeries a day, so he’s seen everything when it comes to nose types. He’s not just a skilled doctor, but an artist (no, seriously, check out his sculptures) and also a teacher (a clinical professor). I’ve discussed his work with my boss, who used to do facial surgery before switching to orthodontics, and he was really impressed. Clinically, Dr. Tas is a superstar.

And yet somehow, as a person he’s even better.

I used to think it didn’t matter if a surgeon was kind or patient as long as they got the job done. But after my experiences at work, and after reading horror stories in the plastic surgery industry, I realized that personality often translates to clinical integrity. Dr. Tas is genuinely the kindest doctor I’ve met. He’s a perfectionist and takes his job very seriously, but he doesn’t act the way you’d expect someone with his skill to, and hardly confirms stereotypes of surgeons. I felt reassured as soon as I met him. I deeply admire not only his talent but his character. I’m not easily impressed by doctors, and I’m not easily impressed by people. But Dr. Tas is truly exceptional, and I respect and recommend him and his practice wholeheartedly.