4.9 from 55 verified reviews
He was also present in the operating room after I woke up from anaesthesiaBrad, US, 11 11 25I chose to get ESG Max done with Dr Murat Ustun, after being referred by a friend and another medical doctor in Turkey. Dr Ustun speaks English fluently and has many years of experience with bariatric surgical procedures. While there were a couple of hiccups along the way, overall I had an outstanding experience, and would recommend Dr Ustun to anyone considering a bariatric procedure. The package I chose included transport to and from the airport, as well as a multi-night stay in a luxury hotel within walking distance of the hospital.
I had an initial consult with him by Zoom, which was complimentary. He explained to me the benefits and risks of multiple options.
We agreed on a date and finalised the reservation. Depending on the hospital in question, they might or might not require a 10 to 20% deposit. If available, I personally would recommend Liv Hospital in Vadistanbul. If you are travelling from outside of Turkey, I would advise travel insurance.
My pre-operative evaluation was conducted the day before. The international hospital has staff and translators who speak varying degrees of English. I was instructed on when to start fasting, and I reported to the hospital the next morning.
Liv is a private hospital, and I found it to be very clean, and it is also in a nice area of town. The staff were always friendly and helpful. Additionally, unlike some public hospitals, it was not overcrowded.
Dr Ustun came and greeted me before the procedure. He was also present in the operating room after I woke up from anaesthesia. After I was back in my patient room later that day, he came to check on me and explain the results of my procedure. He also came back once per day to check in, until I left and went to the hotel.
I have also had access to him by phone ever since the initial consultation, and he continued to follow up on my progress even after I left Turkey. I have been very impressed with his availability and dedication to follow-up care in looking after his patients.
A couple of things I would clarify before having a procedure. First, make sure to inform them of any medications you take, and how long prior to the procedure they might need to be stopped. But also clarification on when it is safe to resume them. Additionally, unless administered by the hospital staff, if you are instructed to take any specific medications postoperatively, these will need to be purchased from a local pharmacy outside of the hospital.
Personally, I would advise bringing with you any liquids you might consume as part of the postoperative diet. This might include things like protein powder, etc... By bringing them with you, this removes the hassle of trying to go out and shop for the things you want in local stores.
If I need to have another procedure done in the future, I will most certainly choose Dr Ustun again. Furthermore, the anesthesiologist team was much better than the last time I went under anaesthesia. When I had surgery in the past, I woke up with a terrible sore throat, and it persisted for days. The nurses said it was because they had a tube down my throat to breathe for me. But when having ESG Max done at Liv, my throat felt completely fine as soon as I woke up.
