Hi lovely Ladies! I assume that if you are reading this, you are either considering or have already decided to do a rhinoplasty.
There are a couple of reasons to do a nose surgery, and even more so to entrust our precious faces to the professionals in Turkey.
I went through an extensive discussion with myself before I made a very well assessed decision in favour of a nose job. And so should you.
I will explain and describe my thought process before my surgery, as well as every detail of my experience in Turkey below. I am not writing this to advertise any clinic or surgeon, but simply to share my story, hoping that it will serve you well.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below or contact me via this form.
Why did I do a rhinoplasty?
Firstly, I must say that I’ve never been too concerned about my looks and plastic surgery was not something that I’ve dreamt of for years. I’ve always considered myself to be good looking. Although I was aware of some flaws on my face, such as a bit long, humpy nose or thin upper lip, it never bothered me much.
Up until a year ago, I didn’t know a lot about plastic surgery. Frankly, I guess I had a little bit of a stigma that’s traditionally associated with cosmetic procedures, I was always into natural looks, never wore lots of makeup, and I certainly wasn’t planning to do a plastic surgery. Or rather, I wasn’t planning until I noticed my breathing difficulties.
During a random conversation with my fiance, he asked me if my breathing was ok because it seemed that I had trouble inhaling before falling, and sometimes, while I was asleep. I never realised it myself, but, once I noticed, it truly became an annoying and a little worrying issue.
Not long after that, I was researching causes of my troubled breathing when I stumbled upon an article about Jennifer Aniston’s rhinoplasty. She explained that her nose job was done not only due to aesthetic reasons, but also due to her breathing problems.
All of sudden, I realised that rhinoplasty has more to it than just cosmetic, beauty enhancing surgery. I examined my septum and it was obviously deviated. I researched pros and cons and firmly decided that rhinoplasty is absolutely worth it in my case. I will rectify God’s mistakes not only to improve my looks but also health.
I must add a quick note, though, that even those without breathing problems should not feel stigmatized. My perception of plastic surgery changed quite dramatically and I certainly believe there should be no shame or judgement in it. Any reason for a plastic surgery is good enough so long as you are 100% sure that that’s what you want to do.
How did I choose my doctor?
Once I decided that rhinoplasty is what I wanted and needed, it was the time to find a surgeon.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to choose the right doctor for your procedure. I took it very seriously and thoroughly researched many surgeons in different countries. The first question, however, is where to start?
Since I was new to it, it wasn’t the easiest task. I tried searching Google but I quickly realised that Facebook and Instagram are the to go platforms. I joined some Facebook groups that are dedicated to beauty, plastic surgery and, specifically, to rhinoplasty. There are dozens of those in each country, so instead of dropping some links, I suggest you search for them based on your region.
I must say that joining FB groups was a big step forward. These private groups have thousands of members who share their experiences and review their surgeons. I got a much better understanding about the procedure and a lot of surgeon recommendations from them. That’s also the reason why I started considering Turkey for my operation.
It turns out that Turkey is a very popular plastic surgery destination. Not only does it have great specialists, but they also offer affordable prices and even package deals that include sightseeing.
Once again, however, I didn’t know where to start. That country has thousands of surgeons. How will I choose the right one?
As you can already guess, social media came to the rescue again. After seeing some recommendations on FB groups, I dug into Instagram to check prospective surgeons. In my humble opinion, Instagram is probably the most important platform that a surgeon should invest in and constantly contribute to.
Seeing before and after videos, as opposed to pictures only, that most surgeons have on their websites, can truly have an impact. Also, many doctors participate in live streams about various procedures and answer their clients’ questions. In this way you can see how the doctor acts and even decide if you like his/her personality.
Personally for me, that truly helped a lot. I was looking for a surgeon that would operate not only Instagram’s influencers and celebrities, but also regular people. I was looking for someone who can clearly work with each and every person separately, finding the best look for that particular individual.
I believe I was very lucky to find Dr. Hakan Gence, who fit all of my requirements.
What I liked most about Dr. Hakan Gence?
When I learnt about Dr. Hakan (his patients and staff always warmly call him by his first name), apart from checking his credentials (he is European Board Certified Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon with more than 10 years experience), I also looked into these 3 elements.
How popular is this surgeon?
A few years ago it would have not been super easy to know whether a surgeon from a foreign land is very popular or not, but today we have social media and I certainly wanted to know if my prospective doctor has a lot of clients and inquiries. I believe it does demonstrate the capabilities and value of a surgeon.
Obviously, social media engagement was the first indicator to look at. Dr. Hakan has over 25k followers, which I think is a pretty high number, and has a lot of positive user engagement.
Additionally, after initially contacting the doctor’s clinic I was advised that the first available date for the surgery would be about 6 months later. I had hoped for a closer date but since it was during Covid times and I had no other plans, that worked for me. It is worth mentioning that I recently contacted the clinic again about another procedure and was advised that Dr. Hakan is fully booked for 2021 (I inquired about it in April 2021).
So yes, the doctor is busy and seeked after. It did give me confidence in him, but just to be absolutely sure about my choice, I asked a friend of mine, who was from Turkey, to do a little due diligence on him in the local media. He researched Dr. Hakan and confirmed that he is the real deal and seems to be a good plastic surgeon without any major complaints.
I was happy with what I knew about the doctor so far, but I continued to look into other factors.
Who are his clients?
It was very important for me to learn about my prospective surgeon’s clientele and decide whether he would be able to understand my needs and wishes. After checking the many before and after videos and pictures on Dr. Hakan’s Instagram and website, I realised that he is not a ‘one size fits all’ kind of doctor. His clients range from celebrities and Instagrammers to regular women and men who want to improve their looks, have deviations or want to get rid of complexes caused by unflattering looks.
This demonstrated that Dr. Hakan does not have the same type of client and he works with each and every person to find the best look for her or his face. It was exactly what I was looking for, and now I was pretty much sure that Dr. Hakan will be my doctor. However, there was one last element that pushed me over the fence into his clinic.
What does his wife look like?
You might call me crazy for this, and I certainly didn’t think that I would be considering my surgeon wife’s looks as one of the reason’s I’d choose him for, but it turned out to be my secret prerequisite.
I can’t say that it was one of the most important factors, but it certainly played a role in my decision making. Had I not liked the way his wife looked, I might have chosen a different doctor. Now let me explain why.
I believe that a person’s partner can tell a lot about him or her. Naturally, I would assume that if his wife had any plastic surgeries, it would be her husband that would operate her. Hence, I wanted to see if his wife was natural looking or was she a silicon barby?
It turned out that Dr. Hakan’s wife is involved in his business. She promotes his clinic and often uses Instagram to explain various procedures, including how to prepare for them, how to recover after, as well as showings around the clinic, the hotels, and talks about the organization of the trip for international patients.
As expected, the doctor’s wife turned out to be beautiful, but also very naturally looking. To my surprise, I even found some articles in which she discusses what it means to be a plastic surgeon’s wife, whether she’s done any surgery and how her husband feels about it. Apparently, she herself doesn’t have a perfect nose either, but since she felt happy with her looks, she’s never done anything about it.
I believe this demonstrated that Dr. Hakan was able to see the natural beauty in each person and he wouldn’t pressure anyone to do what they wouldn’t want.
So after all, I found it very helpful to get a sense not only about the surgeon but also his wife. It felt like I knew more about the doctor and his personality.
Preparations and arrival to Turkey
Once I was sure about my surgeon choice, I had to start organizing my trip. I was in constant communication with the clinic’s staff, and I must say that they were excellent.
I was mostly texting via Whatsapp with two of Dr. Hakan’s assistants, and I had all my questions answered in a timely manner.
I first arranged a Zoom consultation with Dr. Hakan. It went smoothly and quickly, and right after that, my surgery date was confirmed.
The cost
The surgery cost was 3000 EUR (around 3600 USD), which included all medications, pre-op tests, in person consultation before the surgery, one night at the hospital and all necessary transfers. I didn’t have to pay any deposit in advance, and I paid full price in cash on the day of my in person consultation.
I also had to cover the flight tickets and 8 nights at a hotel. The clinic offered discounts at their selected hotels, but I chose to stay at a different place of my choice, which was friendlier to my budget.
My arrival
Since my surgery took place during Covid (it was January 2021), I had to arrive in Turkey two days before my surgery to take the Covid and all other necessary tests.
The clinic’s staff took the details of my flight and once I arrived, the driver was waiting for me at the airport.
Two other patients came on the same evening so they tried to combine the logistics. I was the first to land so I waited for the other ladies in the clinic’s minivan. It was clean and comfortable to fit 4-5 people. The driver was also very accommodating and even brought me Turkish coffee while I was waiting in the car. I thought it was a nice touch, and made me feel that the staff is very considerate about their patients.
Once the other ladies arrived, we were all driven to the hospital, where our blood and Covid tests were taken. After that, we were driven to our hotels and given the pick up times for the next day, as we had to go to the clinic for the in person consultations with the doctor.
The hotel
The clinic normally recommends two hotels to stay in: the 5 star Hilton and Wyndham. The clinic offers discounts for them and should you choose to stay there, they will book it for you. However, I decided to stay in a different place and I found a renovated boutique hotel, La Vita Suites. It had a 9.2 rating on Booking, was 5 min drive from the clinic, and cost me just over 280 EUR (around 340 USD) for eight nights with breakfast.
When I was dropped off at the hotel, it was already pretty late, around midnight. The reception staff was very accommodating. I must say that their English wasn’t the most fluent, but, at the end of the day, I was always given everything that I asked for.
I booked a standard double room and it had everything that was needed: a nice queen bed, resting area, TV, wifi, and a renovated bathroom. My only complaints were that I could actually hear what was happening in the neighbouring room, and unfortunately, my neighbours were pretty loud at night, if you know what I mean…Additionally, the windows were not the thickest either and I could hear the street noise if it got busy.
However, the hotel had some really good pros that made my stay there good overall. Firstly, the location was excellent. Since Dr. Hakan’s clinic is on the Asian side of Istanbul and most of the tourist destinations are on the European side of the city, the selection of available hotels was not as great as I thought it would be. From my research, I understood that there are a few quite big hotels, which are definitely very good and close to the clinic. Nevertheless, what I wanted was to find a cute smaller hotel, which I did in the La Vita Suites.
It is located in a nice area near the center of Kadikoy. I had all the necessary shops, cafes and restaurants right next to me, as well as a beautiful boardwalk from which you can see the European Istanbul. The big and very good Turkish breakfast was also a great bonus.
However, the most important and the best thing about my stay in this hotel was the super friendly and helpful staff. Since I was travelling alone, the hotel staff was basically those that I counted on after the surgery. Whenever I needed ice, or food or anything else, they were quick to respond and assist me the best way they could. I literally fell in love with the hotel’s cook, who was basically a mother figure of the place. Her consideration for my needs made me truly grateful that there was someone who seemed to care about my health and recovery.
So even though the hotel was not a 5 star institution, my stay was comfortable and I felt safe, and taken care of. I didn’t think it would be so crucially important, but now, after my experience, I can assure you that if someone is going to travel to another country for a surgery, they better make sure that the stay would be comfortable and the hotel has experience with international plastic surgery guests.
Meeting the doctor and his staff
The next day after my arrival, I was taken to the clinic for an in person consultation with the doctor. Once I arrived, I was greeted by the clinic’s staff and it was great to meet everyone in person, at last. The assistants of Dr. Hakan were very friendly and welcoming.
I must clarify that the clinic is not the same place where the surgeries are performed. Patients are taken to a bigger hospital for the surgeries and the clinic is more like a doctor’s office for the consultations and the big reveal after a surgery.
The clinic was very beautiful, elegant and clean. All Covid security measures were in place. It looked like a classy and tasteful institution.
A few businesses had to be covered during my visit at the clinic. At first I signed the contract and paid for the surgery. Later, I was taken to the photo studio where I was photographed, and lastly, Dr. Hakan was ready to meet me.
The in person consultation with my surgeon, just like the video call, was very quick and efficient. We discussed what I wanted to change in my face and the doctor explained what he would like to recommend for me. He also showed a digital simulation of his vision.
I must admit that at the time I wasn’t sure if I loved the simulation 100%. I believe it was very hard to see my own features differently and accept it right away. However, we agreed on the most fundamentals: I wanted a natural look and so did he. What needed to be fixed was my septum, long projection and a little hump. So after all, my nose would be a little shorter and slightly smaller.
I did ask the doctor to try and keep my frontal look as unchanged as possible, though. After all, I did like the overall look of my face and I was a little nervous about a change. The doctor was hesitant to promise me that. He said that my looks will change somehow because my nose will be a little different.
However, the fact was that I trusted this doctor completely. Everything in my journey so far proved that I made the right decision and I knew that he would do the best job for me.
After the consultation, I was given instructions about the next day and there was nothing else left but to get ready for the big day.
The day of the surgery
My surgery was scheduled for 8 am the next morning, on a Saturday. My pick up from the hotel was around before 7 am. At first I thought it was early, but I quickly figured out that it really is the best to have an early operation. Not only because you don’t have a lot of time to get nervous, but also because you can’t eat before the surgery.
Obviously, I was a little nervous but also excited. I arrived at the hospital and was taken to my suite. The suite was great: everything was clean and comfortable, new amenities, nice bathroom. It also had a couch, which can be used by another person travelling with a patient. It is supposed to be comfortable enough to sleep, and the hospital meals were always delivered for two.
By the time I settled in my suite, the assistant of Dr. Hakan arrived to check on me. She was there to ensure that everything went smoothly and assist me in case there was something I needed. She stayed in the hospital throughout the operation and was there when I woke up.
I was already changed into a hospital dress and was on the final pre-surgery call with my fiance, when Dr. Hakan came in. My fiance, being a late waker, wanted to make sure that the doctor is a morning person. He was obviously nervous for me too, so I relayed the question to the doctor in a joking manner, but I don’t think he appreciated it. Dr. Hakan and I quickly discussed once again what he will do, and advised that the surgery will take about 1.5 – 2 hours.
Anyways, the assistant that was with me in the hospital picked up on my fiance’s concerns and offered to keep him updated throughout the surgery and update him about my status. Since I was alone in Turkey and no one else was there to advise my family about it while I would be on anesthesia, it was very much appreciated.
Now everything was done and ready, and I was taken to the operation room. All I remember is that I was feeling very happy and since the anesthesia worked quickly, I fell asleep in no time, or so it seemed to me.
The next thing I remember was waking up in a hospital bed while I was being taken to my suite. My first words to one of the nurses was ‘I can’t breathe’, and that was a scary second of my life, but the nurse kept telling me to breathe through my mouth, and so I adjusted. She also kept saying that I looked beautiful, which really is the first thing you want to hear after a plastic surgery.
When I was taken to my suite, I obviously felt weak and uncomfortable. I was wearing a cast on my nose, which is needed for 5 – 10 days to keep the nose in shape and less swollen. I was not used to breathing through my nose and my throat was hurting a lot. I figured later it was caused by intubation needed for the general anesthesia, but that was one thing I was not aware of and I wasn’t mentally prepared for.
I was also bleeding a lot from my nose and my face was extremely swollen. This, obviously, was expected but it was definitely hard to imagine the discomfort, especially since I hadn’t had a surgery before.
The clinic’s assistant was with me for quite some time and Dr. Hakan came in to check on me and told me that everything went great. I was pleased to hear it.
I don’t know exactly when I woke up and some things are a little blurry. I do remember, though, that the nurses were taking good care of me. Since I was bleeding a lot (I had no tampons in my nose), I was either calling the nurses to change under-nose plaster, or they would come themselves.
I was given a lot of food and the portions were meant for two people, the patient and a companion, but as expected, I wasn’t very hungry. The bed and amenities were good and comfortable, the nurses were helpful and I spent most of my time in the hospital trying to adjust to my post-op state. I think I was mostly watching TV when I wasn’t asleep. I also managed to talk to my fiance to let him know that I was feeling ok.
Recovery
After the first 24 hard post surgery hours, I was taken back to my hotel, where I stayed for 5 days until the big reveal of my new nose.
First 5 days post-op
Once I came back to the hotel, it hit me that I probably wasn’t as prepared for my recovery period as I should have. I was alone, so I had to take care of everything myself, from food to ice compresses. I realised that I didn’t have enough information about remedies for swelling. I had understood that I wouldn’t be able to keep my regular morning and evening face care routines but I didn’t have any cleansing substitutes.
Obviously, I was still tired and the swelling just made me feel so uncomfortable. I remember watching girls on Instagram and Youtube revealing their new noses after 5 days and I couldn’t comprehend how they could look like that. My face was double the size and it was getting worse for the first two or three days.
I was trying to get as comfortable as possible. The clinic advised that I could shower as long as I don’t wet my nose, I could also brush my teeth gently. I did all those things and tried to find the best position to lay in bed, and slept as much as I could.
Post-op you are supposed to keep your head elevated. I was trying to make sure that I would stay in the same position once I’m asleep and wouldn’t turn or sleep on the side.
Ice compresses were crucial during the first 3 days after the surgery. Thankfully, the hotel staff were helping me a lot with that. Whenever I needed ice, they were quick to bring it to me and they made sure the compresses were frozen for my later needs. I was truly grateful they took care of me and accommodated my every need.
Two days after the surgery, I was still very swollen but I was feeling a little better and I took an afternoon walk. I took a stroll on the boardwalk, the market and bought some food. Even though my face was not yet getting better, I could feel that overall I was improving and my energy is slowly coming back.
So, with my energy back and loads of free time to kill, I started watching rhinoplasty gone wrong videos. My nose cast was so tight, I could see anything but my nostrils, so I developed a very big piggy nose fear. With my face swollen like crazy and imagination going wild, I think I was at the hardest mental point. I realised that my body would probably take a longer time to recover because I watched so many vlogs, in which girls had very easy recovery and were not half as swollen as I was. I saw, of course, a lot of experiences, where ladies had tougher times to recover, but those very often just depressed me and I feared that my nose would not turn out as beautiful as I was hoping.
Nevertheless, three days after the surgery my swelling was becoming yellow and I knew it was a good sign of healing and of it going away. My face was still most definitely swollen as a potato, but I tried to keep myself calm, I went for a walk and even did some shopping, which certainly lifted my spirits.
Fourth day after the surgery came, and even though I was still very swollen and feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, I was definitely feeling much better than in the previous days. I decided that it was a good time to have a city tour. I had previously contacted the clinic about it and they arranged for me a private day tour around Istanbul. It was truly a great experience and I was happy that I got a chance to do some sightseeing.
Throughout the day, I didn’t feel any more of discomfort or tiredness. My face was still very swollen but the swelling was now turning to yellow around my eyes and I could feel it slightly dropping from the upper to lower part of my face. I knew then that my healing process was in order and I was getting excited for the day for the big reveal.
The big reveal
It was the fifth day after the surgery and the time had come to remove the cast from my nose.
Dr. Hakan’s assistants had arranged the pick up from my hotel, and when I arrived I was once again welcomed very nicely. Before the doctor was ready to see me, I was given final information, my Covid test results, which I did the day before, and all required forms for my departure. The clinic was nice enough to even provide me with a letter to my employer, which stated that my rhinoplasty was performed due to breathing problems. Hence, I was even able to use my sick days as opposed to taking vacation.
After twenty minutes or so in the clinic, I was called into the dr. Hakan’s office. He asked how I was feeling, double checked my departure date and in no time asked me to lay down and prepare for the cast removal.
The anticipation for this moment has been building up ever since I decided to do a rhinoplasty. I was feeling a mixture of emotions. I was excited, I was nervous, I was scared to find out that I have a piggy nose, I was happy to finally get it off my nose and be able to breathe. Just one more moment, finally, I will see how it looks. Finally, I will know whether my fears will be confirmed or, hopefully, they will evaporate.
Dr. Hakan started opening up the cast and taking it off. I remember this moment so clearly. My nose had been blocked like never before and I was breathing with my mouth for five days already. One move and I breathed in. I felt fresh getting into my nostrils and travelling to my lungs. What a great feeling, which we all take for granted.
With the cast removed, the doctor now asked me to sit up and handed me a mirror. It took me two seconds to start crying with happy tears. My nose was beautiful. It looked so natural. Just a little shorter, a little smaller, – everything we had discussed was now in effect. I felt like the same person and, most importantly to me, I looked like myself. It was all I wanted. My septum was deviated no more, my hump straightened up, my long projection gone. I was extremely happy and grateful for the doctor’s work.
Needless to say, I was still very swollen and the nose itself was going to get even smaller in time, and the tip – down. Nevertheless, it already looked good. I know that for some patients it takes up to six months to get used to their new look. Well, it was not the case for me. I instantly accepted my new improved nose, and it felt like I always looked that way.
I flew home the next day.
6 months later
As I am writing this article, six months have passed since my rhinoplasty.
Once I came back home, it took more than two more weeks or so for the swelling to completely go away. My nose was still pretty blocked and getting back to the breathing through my nostrils was gradual.
I was very careful with it. Even though I was already allowed to blow my nose, use make-up and do facials, I waited for probably a month before getting back to my normal routine.
At the moment of me writing, the bones of my nose are already strong and I feel confident wearing sunglasses, doing extractions on my nose and blowing it as much as I need. The tip of my nose is still a little numb but it is completely normal and it will probably take another half a year for me to fully feel it.
I must admit, however, that the septum of my nose had unfortunately deviated again a little bit. I don’t know how this happened and why. It certainly was straight after the surgery and I took all the precautions. However, despite all the efforts, I am still a little troubled with my breathing. I believe that it is better than it used to be, but, unfortunately, not perfect.
I guess this is the true story of my rhinoplasty experience. Overall, I am very happy with the result and have no regrets. My nose is very pretty, and even though I wished to fix my septum completely, sometimes, I guess, there is no way to fight your own body, genetics, or it whatever it is that made my septum deviate a little again after it was straightened up.
The doctor never promised absolute perfection and sometimes there are things that are out of our control. However, I think it came pretty close to it and I can’t wait for the next six months to pass and see the very final result of my pretty nose.
