In August 2024, at 24 years old, I had a Mommy Makeover with Dr. Sedat, which included a tummy tuck, 360 liposuction, and a breast lift with fat transfer. I had lost 80 pounds postpartum and was looking to reclaim my body. I'm writing this review now, at five months post-op, to share my experience, including the healing process and mid-term results.
The Decision-Making Process:
Before deciding on Dr. Sedat, I had narrowed it down to two surgeons in his area. Over several months, neither felt quite right, but I was leaning toward the second one, despite the inconvenience it would cause (accommodations, nurses, etc.). Then, one day, an Instagram ad for Dr. Sedat popped up on my feed. I clicked, did some quick research, and immediately reached out. They were so accommodating—despite my concerns about having a baby and not being able to chat on the phone, we handled everything over WhatsApp, which was so convenient. I mentioned that I had a specific date to leave Turkey, and Dr. Sedat's team quickly scheduled everything around that, making the entire process smooth.
I arrived in Istanbul a few days before surgery to experience the city. I stayed in a hotel in the heart of Istanbul, which was perfect for some sightseeing. When it was time for the surgery, I was picked up from my hotel (not the airport, which was a thoughtful touch) and taken directly to the hospital. There, I met the anesthesiologist and, for the first time, Love, who would be my primary point of contact during my recovery. After the hospital visit, Love and the driver took me back to a beautiful hotel apartment with hotel amenities. I was even able to pay in USD cash, which was really convenient.
The only small issue I had at this point was the lack of communication via WhatsApp. I didn’t know much about the specifics of the next day, so I reached out for clarification. They quickly explained they were waiting on my blood work results before confirming the surgery time, which solved the issue.
The morning of surgery, I was picked up around 6 AM. At the hospital, I signed paperwork, paid, and met with Dr. Sedat, who marked the areas for surgery. The process was smooth, but I did get nervous as I was awake when being wheeled into the operating room. Once inside, I was prepped with an IV (the nurse did a fantastic job—first try, no pain, something I never experienced in Canada), and soon after, I drifted off to sleep.
Waking up after surgery, I was freezing—completely normal due to the medication and the colder operating room temperature. Once I was back in my hospital room, a kind older Turkish nurse brought me a heating blanket, which was a lifesaver.
The first two days in the hospital were the hardest, particularly the first day. It wasn’t so much the pain, but the nausea and the fact that they made you get up and walk just hours after surgery. The hospital bed was another challenge for me—I couldn’t use my abs to adjust myself, which caused constant back pain, and is the main reason I requested pain medication. Thankfully, the night nurses were incredible, especially one older gentleman who couldn’t speak much English but showed me so much care. He’d bring me tea, hold a cold cloth on my face when I felt dizzy, help me walk, and even assist me in and out of bed. He was a real blessing.
One piece of advice for anyone going alone: If you can, bring a friend or family member with you. It makes things a lot easier when you have someone to help with translation and assist with basic needs in the hospital.
After two days, I was cleared to return to the hotel. The staff made a bed for me on the pull-out sofa, and the daily Turkish breakfast was delicious. Love, the nurse, visited me daily to do lymphatic massages, help with my garments, and shower me. Though Love didn’t speak much English, she always made an effort to communicate, and it was never awkward—even in moments of silence. I also had some insomnia, so Dr. Sedat prescribed medication, which Love promptly delivered to me.
By day 4 of my recovery, my friend had to return to Canada, but I felt surprisingly independent. By day 5, I was able to walk to the grocery store, and by day 6, I ventured to the mall. I was sore, but it wasn’t unbearable, especially considering I had just undergone major surgery. It mostly felt like a deep, full-torso bruise from the liposuction.
On day 6, I had my final appointment with Dr. Sedat at his clinic. Everything was going well, and I was feeling positive about the results. The next morning, I was picked up by the driver at 5 AM to head to the airport. A tip for anyone traveling back: I recommend arranging for medical assistance at the airport because the airports are huge. Also, I flew business class back to Canada, which made the long flight much more comfortable, especially since I could lie down.
Once home, recovery felt more challenging mentally and physically. I had bruising for weeks, but it wasn’t painful. Dr. Sedat’s team kept in touch with me daily, answering my questions and providing guidance, which was much appreciated. The six weeks of post-op restrictions (sleeping on my back, wearing compression garments) felt long at the time, but looking back, it passed quickly, and I was grateful it was much shorter than what some other surgeons recommend.
At five months post-op, I’m extremely happy with my results. I feel confident and love my new body. My scars are still red, but I’m confident they will continue to fade over time. My only minor concerns are that not enough fat was removed from my upper abdomen, and one of my nipples is slightly off-center. Thankfully, Dr. Sedat has been great about addressing these concerns and is happy to revisit them once I hit the one-year mark.
Overall, my experience with Dr. Sedat and his team was nothing short of amazing. I am someone with a never-ending line of questions, and they never made me feel like I was being too much- i'm still messaging occasionally with more of them. They made me feel like family from start to finish, and I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone considering cosmetic surgery. He’s not only a talented surgeon but also a kind, personable, and funny individual who truly cares about his patients. I have no doubt that I’ll be returning to him for future procedures. If you’re thinking about surgery, I can’t recommend Dr. Sedat enough.
